You can see granite countertops everywhere. But have you ever thought, “where does granite come from?”
Nature is full of wonders, and granite is one of the most amazing things that nature offers us. In this post, you will learn where granite comes from and how it comes to your home. Also, the formation and various uses of granite might surprise you. Read on!
Table of Contents
How is Granite Formed?
Granite is composed of organic minerals such as quartz, feldspar…etc. Of course, they were not solid stones touching each other many years ago but were lava under the Earth’s surface. So the minerals have crystallized slowly and become hard –but very hard- stones in various colors.
Color is another astounding detail about granite. The minerals give the granite stones mesmerizing colors. While red, pink, grey, and white are more usual, there are some rare colors like blue, green, gold, or black.
Does Granite Come In White?
Not necessarily. Although there are many tones of white granite, granite comes in various natural colors including, black, brown, white, blue…etc. Actually, finding pure white granite is almost impossible, but there are white granites with black, gray, or brown shades on a white surface. You can find white ice granite, moon white granite, or white ice granite of this kind.
Where Does Granite Come From?
As explained above, granite was melted rock or magma once upon a time. Today, people can mine granite in different parts of the world after millions of years, along with upheavals like tectonic movements and earthquakes.
Brazil, China, Italy, and India are some of the countries where granite quarries are located. Therefore, the granite countertop you buy for your home must be coming from one of these countries. Since each country has different geographical features, the color and some other characteristics of granites vary across the quarries in those countries.
For example, blue-colored granites that are mined in Brazil are the most expensive ones. There are also white and black granites in nature. While the white ones are more expensive, black granites are relatively affordable. In fact, their availability in the quarries and demand at certain times of the year can factor in the prices of different granites.
Where Does Granite Come From In The United States?
The granite doesn’t always come from other countries. In the U.S, there are big quarries in some states like Texas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Georgia, and Wisconsin. If you ask, “where does black granite come from?” then the answer will be mostly other countries like India, Angola, or Scandinavia.
How Does Granite Come To Your Home?
Now that we have answered the question “where do granite countertops come from” we can talk about the journey of the granite slabs until they come to your house.
Mining the granite is just the beginning. They have a long journey before being one of the most beautiful pieces of art in your house.
First, a large block of granite is cut out of the quarry, and it is controlled to make sure there are no major fissures, cracks, or similar imperfections. If the stone is thoroughly solid and flawless, it is cut into slabs on gang saws. The period of cutting is generally slow since granite is a very hard material.
Once the bulk of stone is completely slabbed, the slabs are coated with resin fills and then put into big industrial ovens. Hence, the minor fissures or imperfections on the surface can be filled properly. Then, the slabs are polished.
After polishing, the slabs are shipped to distributors in different places. Most granite stores buy their stones from one of those distributors. They usually prefer the one closer to their location so that they pay less for shipping.
The distributors or stores check the quality and perfection of the slabs and do some polishing to make them look shinier. They cut samples and/or take photos of the slabs in different colors and patterns to show to the customers.
When you go to the store, they show you the granite countertop colors and patterns that you can use in your kitchen or bathroom. The team goes to your place, and they measure the room and the area where you need the granite.
According to your needs and expectations, they work on the project to get your confirmation. Then, using the CNC router, they cut down the big slabs into smaller sizes, and desired finishing is applied according to the project. Now your granite is ready to install.
What Is Granite Used For?
Granite is a natural construction, decoration, and architectural material. Though granite is widely used as kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity tops, there are some other uses of it. For example, some monuments are made of granite. Also, you can see granite at luxurious places as paving stones or building veneers.
Bottom Line
Granite is one of the most stunning gifts of nature. It takes a long way for a granite countertop to reach your home. The journey is long, but it is absolutely worth it.
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