05-27-2008, 11:36 AM
There are several different types of building stone. The most common are granite, marble, limestone, travertine and sandstone. Each stone has unique physical characteristics, which affect its applicability to various building designs. This section describes the characteristics and physical properties of the major building stones.
Granite:
Granite is an igneous rock created deep within the earth from magma, cooled slowly under great pressure. It is the hardest building stone with very dense grain, making it virtually impervious to stain. It takes a highly polished finish, which will endure even in inclement environments. It can also be finished in a variety of other ways. There is a broad spectrum of granite colors ranging from nearly pure white to nearly pure black. During its formation, granite may also have been infused with other minerals providing patterned "movement" as well as color.
Marble:
Marble is a metamorphic rock, composed of metamorphosized limestone. In its purest form, marble is crystalline white calcite. Most marbles, however, are infused with impurities such as dolomite, silica or clay, providing variations in color and significant movement. The base colors of marble range from white to black with a broad range of hues. Marble is significantly softer than granite and therefore subject to greater wear and weathering.
Apexstone Amoy Marble & Granite
http://www.apexstone.net
Add: 6th floor, Guangxing Building,
466 Nanshan Road,
Xiamen 361006, China
Granite:
Granite is an igneous rock created deep within the earth from magma, cooled slowly under great pressure. It is the hardest building stone with very dense grain, making it virtually impervious to stain. It takes a highly polished finish, which will endure even in inclement environments. It can also be finished in a variety of other ways. There is a broad spectrum of granite colors ranging from nearly pure white to nearly pure black. During its formation, granite may also have been infused with other minerals providing patterned "movement" as well as color.
Marble:
Marble is a metamorphic rock, composed of metamorphosized limestone. In its purest form, marble is crystalline white calcite. Most marbles, however, are infused with impurities such as dolomite, silica or clay, providing variations in color and significant movement. The base colors of marble range from white to black with a broad range of hues. Marble is significantly softer than granite and therefore subject to greater wear and weathering.
Apexstone Amoy Marble & Granite
http://www.apexstone.net
Add: 6th floor, Guangxing Building,
466 Nanshan Road,
Xiamen 361006, China
