JuraLimestone GmbH, part of the STO construction group, operates nine Jura Limestone quarries. A particularly important site is Petersbuch near Eichstätt in Germany. It was historically worked by Neumeyer & Brigl, the family company of Hans Neumeyer and Otto Brigl, now integrated into JuraLimestone.
The quarry is around 19 metres deep and contains 25 layers. It produces the rare light-beige Jura Cream, which can appear almost white with the appropriate finish. Subtle fossils remain visible and give the stone its internationally recognised individual character.
Gerhard Ruf, formerly managing director of JMS and now head of international projects at JuraLimestone, explains that all 25 naturally defined layers can be seen in the quarry. Work proceeds on several levels at once because colours differ. With little overburden, the beds can be counted clearly from the first to the twenty-fifth.
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🔍Jura Limestone is laid in continuous beds that change little over many kilometres, supporting consistent raw-material quality and colour for large facade projects. Upper layers 20–25 provide beige to dark-beige tones. Grey stone occurs mainly in layers 1–6 and is generally used inside. Layers 10–11 are usually light and show strong longitudinal bands when cut across the natural bedding, making them suitable for vein-cut products. At Petersbuch, Jura Cream occurs in layers 15–17. The photographs compare standard light and dark beige selections with Jura Cream.
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🔍Quarry crews drill to the intended block depth and separate the stone with hydraulic equipment. A tracked front loader then lifts the block. According to Ruf, horizontal saw cuts are unnecessary because the stone separates naturally along its bedding.
A quarry produces roughly 4,000–8,000 cubic metres of Jura Limestone each year. Because of winter conditions, operations normally pause in December, January and February.
Ruf notes that the area experienced very little geological movement, which accounts for the excellent stone quality. The deposit is expected to support another thirty years of working.