Natural Stone Guide Marble Granite Limestone

The two most basic types of stone used in the construction and building industry are natural stone such as limestone, granite or marble and synthetic stones that consist of stone chips suspended in resin or cement mix. Natural stone can be broadly grouped into three classes. Igneous rock is formed when molten rock (called lava or magma) cools and hardens. Granite is an igneous rock. Sedimentary rock is formed from biological deposits that have undergone crystallization and compression. Limestone and sandstone are sedminetary natural stones. Metamorphic rock is formed when other kinds of rocks are changed by great heat and pressure inside the earth. Slate, marble, and quartzite are examples of metamorphic natural stone. Natural stone types typically used in the home, shops and offices, hotels and other public buildings are: GRANITE An igneous stone that is extremely hard, dense and resistant to scratches and acid etching. It is an ideal stone for use in flooring and in food preparation areas. MARBLE Marble, a metamorphic stone that can be polished, is a derivative of limestone. Although it is a stone, marble is relatively soft and is easily scratched or etched by acids. LIMESTONE Limestone is a sedimentary stone formed from calcite and sediment that comes in a variety of earthen colours. SANDSTONE Sandstone is a sedimentary stone that is primarily composed of loose grains of quartz sand that are rough in texture. TRAVERTINE Travertine is a partially metamorphosed, crystallised limestone, which due to its structure, can be filled and honed and is dense enough to be considered a type of marble. SLATE Slate is a metamorphic stone with a sheet-like structure composed of clay, quartz, and shale. Slate comes in a multitude of colours including greens and reds. AGGLOMERATE STONE Agglomerate stone is a synthetic stone made from natural stone chips suspended in a binder such as cement, epoxy resins, or polyester. The most well known agglomerated stone is poured-in-place terrazzo, used in building for thousands of years
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