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    Granite

    A Natural Beauty

WHAT IS GRANITE?

So what is granite? True, geological, granite is classified as an igneous rock and is formed by the crystalisation of magma, or lava, as it cools and solidifies in the Earth’s crust.

Granite predominantly consists of the following minerals: quartz, mica, feldspar and plagioclase feldspar.

The proportion and type of each mineral give granite its unique appearance. Different conditions and mineral ingredients at individual quarry sites mean that each area produces a unique pattern and colour of stone.

What is sold as commercial “granite” covers many hard rocks that wouldn’t be called granite by a geologist. This is confusing, but is a time-honoured convention in the building industry, and there isn’t much that the geologists can do about it! The industry uses the word granite basically for any hard, polishable natural stone that isn’t marble.

For a full discussion of the practical differences between commercial “granite” and “quartz”, please see our article here.

FROM QUARRY TO KITCHEN

What geologists term “granite” covers a wide variety of rocks, but what is sold commercially for “granite worktops” covers a greater range still. Syenites, such as Blue Pearl, for instance, are igneous rocks formed from magma in a similar way, but with little or no quartz content. Dolerites include our Nero Assoluto, while Black Galaxy and Black Pearl are varieties of Gabbro.

Some of the most excitingly patterned “granites” – such as Kashmir Gold and Ivory Fantasy – are in fact granulites – metamorphic rocks that have not formed directly from magma but from extreme compression and heating of granular material, which fuses into a hard crystalline mass with many of the practical characteristics of a true granite. So the commercial use of the term “granite” covers stones of similar character and hardness, and these distinctions should be of no major concern in choosing a stone for your kitchen worktops.

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    From Quarry

    To Kitchen

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    Finishing what

    Nature Started

FINISHING WHAT NATURE STARTED

Granite is a great choice for kitchen worktops as it offers beauty, easy care and durability. Granite is consistently hard, with very dense grain, making it difficult to stain and hard to scratch. Although we would not recommend subjecting it to very drastic and sudden changes in temperature, it is actually highly resistant to temperature damage, and is an ideal material near ranges or hearths. Cutting & chopping on granite is not recommended, simply because steel knives will swiftly lose their edge, blunted by the hard stone. Its smooth, dense structure means that it provides few havens for bacteria, and is therefore ideally suited for hygienic kitchen worktops.

VERSATILITY

Granite is found in luxurious and sophisticated residences, hotels and commercial buildings throughout the world due to its texture and lustre. Natural stone provides the look and feel of elegance through a quality and strength that will never be reached by other materials. The variation in each slab, and especially the grain or “movement” in the crystal structure, are part of the charm of buying natural stone. Many people find this flow and blending of colours to be the most compelling reason for using genuine stone for their kitchen worktops.

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    VERSATILITY