Granite - How old are you ??
Granite is the oldest igneous rock in the world, believed to have been formed as long as 300 million years ago. Granite is also what’s called a “plutonic” rock, meaning that it forms deep underground. Granite is the main component that makes up the earth’s continental crust. The white mineral grains that you see in granite are feldspar, which is the most abundant rock on the planet, comprising around 60% of the earth’s surface. The word “granite” comes from the Latin word “granum,” which means “a coarse grain.” Granite got its name because of the grain-like patterns formed by its densely packed crystals. Granite has a density of around 162 pounds per cubic foot. Granite is one of the hardest substances in the world, second only to diamonds. In fact, granite is so tough and durable that the pedestal that the Statue of Liberty stands on is made from granite. Granite, which makes up 70–80% of Earth's crust , is an igneous rock formed of interlocking crystals of quartz , feldspar , mica, and other minerals in lesser quantities. Large masses of granite are a major ingredient of mountain ranges. Granite is a plutonic rock, meaning that it forms deep underground. Slow cooling gives atoms time to migrate to the surfaces of growing crystals, resulting in a coarse or mottled crystalline structure easily visible to the naked eye. Granite has been used in construction since the Ancient Egyptians.
Granite CounterTop Edges
Straight Edge Granite Countertops
Square Edge Granite Countertops
Eased Edge Granite Countertops
Beveled Edge Granite Countertops
Double Bevel
Quarter Round (Pencil) Edge
Waterfall Edge
Half Bullnose
Bullnose Edge
Ogee Edge
Marble - You Beauty ?
Marble is primarily white but can come in other colors as well. Back in ancient times, you could easily tell where a piece of marble came from by looking at its color. Marble has been used to make statues and provide flooring since ancient times. Marble usually originates as limestone or dolomite. Calcite, dolomite crystals, and aragonite are the key components of marble. Impurities are what gives marble its color. Marble is typically found among other metamorphic rock such as gneiss and mica
Quartz - I am the most abundant mineral
Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, behind feldspar. It is a mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms in a continuous framework. Quartz counter tops are one type of Engineered Stone and are a mix of quartz and man-made resin. They are more susceptible to damage from heat than granite but are less likely to stain. Quartz counter tops are just as strong as granite but have the added benefit of being more flexible making them less likely to chip or crack. Although both the marble- and quartz stones are created through a similar process, and multiple companies produce both at the same time, there are distinct differences in their properties and applications. While very durable they cannot be considered indestructible. They are stain-resistant so dropping a glass of wine on them simply requires a quick cleanup. On the Mohs scale of hardness, from 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest, Quartz measures in at around 7. The common slab colors sold by us are Black, White and Gold.
Slate - I stay strong even when I am less maintained
Slate is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock. Slate is mainly composed of the minerals quartz and muscovite or illite, often along with biotite, chlorite, hematite, and pyrite and, less frequently apatite, graphite, kaolinite, magnetite, tourmaline, or zirconas well as feldspar. Slate is either quarried from a slate quarry or reached by tunneling in a slate mine. Slate is generally sliced from the earth in the form of rough, massive slabs. These slabs are then cut down into smaller, more manageable slabs and tiles. These pieces are often gauged, a process which evens out the back to make them easier to install. The surface of slate can also be further refined or left in its natural state. Slabs are generally used as counter tops, with smaller thinner tiles of varying sizes used for flooring. At the time it is extracted, the slate is a rough, broken material like you would expect from any rock you find on the ground. When refined into tiles, natural stone generally goes through a process where the material is gauged, which refers to flattening the back in order to help the tile set into the mortar during installation. On the Mohs scale of hardness, from 1 to 10 with 10 being the hardest, granite measures in at around 5.5. The common slate tiles sold by us Black, Grey and Red.
Let's dig the History
he use of natural stone in construction was first seen in Egypt around 5000 years ago. After monsoon rains left the Sahara Desert, the landscape gradually changed - resulting in desiccation. This urged people to move towards the Nile River valleys. Limestone and red and black granite were extracted from the quarries to build structures like obelisks and sarcophagi which lead to the construction of pyramids we see today. Marble is a natural stone that was recognised for its richness and beauty. The cities of yesterday were occupied with monuments bearing inscriptions on influential people and carvings trying to convey a specific message. Symbol of prestige It is widely known that marble was used as a symbol of prestige by the royal families. For example, the royal families of the Carthaginian Empire used Turkish Marble to build all of their palaces.