WHAT IS NATURAL STONE?
Natural stone is a product of nature produced as a result of million of years of different geological changes that took place in the earths crust. This has resulted in the creation of a wide variation of color and characteristic. Depending upon its process, composition and characteristics, Natural stones have been grouped into categories such as granite, marble, limestone, travertine, quartzite, sandstone and onyx.
Quartz unlike granite, marble and other natural stone quartz are made of engineered stone, blended with about 10 percent resins, pigments and various compounds to form quartz slabs, you can find quartz countertops in practically every color and style you can imagine.
Granite is an igneous rock, which means as it was formed as it cooled deep within the earth. The minerals in granite occur in small amounts throughout the stone creating a textured crystalline appearance.
Marble was once a limestone that achieved metamorphosis from intense pressure and high temperatures within the earth. This altered its crystalline structure and introduced other minerals that produce the valuable color and veining.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate. Limestone ranges in color from almost white to beige, rose, gold dark green and even black. The texture varies from fine grain stone to smooth fossil-bearing types and course open textures.
Quartzite is a hard stone composed of quartz grain. It forms from sandstone that has come in contact with deeply buried magma. Under high temperature and pressure the grains will re-crystallize and fuse together. Like marble, quartzite comes in many different colors and tends to have a sugary appearance.
Travertine is an igneous rock, which means as it was formed as it cooled deep within the earth. The minerals in travertine occur in small amounts throughout the stone creating a textured crystalline appearance.
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed primarily of quartzite crystals bonded together with silicone, calcium carbonate or iron oxide.
Onyx is a highly prized, beautiful translucent stone with pastel colors and exquisite formations. It is a layered calcite stone.