Where Does My Granite Come From?

Clients in our showroom at Natural Stone Source often want to know: Where does my granite slab com from? Since granite is formed all over the world, quarries can be found just about anywhere.

In Brazil, granite mining is widespread. As a result, many of our popular slabs come from Brazil. Granite such as Uba Tuba, Crema Bordeaux, Giallo Ornamental, Typhoon Bordeaux and Seafoam Green all originate from various locations there. 

Typhoon Bordeaux

In Italy, granite such as New Venetian Gold and Baltic Brown can be found, along with many popular marbles and travertine stones. Black Galaxy is sourced from Cheemakurthy, India, and Blue Pearl is from India as well. 

New Venetian Gold

The United States contains many granite quarries as well, ranging from Barre, Vermont to Riverside, California. 


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.





Sources:
Stone Contact
Graniteland
Stone World
StoneBTB.com
Rashi Granite Exports India Pvt Ltd.

Things To Consider When Choosing Granite

At Natural Stone Source, we always have a wide selection of granite in our showroom, ranging in a wide variety of colors and movement. Once you have settled on the perfect slab, however, it is important to look very carefully at the stone which will permanently form your countertops.

Get to Know Your Granite

The best way to get to know your granite is to run your hands over it's surface. Even though it looks smooth and shiny, there are usually natural imperfections in the stone, such as fissures and small ridges. These details will be a part of your kitchen and bathroom, so it is nice to know they exist ahead of time.

Granite Fill Spots

Another way to ensure that the granite will be a perfect fit into your home is to inspect it very closely. Not all stone can be sliced out of the ground without losing small crystals here and there. When those crystals fall out, a small hole is left in the stone slab. The mining company fills the hole with a matching epoxy to both strengthen the slab and to complete a continuous polished surface. These fill spots may not have the same shine as the body of the slab does, so it is nice to notice them ahead of time.

Natural Lighting on Granite

Our showroom at Natural Stone Source provides plenty of natural lighting for viewing slabs. However, upon request, the showroom staff may be able to pull your slab outdoors into the sunlight for even better visual inspection. This is helpful if your kitchen or bathroom receives direct sunlight, and especially helpful if your granite will be located outside on a barbecue or an outdoor kitchen.

Once you are nice and familiar with your choice of stone, fabrication can begin. When your kitchen or bathroom countertop are installed, there will be no surprises over the nature of the stone.

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.

White Carrara Marble: Steeped in Ancient History

The Pantheon, Michelangelo's David, and your bathroom vanity may all have one thing in common: Carrara Marble. Excavated in Italy, Carrara has been used since ancient times for it's beauty and style.

White Marble of Distinction

In the year 126 A.D., the ancient Romans completed the construction of the Pantheon, a vast temple dedicated to the gods of that era and built of stone, much of it Carrara marble. Later, in the year 1501 A.D., Michelangelo was commisioned to complete a statue of David by the Duomo of Italy, carving from a highly prized block of the same white stone. It has since remained a popular material for the carving and building trades.

Limestone Beginnings

Marble is the product of a metamorphic change that occurs when limestone is placed under conditions of intense heat and pressure within the earth. White marble, such as Carrera marble, was once limestone that began with relatively few impurities. Other colored marbles are the result of various minerals that have been mixed within the original limestone before the metamorphosis began.

Fun Fact

Marble is usually named after the town or region where it is mined. Hence, Carrara marble comes from the city of Carrera, Italy. Incidentally, the town of Carrera is known for its tradition of general anarchy.


Sources

Kinds of Marbles

Mineral Photos- Marble

Pantheon


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.

Why Granite is Best in the Kitchen

Natural stone showrooms often carry stunning slabs of marble and travertine. While these natural stones are tempting, they don't hold up well in all parts of the kitchen. As flooring and backsplashes, marble and travertine can certainly add beauty, but when it comes to kitchen counter-tops, nothing beats the durability of granite.

Granite's Tough Composition

Granite is an igneous rock, formed of molten magma deep inside the earth's crust. At these depths and pressures, cooling magma crystallizes into the strong crystal formations that give granite strength and character.

Once a granite counter-top is installed into a home, it will be very impermeable to water, resist bacteria, and unlikely to scratch or etch

Marble and Travertine 


Marble and travertine are hard natural stones that make great tiles, flooring, and bathroom vanities.

These stones are composed of materials such as calcite or calcium carbonate that undergo a chemical reaction in the presence of acids.

In a kitchen, acids are plentiful: lemons, oranges, vinegar, cola, etc. It can be quite a chore  to keep these foods from coming in contact with a marble or travertine counter, and at Natural Stone Source, we often advise against it.


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.