Terminology index:

R

• range

  a course of any thickness that is continued across the entire face. All range course need not be of the same thickness.
  
  

• recess

  a sinkage in a wall plane.
  
  

• reglet

  a recess used to receive and secure flashing.
  
  

• relief or relieve

  ornament in relief. The ornament or figure can be slightly, half, or greatly projected.
  
  

• relieving arch

  one built over a lintel, flat arch or smaller arch to divert loads, thus relieving the lower member from excessive loading. Also known as discharging or safety arch.
  
  

• return

  the right angle turn of a molding.
  
  

• return head

  stone facing with the finish appearing on both the face and the edge of the same stone, as on the corner of a building.
  
  

• reveal

  the depth of stone between its outer face and a window or door set in an opening.
  
  

• ribbon

  narrow bands of rock differing to various degrees in chemical composition and color from the main body of the slate or stone; in other words, bands.
  
  

• rift

  the most pronounced (see "grain") direction of splitting or cleavage of a stone. Rift and grain may be obscure, as in some granites, but are important in both quarrying and processing stone.
  
  

• riprap

  irregular shaped stones used for facing bridge abutments and fills. Stone thrown together without order to form a foundation or sustaining walls.
  
  

• rise

  the word "rise" refers to the heights of stone. Generally used in reference to veneer stone.
  
  

• rock

  the integral part of the earth's crust composed of an aggregate of grains of one or more minerals. (stone is the commercial term applied to quarry products).
  
  

• rock (pitch) face

  this is similar to split face, except that the face of the stone is pitched to a given line and plane producing a bold appearance, rather than the comparatively straight face obtained in split face.
  
  

• rodding

  reinforcement of a structurally unsound marble by cementing reinforcing rods into grooves or channels cut into the back of the slab.
  
  

• roman arch

  semi-circular arch.
  
  

• rose window

  a circular stone window fitted with carved tracery.
  
  

• rough sawn

  a marble surface finish accomplished by the gangsawing process.
  
  

• rubbed finish

  mechanically rubbed for smoother finish.
  
  

• rubble

  a product term applied to dimension stone used for building purposes, chiefly walls and foundations, and consisting of irregularly shaped pieces, partly trimmed or squared, generally with one split or finished face, and selected and specified with a size range.
  
  

• rustication

  chamfers or square sinkings around the face edges of individual stones to create shadows and to give an appearance of greater weight to the lower part of a building. When only the horizontal joints are sunk, the device is known as banded rustication.
  
  

• rustification

  recessing the margin of cut stone so that when placed together a channel is formed at each joint.