The Slab is a digital space dedicated to the intersection of heritage masonry, field geology, and the untamed beauty of the American West.

Where Geology Meets Craft

Before a stone is ever chiseled or set in mortar, it is a product of tectonic forces, ancient seas, and immense pressure. My background in geology drives a “quarry-first” philosophy. Understanding the depositional environment of a formation isn’t just academic; it’s the key to knowing how that stone will weather, split, and perform over a century of use.

Whether we are discussing the unique mineralogy of Montana’s Shonkinite or the structural integrity of Cretaceous-age sandstones, this blog aims to bridge the gap between the scientist’s rock hammer and the mason’s trowel.

Chasing Ghost Quarries

There is a specific kind of magic found in the abandoned, high-altitude quarries of the late 1800s. These “Old West” era operations are monuments to human grit. Using little more than hand-drills, black powder, and sheer will, early quarrymen extracted the stone that built the historic courthouses and mansions of the Rockies.

I spend my time:

• Locating “lost” sources: Tracking down the forgotten pits that supplied historic regional architecture.
• Documenting Techniques: Analyzing the tool marks and extraction methods that have largely been lost to time.
• Connecting Eras: Comparing the artisanal hand-splitting of the 19th century with the precision wire-saws of modern quarrying.

Montana: The Last Best Place for Stone

Based in the heart of the Northern Rockies, I find my greatest inspiration in the places the pavement doesn’t reach. Montana is a vast geological playground, offering everything from Precambrian metamorphic outcrops to the rich, fossil-bearing layers of the Judith River and Clagett formations.

For me, the hunt for the perfect “Moss Rock” or a unique ledge-stone is an excuse to get off the grid. It’s about the Lexus loaded with gear, the dogs in the back, and the reward of finding a remote outcrop that hasn’t seen a human eye in decades.

Let’s Dig Deeper

Whether you are an architect looking for the geological narrative of your materials, a mason interested in the history of your trade, or just someone who appreciates a good piece of stone, I’m glad you’re here.