What is an ornamental stone ?

Ornamental stone : definition

This term designates any rock or mineral in large masses that can be used, raw or polished, for ornamental purposes, in architecture, art or trinkets. The range covered is obviously very vast, including various magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, as well as "monomineral" rocks such as gypsum, talc or calcite beds for example.
St. Isaac's Orthodox Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia - © Kasadoo
Malachite and lapis lazuli columns of St. Isaac's Orthodox Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia - © Kasadoo