Cotta Sandstone

Its main deposit lies in the west of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, where it runs up to the Bohemian border, ending south of Pirna.

The technical value of this natural stone varies considerably, because the quartz grains of Cotta Sandstone are frequently siliceously bonded, but it has many unevenly divided deposits of the phyllosilicates, illite and kaolinite.

[1] The stone is quarried in Dohma (Groß-Cotta), Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel (in the villages of Gottleuba and Berggießhübel), Langhennersdorf, Rottwerndorf, at Neundorf and Lohmgrund south of Pirna, in Gersdorf and Bahretal (Ottendorf), and in the Krippenbach valley.

[2] Formerly the sandstone quarried near Langhennersdorf, Berggießhübel and Gersdorf, which was larger-grained, was cut not only for use as building or sculpting stone, but also for millstones.

[3] Today (2008) Cotta Sandstone is used for solid window and door frames, sculpture work and high-profile stonemasonry.

Stone sculpture relief on the Altmarkt - west side in Dresden, sandstone type: Cotta
Cotta Sandstone quarry in the Lohmgrund near Cotta
Main entrance of the Palucca School of Dance , Dresden, Door frames in sandstone of type: Cotta