WebJan 31, 2024 · Wyllie, 72, is the retired owner of Kays Curling, which has been making curling stones since 1851 and has the exclusive right to harvest granite from the remote volcanic island. The stones from ... From the mid-nineteenth century the island has been quarried for its rare type of micro-granite with riebeckite (known as "Ailsite"), which is used to make stones for the sport of curling. As of 2004 , 60–70% of all curling stones in use were made from granite from the island and it is one of only two sources for all … See more Ailsa Craig is an island of 99 ha (240 acres) in the outer Firth of Clyde, 16 km (8+1⁄2 nmi) west of mainland Scotland, upon which microgranite has long been quarried to make curling stones. The now-uninhabited island … See more The island has a fresh-water spring but no electricity, gas, sewage or telephone connections. Apart from 2 ha (5 acres) sold to the Northern Lighthouse Board in 1883, the island currently belongs to The 9th Marquess of Ailsa. In May 2011 it was announced that the … See more Sea eagles or erne nested at the Bare Stack until 1881 when the tenant shot the last specimen, which is preserved at Culzean Castle. Pennant and others … See more An early reference to the rock is made by Sir Donald Monro, Archdeacon of the Isles, who referred to the rock as "Elsay" in the 16th century. … See more The island is approximately 16 km (8+1⁄2 nmi) west of Girvan; it is 4 km (2+1⁄2 mi) in circumference and rises to a height of 340 m (1,120 ft). The … See more In 1590 the shipping of the Clyde was disrupted by pirates who were said to be Highlanders, quha lyis about Ailsay. In 1831, The 12th Earl of Cassilis became first Marquess of Ailsa, taking the title from the Craig, which was his property. An annual hunt of the See more • In chapter 15 of Herman Melville's novel Israel Potter: His Fifty Years of Exile (1855), Ailsa Craig is portrayed as an omen. • John Keats, during his walk from London to Scotland, composed To Ailsa Rock (as the island was known then) following seeing the … See more

Beijing Olympics: 6 wild things to know about the curling stone

WebFeb 11, 2024 · The main body of the Olympic curling stone is made using common green Ailsa Craig granite, while the rest of the stone is made from blue hone granite. Resistant … WebFeb 17, 2024 · All of the 132 curling stones being played at the games were first formed at Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde, where volcanic activity some 60 million years ago turned … high power portable thz systems

The remarkable origins of the curling stone - olympics.com

WebNov 10, 2024 · Curling stones require this rare granite that has low water absorption, which prevents the action of repeatedly freezing water from eroding the stone. The stones weigh between 38-44 pounds, have a … WebFeb 9, 2024 · The Roaring Game: Scotland’s curling stone island 9 February 2024 News A sport native to Scotland, curling can be traced back to medieval times. Today, the game involves two teams taking turns to slide heavy, polished granite rocks (called stones) across ice toward a circular target. WebFeb 21, 2024 · Raw material for the best curling stones in the world. There is a quarry on the island where the granite rock Ailsite is extracted. It is the raw material for the best … high power outdoor led flood light