Tezoantla White Tuff

The Tezoantla Tuff («Cantera de Tezoantla» in Spanish) has been quarried for at least 400 years in the municipality of Mineral del Monte of the Comarca Minera UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp), in the state of Hidalgo. Due to its aesthetic value (in particular, the white variety) and suitable physical properties, this stone has been used as building and sculpture material in notable monuments of Baroque and Neoclassical styles of the state of Hidalgo and the historic center of Mexico City, most of which are cataloged in different lists of cultural heritage. In addition, it has been widely used in vernacular architecture and in industrial constructions that are part of the outstanding mining heritage of the geopark, with Cornish engine houses (19th century) standing out. The Heritage Stone designation of Tezoantla Tuff makes visible the link between geoheritage and the cultural heritage —including mining heritage— of Hidalgo and reinforces the global value of the geoheritage of the Comarca Minera UGGp.