{"id":4116,"date":"2015-04-09T10:58:14","date_gmt":"2015-04-09T15:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graniteselection.com\/?post_type=blog&p=3079"},"modified":"2024-12-13T07:32:33","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T12:32:33","slug":"what-is-granite-anyway","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/graniteselection.com\/blog\/what-is-granite-anyway\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Granite, Anyway?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many Chicago homeowners are creating granite kitchen and bath countertops, as the stone is incredibly popular across the country. But how is granite formed? What is granite made of? Is it suitable for your specific practical and design needs? We\u2019ll try answering this and many other questions about granite and help you correctly choose a natural stone for your home.<\/p>\n

What Type of Rock is Granite?<\/h2>\n

According to geology, granite is a type of igneous rock that is formed under many layers of sedimentary minerals. Granite is one of the most abundant igneous rocks on the Earth\u2019s surface. It is the best-known igneous rock primarily due to its many uses inside homes, offices, or any other structure. After it\u2019s harvested<\/a>, granite can be found in almost anything, whether it be countertops, paving stone, stair treads, floor tiles, building veneer, or even cemetery monuments and headstones.<\/p>\n

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How is Granite Formed?<\/h2>\n

As mentioned above, granite is one of the most common igneous rocks on the Earth\u2019s surface. It is formed under extreme pressure and heat from underneath the Earth. This is called intrusive granite, one of the two classifications for granite indicative of the typical location where you can find it. Intrusive granite cools underground where it hardens to form the granite rock we\u2019ve come to know and love. Extrusive granite, on the other hand, is granite that cools on the surface of the Earth. They are typically spewed onto the Earth\u2019s surface through volcanic eruptions. They have low cooling times due to their exposure to the atmosphere, making them brittle and flaky.<\/p>\n

What is Granite Made of?<\/h2>\n

The exact composition of minerals that make up granite varies from stone to stone. However, the typical composition of granite minerals we\u2019ve come to know consists of variations of feldspar, quartz, and mineral sand.<\/p>\n

Geological location of granite<\/h3>\n

Usually, granite rocks are located at the continental crust of the Planet. The mineral becomes exposed later on as the sedimentary rocks erode away or move. Scientists tend to call granite “basement rocks”, as it lays beneath a sedimentary rock cover. It also serves as a great foundation for other layers of minerals and rocks located above granite.<\/p>\n

Geographic location of granite<\/h3>\n

Granite can be found in great amounts in many parts of the Earth. Most of the mineral that is used for granite countertops in the United States is quarried in Finland, Norway, Brasil, India, and China. No significant quantities of granite slabs are quarried in the US, though a big amount of them exist in Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, and other states.<\/p>\n

Granite Texture and Color<\/h2>\n

As evidenced by the variety of colors available for granite countertops, granite stones also come in a variety of colors, ranging from the lightest whites to the darkest blacks. However, the most common types are predominantly white<\/a>, gray<\/a>, or pink, depending on their mineralogy. Meanwhile, their texture when unpolished ranges from medium in terms of smoothness to coarse, typically described as phaneritic.<\/p>\n

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Granite Countertops<\/h2>\n

When granite is manufactured into countertops, the stone undergoes different processes to convert them from stones to usable slabs for your kitchen or bathroom countertops. Here\u2019s everything you need to know about granite countertops<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How Are They Made?<\/h3>\n

Raw granite is converted into countertops using special tools. But first, the granite has to be extracted<\/a> from the ground. They do this by quarrying the stones from the site, chiseled and blasted from the ground. They use special milling machines to cut the granite stones into workable slabs. Typical dimensions of granite slabs are around four to five feet wide and around seven to nine feet long. Special machines are then used to polish the stones so different slabs have a uniform thickness, about three-quarters of an inch to about one and a quarter-inch thick.<\/p>\n

The manufacturer creates custom countertop designs depending on the specs you require as well as the size of the available slabs. Pre-cut slabs are also available for certain stone designs. You can take a look at the manufacturer\u2019s showroom to get an idea of what these available designs are so you can decide whether to have one custom-made based on the shape, orientation, size, and seam location of your next countertop project.<\/p>\n