Marble

Marble is a beautiful and exciting material with its varieties of veining, patterns and its palette of colors; this stone communicates permanence, integrity, quality and elegance.

Marble is a metamorphic stone. It was at one time a limestone or dolomite that has been structurally altered by recrystallization. Pure marble is white. The abstract variety of colors, mottling, clouds, swirls, shading, streaks, and veining are derived from the accessory minerals that were present in the limestone or dolomite.

Commercially, "Marble" has become a trade term which is used to classify a wide range of stones used for decorative purposes that are capable of taking a polish.

Marble, like any other building material, has its strengths and limitations. It is important to judge the performance characteristics of different stones individually and not assume that all marbles are alike.

Composition:
Calcite, dolomite or a combination of both and accessory minerals acting as coloring agents. Veining minerals range from calcite, quartz and a variety of other minerals.

Granite

Granite is an igneous rock, formed from liquid magma, cooled slowly to form a substance approaching the hardness and durability of diamonds. Granite’s three essential minerals are feldspar, quartz, and mica. These minerals occur in different proportions, giving each granite its own color, texture and structural characteristics.

While granite exteriors make a strong statement for the nobility and permanence of the structure, granite interiors speak more gently of elegance and sophistication. The rich colors of the stone blend perfectly with fabrics, woods, glass and metal, allowing the designer to create an atmosphere of luxury at a reasonable price.

Composition:
Feldspar, quartz, and small amounts mica are the primary minerals of the average granite with minor accessory minerals.

Travertine

Travertine can be considered the classic decorative stone. Its popularity is timeless. It's been incorporated in office buildings, railway stations and theaters. The Romans used it in many outside walls that are standing today after 2000 years.

Travertine is a product of chemical reactions, a geological chemical inorganic precipitated limestone formed by the evaporation of supersaturated calcium carbonate rich waters, generally in hot springs. It is predominated by a cavity structure up to 1/2 in size. These cavities are frequently filled with matching or a contrasting colored cement or epoxy.

Commercially Travertine has been placed into the classification of the trade term "Marble", because it can take a reflective polish, however, due to its peculiar characteristics (its cavity structure) it is generally considered apart from marble and limestone.

Composition:
Calcite, calcium carbonate and accessory minerals and organic matter acting as coloring agents.

Slate

Slate is a fine-grained, metamorphic stone derived from sedimentary rock shale. It is uniform in color, available in shades from dark to light green, mottled purple, black, gray, and dark red. 

Veined patterns from overseas have also recently been introduced. Unless its surface has been honed smooth, slate can be recognized by its distinct cleft pattern.

Composition:
Muscovite, chlorite, kaolinite, micas, quartz and other accessory minerals (wide variation in composition)

Limestone

Limestone, with its unique characteristics, subtle beauty and great versatility have made it a popular choice for any design style.

Limestone is considered the most abundant chemical sedimentary rock. Many different types exist, yet the mineral composition of all limestone is similar. Most of them are of marine origin, formed in ancient warm shallow seas directly and indirectly from the life processes of marine plant and animal organisms. As these organisms died their calcareous remains, shells and skeletons accumulated in these sea beds, building up vast deposits. Accompanying this process algae and other lime-secreting plants precipitated calcium carbonate a calcareous ooze (mud). During these processes a wide variety of foreign materials ranging from clay minerals, quartz sand, iron oxides and other minerals, along with the remains other plants and animals were being added to this sedimentary brew. As the waters receded these deposits consolidated to form limestone rock masses. In some limestone, the partial or complete fossilized remains of these extinct organisms can be seen.

Composition:
Calcium Carbonate (Calcite) or the double carbonate of Calcium and Magnesium (Dolomite). Contains a variety of accessory minerals...silica, pyrite, iron oxides, clay minerals and bituminous matter from organic materials (plant & animal).