Granite
Among all the rock and mineral formations
found in the earth’s crust, granite strands in the happy intersection of materials that are
both highly desirable and widely abundant.
Found throughout the world as a major component of the earth’s crust, granite
proves useful in a wide variety of building and decorative applications, thanks
to it’s natural resistance to heat, weather, etching and staining. While most people recognize the general
appearance of granite - typically a coarse grained, multicolored rock, not
everyone is aware of the key mineral components that define granite.
The dominant element is quartz, which makes up 20 to 60% percent of granite. Quartz is made of silicon dioxide that forms clear, glassy crystals shapes.
Granite includes two types of feldspar in varying proportions. Potassium feldspar has prism-shaped crystals, typically pink or white in color. The other type is plagioclase feldspar, which has similarly shaped crystals that are more grayish or white in color, and may have a glassy luster.
The final defining component of granite is mica. The term mica refers to a group of silicate materials comprised of aluminum, potassium, magnesium, iron and water, which form flat, flaky crystals.
The features of Granite is an example of an igneous rock, meaning rock that forms when molten rock, or magma, cools near the surface of the earth. More specifically, granite is referred to as an intrusive igneous rock. The term intrusive refers to the fact that rocks that have cooled into solid form within or under the crust of the earth, as opposed to magma which was pushed to the surface or exploded into the atmosphere by volcanic activity, know as extrusive igneous rock.
It’s main suppliers are from Brazil, Africa, India, U.S., Canada, and may more countries around the world.
Granite Finishes
Polished - Reflective, mirror gloss finish, seals surface pores and is, therefore, nearly impervious to weather and chemical wear.
Honed - A smooth, satin surface without reflection, the Honed finish shows the full color of the Granite. It is produced on the same equipment as the polished finishes, however, the honing process ends prior to the buffing stage.
Flamed - The flamed finish is produced by applying a high-temperature flame to the surface of the Granite. This flame fractures crystals on the face, leaving a rough-textured finish. Highly skid-resistant, this finish is an excellent choice for walking surfaces.
Sand Blasting - The sand blasting is produced by applying a high-compressed air with sand to the surface of Granite
The three most appealing features of granite are its natural beauty, life-long durability, and low maintenance. Granite is an excellent choice for busy kitchen counter tops. It is considered to be scratch resistant, and is also resistant to heat. Granite is a timeless addition that will add immeasurable value to your home. Please note that stone is not invincible. Abrasives, such as sandpaper, diamonds or even another piece of stone could scratch your stone surface.
About Granite, each stone has a unique natural veining, pitting, fissures, micro cracks, and color variations, including patterns, markings and darker or lighter spots, which are all natural characteristics of the stone itself. These are not meant to be deficiencies or faults, nor can they be avoided in fabrication. The surface of granite is not as consistency smooth or shinny as glass to the eye or touch.
The dominant element is quartz, which makes up 20 to 60% percent of granite. Quartz is made of silicon dioxide that forms clear, glassy crystals shapes.
Granite includes two types of feldspar in varying proportions. Potassium feldspar has prism-shaped crystals, typically pink or white in color. The other type is plagioclase feldspar, which has similarly shaped crystals that are more grayish or white in color, and may have a glassy luster.
The final defining component of granite is mica. The term mica refers to a group of silicate materials comprised of aluminum, potassium, magnesium, iron and water, which form flat, flaky crystals.
The features of Granite is an example of an igneous rock, meaning rock that forms when molten rock, or magma, cools near the surface of the earth. More specifically, granite is referred to as an intrusive igneous rock. The term intrusive refers to the fact that rocks that have cooled into solid form within or under the crust of the earth, as opposed to magma which was pushed to the surface or exploded into the atmosphere by volcanic activity, know as extrusive igneous rock.
It’s main suppliers are from Brazil, Africa, India, U.S., Canada, and may more countries around the world.
Granite Finishes
Polished - Reflective, mirror gloss finish, seals surface pores and is, therefore, nearly impervious to weather and chemical wear.
Honed - A smooth, satin surface without reflection, the Honed finish shows the full color of the Granite. It is produced on the same equipment as the polished finishes, however, the honing process ends prior to the buffing stage.
Flamed - The flamed finish is produced by applying a high-temperature flame to the surface of the Granite. This flame fractures crystals on the face, leaving a rough-textured finish. Highly skid-resistant, this finish is an excellent choice for walking surfaces.
Sand Blasting - The sand blasting is produced by applying a high-compressed air with sand to the surface of Granite
The three most appealing features of granite are its natural beauty, life-long durability, and low maintenance. Granite is an excellent choice for busy kitchen counter tops. It is considered to be scratch resistant, and is also resistant to heat. Granite is a timeless addition that will add immeasurable value to your home. Please note that stone is not invincible. Abrasives, such as sandpaper, diamonds or even another piece of stone could scratch your stone surface.
About Granite, each stone has a unique natural veining, pitting, fissures, micro cracks, and color variations, including patterns, markings and darker or lighter spots, which are all natural characteristics of the stone itself. These are not meant to be deficiencies or faults, nor can they be avoided in fabrication. The surface of granite is not as consistency smooth or shinny as glass to the eye or touch.
