Editing Granite (section)

====Engineering====
[[Engineers]] have traditionally used polished granite [[surface plate]]s to establish a [[plane (mathematics)|plane]] of reference, since they are relatively impervious, inflexible, and maintain good dimensional stability. Sandblasted [[concrete]] with a heavy [[Aggregate (geology)|aggregate]] content has an appearance similar to rough granite, and is often used as a substitute when use of real granite is impractical. Granite tables are used extensively as bases or even as the entire structural body of optical instruments, [[Coordinate-measuring machine|CMMs]], and very high precision CNC machines because of granite's rigidity, high dimensional stability, and excellent vibration characteristics. A most unusual use of granite was as the material of the tracks of the [[Haytor Granite Tramway]], Devon, England, in 1820.<ref name="Ewans">{{cite book| last=Ewans| first=M.C.| year=1966| title=The Haytor Granite Tramway and Stover Canal| publisher=David & Charles| location=Newton Abbot}}</ref> Granite block is usually processed into slabs, which can be cut and shaped by a [[cutting center]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bai |first1=Shuo-wei |last2=Zhang |first2=Jin-sheng |last3=Wang |first3=Zhi |title=Selection of a sustainable technology for cutting granite block into slabs |journal=Journal of Cleaner Production |date=January 2016 |volume=112 |pages=2278–2291 |doi=10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.10.052|bibcode=2016JCPro.112.2278B }}</ref> In military engineering, Finland planted granite boulders along its [[Mannerheim Line]] to block invasion by Russian tanks in the [[Winter War]] of 1939–40.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chersicla |first1=Rick |title=What Free Men Can Do: The Winter War, the Use of Delay, and Lessons for the 21st Century |journal=Infantry |date=January–March 2017 |page=63 |url=https://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2017/JAN-MAR/pdf/Chersicla_WinterWar.pdf |access-date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=18 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718000549/https://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2017/JAN-MAR/pdf/Chersicla_WinterWar.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>