GRANITE
WHAT IS GRANITE?
Granite has been used for years due to its beauty and durability. It was used in ancient Egypt to build pyramids, and continues to be the most popular choice for today’s kitchen countertops. It is a unique stone in both appearance and structure.
The stone that so many have come to love is an igneous rock with a holocrystalline structure. That means that the crystals that make up the stone do not fully develop. Instead, they grow into each other. This unique interlocking crystal structure makes granite extremely durable and gives it the grainy look for which it was named. You will ruin your knife before you damage your granite countertop if you decide to cut on its surface. It won’t scratch or show any wear and tear unless you take a hammer to it. Granite lets you enjoy your surface without the worry of damage.
Since granite is made up of many different types of crystals, the color of granite varies quite a bit depending on the crystal that makes up the majority of the stone.
THE CRYSTALS THAT MAKE UP GRANITE ARE:
QUARTZ
Quartz is the most common crystal in granite. It fills in any gaps around other materials and is responsible for many of granite’s best qualities. It is colorless and appears either clear, smoky or reflects the colors of the crystals around it. Quartz aids granite in being resilient to impact, heat and daily wear.
MICA
Mica has a metallic luster that adds to granite’s ability to hold that “just polished” look.
FELDSPAR
Feldspar is the second most common substance in granite. Feldspar is responsible for most of the colors you see in granite. Horneblend & Biotite The infamous gray stone with black and white specks that comes to mind when you think of granite is also the most commonly available. This salt and pepper look comes from horneblend and biotite crystals. With all the colors and patterns to choose from, it is easy to select granite to fit with your design. Granite is your best option for affordable, beautiful and durable countertops.
