Mother Nature is amazing. You only need to take a look at granite in its natural state to believe that. Granite is an igneous rock, found in mountains all over the world. But there are only a few select places where granite is produced in such quality that’s it good enough to be used in kitchen countertops.
How Does Granite Form?
It forms from the slow crystallization of magma below the Earth’s surface, comprised mainly of natural quartz and feldspar with a little bit of mica, amphiboles, and other organic minerals for good measure. Basically, those gleaming granite kitchen countertops you have were molten lava at some point in time.
Granite is usually red, pink, gray, or white in color, with dark mineral grains visible throughout, but there are some extraordinary forms of granites that can be blue, green, black, and gold in color.
Where Does Granite Come From?
Most granite countertops come from quarries in Brazil, Italy, India, and China, each with its own distinct characteristics. Brazil, for instance, produces one of the world’s most unique granites, called Van Gogh, or Blue Fire, marked by its stunning blue color.
Granite is the most well-known of all the igneous rock, commonly used as kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity tops. It’s also used to create building veneers, monuments and paving stones.
Durability of Granite
Granite is one of the most durable natural stones due to its creation process. Did you know it takes thousands of years of extreme pressure for granite to reach its final state? This means it’s very dense and durable. It’s this strength that makes granite rival that of diamonds, which are used to cut the stone into slabs.
Granite has been used in the creation of many of today’s most treasured landmarks, such as the New York City Public Library and Mount Rushmore. Even hieroglyphics and the 10 Commandments were etched into granite. Ancient cultures would chisel this stone from quarries and transport it 500 miles away using a system of logs as makeshift wheels.
In the late 1980s, granite started showing up in the mansions of rich celebrities, but the average homeowner could not afford this as a countertop. Most counters were still being made of laminate, which was an affordable material but not very strong. They could easily become scratched or chipped, in contrast with granite which could withstand chopping with a butcher knife.
Technology soon developed to the point where granite could be mass produced, making it more affordable and accessible to mainstream homeowners as the 1990s began. Granite was a localized industry at first, which made finding a local quarry very difficult.
But with the advancement of transportation services from other countries, it became easier to import granites from Brazil, Italy, India, and China.
Contact Granite Guy
Granite is more readily available and affordable than ever. Get in touch with Granite Guy today at 508-460-7900 to learn more about this beautiful stone and how you can incorporate it into your home.