From Earth to Slab

Granite and marble is quarried from the earth in many locations across the world. Once cut from the ground in large blocks, the stone is then processed into slabs and shipped to various natural stone showrooms.

A quarry is an excavated area known to be rich in solid granite of desirable color and pattern. Through careful planning, the shape of each granite block is mapped and marked from above. Along these lines, holes are drilled, and explosives and wedges are inserted into the holes. When the charge goes off, the block splits from the mountain and often slides or tumbles quite a distance before stopping.

Heavy machinery is used to hoist each block to the factory where the granite and marble blocks will be sliced as if they were loaves of bread. Great saws employ several sizes of blades to simultaneously cut through each layer of stone.

Once the rough slabs are cut, they undergo the polishing process. Each slab is held in place with suction cups while a polishing machine gives the surface a high gloss that usually cannot be reproduced by hand.

Polished slabs are bundled in series with the other slabs that were cut from the same block, in sequence. Often, alternating slabs in the sequence will have the reverse side polished, in order to provide “book-matched” sets of slabs.

Bundles are shipped to distributors across the world and displayed in showrooms such as Natural Stone Source for homeowners to choose from. 

To see what slabs Natural Stone Source is currently carrying, please visit us at www.nssgranite.com or come see us in person at 425 N. Frontage Rd. in Nipomo California, 93444.