Stone Descriptions:
Marble
Marble is a metamorphosized sedimentary rock. Due to different crystallizations and impurities present over the millennia, marble comes in an infinite variety of color. For this reason, and given its preciousness, marble is generally used in construction for interior and exterior purposes. For similar reasons, we generally see this material in the form of slabs, and not as a structural building material.
Marble is a relatively porous stone. This makes it easily machinable. Unfortunately, this also makes it easily penetrated by certain types of acid such as lemon or vinegar. Certain specialized maintenance is often required.
Quartzite
Quartzite is also a metamorphic rock though it has much stronger physical …show more content…
Granite
Granite is a volcanic igneous rock that is formed by the slow cooling of magma. While it is a suitable stone to build structures, nowadays granite is used almost only used as an interior or exterior covering. Advantages offered by granite are that it is stain resistant, it is a sanitary (Non-Porous) surface, it is heat resistant, and in general, it is abrasion resistant. That said, while this material is very hard and crystalline in nature, some granites are resin-treated to enhance the color. For this reason, many types of granite have lower abrasion resistance than expected.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed essentially of calcite, a mineral of calcium carbonate. The formation processes of limestone differ substantially in the origin of the constituents sediments: these may result (organogenic limestones) from shells or exoskeletons. They can also be formed by the chemical precipitation of salts dissolved in water (chemogenic limestones). Finally they may come from the degradation of existing limestone (detrital or clastic …show more content…
It has been used in Roman building since the first century BC. It exists in various shades of color depending on the oxides which have built up over time. Nowadays it is used for interior walls and exterior cladding and paving.
Most of the time, you see this material “filled” meaning that its natural voids have been filled with epoxy. The point of this is not only to smooth out the surface of the stone, but to reinforce structural flaws that are inherent in this stone.
Onyx
Commercially known materials such as onyx are scientifically alabasters (or calcareous alabasters) formed by deposition of calcium carbonate. The technical and aesthetic characteristics of onyx vary depending on the cutting direction; if the cut is parallel to the level of stratification (floor cut), the design is much like a circular plate; if the cut is perpendicular (cross cut), you will see the sedimentary stratification of the stone. The color of onyx is rarely uniform. The color is mixed (beige, orange, brown, pink, red, green, blue, yellow) with white by impurities of different chemical composition. Onyx is a structurally unstable material and is often reinforced with artificial supports or with epoxy resin impregnation. It also has a poor resistance to atmospheric agents; therefore, its use is more suitable indoors without contact to moisture (kitchens and bathrooms) because even relatively weak acids can destroy
Marble
Marble is a metamorphosized sedimentary rock. Due to different crystallizations and impurities present over the millennia, marble comes in an infinite variety of color. For this reason, and given its preciousness, marble is generally used in construction for interior and exterior purposes. For similar reasons, we generally see this material in the form of slabs, and not as a structural building material.
Marble is a relatively porous stone. This makes it easily machinable. Unfortunately, this also makes it easily penetrated by certain types of acid such as lemon or vinegar. Certain specialized maintenance is often required.
Quartzite
Quartzite is also a metamorphic rock though it has much stronger physical …show more content…
Granite
Granite is a volcanic igneous rock that is formed by the slow cooling of magma. While it is a suitable stone to build structures, nowadays granite is used almost only used as an interior or exterior covering. Advantages offered by granite are that it is stain resistant, it is a sanitary (Non-Porous) surface, it is heat resistant, and in general, it is abrasion resistant. That said, while this material is very hard and crystalline in nature, some granites are resin-treated to enhance the color. For this reason, many types of granite have lower abrasion resistance than expected.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed essentially of calcite, a mineral of calcium carbonate. The formation processes of limestone differ substantially in the origin of the constituents sediments: these may result (organogenic limestones) from shells or exoskeletons. They can also be formed by the chemical precipitation of salts dissolved in water (chemogenic limestones). Finally they may come from the degradation of existing limestone (detrital or clastic …show more content…
It has been used in Roman building since the first century BC. It exists in various shades of color depending on the oxides which have built up over time. Nowadays it is used for interior walls and exterior cladding and paving.
Most of the time, you see this material “filled” meaning that its natural voids have been filled with epoxy. The point of this is not only to smooth out the surface of the stone, but to reinforce structural flaws that are inherent in this stone.
Onyx
Commercially known materials such as onyx are scientifically alabasters (or calcareous alabasters) formed by deposition of calcium carbonate. The technical and aesthetic characteristics of onyx vary depending on the cutting direction; if the cut is parallel to the level of stratification (floor cut), the design is much like a circular plate; if the cut is perpendicular (cross cut), you will see the sedimentary stratification of the stone. The color of onyx is rarely uniform. The color is mixed (beige, orange, brown, pink, red, green, blue, yellow) with white by impurities of different chemical composition. Onyx is a structurally unstable material and is often reinforced with artificial supports or with epoxy resin impregnation. It also has a poor resistance to atmospheric agents; therefore, its use is more suitable indoors without contact to moisture (kitchens and bathrooms) because even relatively weak acids can destroy