The granite is then transported to the mainland by boat to be stored in our secure facility until we start the process of transforming the granite boulders into the finished curling stones.
Trefor vs ailsa craig granite.
Ailsa craig common green granite has been reintroduced in new stones in recent years but the amount of impurities in much of this newly gathered ailsa craig common green granite will develop pot holes in the strikeband area that will rapidly increase in size with frequent use resulting in a much shorter life span for stones made from this new.
Curling stones require this rare granite that has low water absorption which prevents the action of repeatedly freezing water from eroding the stone.
More than two thirds of all curling stones originate from this tiny volcanic pug.
The last harvest of ailsa craig granite by kays took place in 2013 after a hiatus of 11 years.
Curling stones are made from three types of quartz free granite.
Canada curling stone co another manufacturer uses a welsh granite referred to as blue trefor for the body of the stone though it uses ailsa craig granite for the running band repurposed from older stones according to kimberly tuck who works for the company and is a curler.
Not only do but the supply of rock available is far greater.
2 000 tonnes were harvested sufficient to fill anticipated orders until.
Only two places on earth is said to have the blue hone or common green granite which has a low absorption rate and keeps water from freezing and eroding the stone.
Even today 60 70 percent of all curling stones comes from granite extracted from alisa craig.
Kays of scotland has been making curling stones since 1851 and has the exclusive rights to the ailsa craig granite granted by the island s owner the marquess of ailsa.
Blue hone ailsa craig common green both found on ailsa craig island and trefor which can be found in the trefor quarry of wales.
Trefor is more durable than ailsa craig blue hone and so is better suited for crashing and banging but ailsa craig blue hone is less porous and better suited for sliding on ice.
Ailsa craig produced two types of granite for curling blue hone and ailsa craig common green.
The other being the trefor granite quarry in wales.
Harvesting between 1600 tons of ailsa craig common green granite and 400 tons of ailsa craig blue hone granite is an operation that takes place as required.
