If you are interested in installing marble or granite countertops in your home, you may wonder where they originated from. The history of where your natural stone slab came from is an interesting one indeed.
Both of these natural stones, marble and granite, are for the most part quarried in Brazil and Italy. However, the United States is also a leading producer of granite and marble. More than 55,000 tons of marble and 580,000 tons of granite were produced in quarries all over the nation in 2016, a consistent number that is steadily increasing. As an example, Danby Marble Quarry in Vermont, the largest underground marble quarry in the world, has been a producer of marble for more than a century.
From the Jefferson Memorial to the Supreme Court, the marble mined here has been used to craft many of the country’s most iconic and historical monuments.
Granite in the United States
Granite comes mainly from the states of Texas, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Georgia. They happen to be the top producers of granite in the nation, comprising 64 percent of the USA’s production. But many states get in on the game. Overall, natural stone is produced at 276 quarries over 34 states.
Mount Airy, North Carolina, dubbed “The Granite City,” houses the largest open-face granite quarry in the world. The North Carolina Granite Corporation, established in 1743, has harvested stone at that location for more than 150 years.
In the Colorado Rockies — at 9,300 feet above sea level — a marble quarry was discovered back in 1875. The marble that comes from there is called Calacatta Lincoln, and was used to craft the Lincoln Memorial.
Top Consumers of Dimension Stone
The United States is the top consumer of dimension stone on the planet. Dimension stone is natural stone that’s finished to a specific shape and size. The U.S. ranks 18th in the world in terms of granite and marble production, behind Turkey, China, and India.
The United States still imports a lot of natural stone, though. In fact, nearly 90 percent of all residential-construction granite and marble comes from abroad. Price is the main reason, along with the fact that the U.S. simply doesn’t have the infrastructure in place to meet such a high level of demand.
Plus, most of the granite that is quarried in the United States is plain and gray in color, which is best for use as paving materials or in structures. Most homeowners want something with more color and variation than plain gray for their kitchen and bathroom countertops.
Don’t worry: you can still show support for local businesses. Smaller companies provide local granite and marble counter fabrication and installation services, boasting several beautiful patterns and colors. You can choose from dusty black backgrounds highlighted by gray swirls to black backgrounds featuring gray, mahogany, and burgundy.
Contact Granite Guy
As a consumer, you may not know about the abundance of the products offered practically in your back yard. For that local touch, come to Granite Guy for the highest quality natural stones such as granites and marbles for your kitchen and bathroom countertops. Call us today at 508-460-7900 to learn more.