This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling method appropriate to the selection of slate dimension stone for general building and structural purposes. Dimension slate shall include stone that is sawed, cut, split, or otherwise finished or shaped, and shall specifically exclude molded, cast, or otherwise artificially aggregated units composed of fragments, and also crushed and broken stone. It specifically excludes roofing slate and slate for industrial uses. Slates shall be selected for either exterior or interior use. The physical property requirements to which slate stones shall adhere to are absorption, abrasion resistance, acid resistance, and modulus of rupture (across grain and along grain).