by Mark Milligan and Carl Ege

The June 2001 Survey Notes article, “Where can I collect landscaping rock on public land?” generated more follow-up inquiries than any other “Glad You Asked” column. Many questions pertained to stone wall composition, which prompted us to research the subject. Our investigations led us to conclude that stone walls in Utah are made of just about everything! Any stone that is not overly soft and crumbly seems to have been used for a wall.

The following photos are just a sampling of the variety of stone walls we saw in only one day and are located near the state capitol unless otherwise noted. Look around and you are sure to see many variations, including walls made with faux stone (concrete “rocks?”).

If you are considering building your own stone wall, libraries carry dozens of books that address the finer points of stone masonry. Bear in mind that unreinforced masonry is susceptible to damage during even moderate earthquakes. For high walls or those critical to holding back a slope, consult a geotechnical engineer.

Stone walls are of two basic types: dry stacked and mortared.

Dry stacked

These two stone walls use flat, blocky stones that are easily hand stacked to form a vertical wall. The stones are held up entirely by underlying stones.
Located in Midway, the left wall is built of hot spring tufa.	The right wall is built of gray, flaggy sandstone.

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