Everything You Need To Know About Granite Countertops
What are granite countertops made from?
Granite comes from all over the world, such as Italy, India and Brazil. It is broken from the earth in large chunks and then cut into slabs to make countertops. Some granites are only available in certain locations, and the cost of shipping from that location may affect the price of your countertop[1].
The granite used for the countertops comes from quarries. It is blasted, drilled or gouged out of the ground, and mining machines cut it into slabs of the right size. These panels are usually about 5 feet wide and up to 8 feet long – larger panels may cost more [2].
Benefits of granite countertops.
Another benefit to granite countertops is their heat resistance. Granite is naturally formed by pressure and heat which means that granite countertops resist heat well. You can even put a hot pot or pan on the surface of your granite countertops without scorching it, though we recommend using pot holders[3].
If you want the benefits of granite without breaking the bank, you may be able to install granite tiles on your countertop to reduce the overall price. Talk to a professional here at American Marble & Granite for more information on how to update your kitchen countertops with granite! [3].
Types of granite.
Granite is a light-colored igneous rock, coarse-grained. This natural stone consists mainly of quartz and feldspars with some amounts of amphibole minerals and mica. It is harder than marble and has visible grains. People from granite industry who fabricate, sell and purchase cut stone slabs for further use call this natural stone simply ”granite”. The industry calls stones like basalt, gneiss, diabase, monzonite, gabbro, pegmatite, syenite, schist, anorthosite, granodiorite, diorite, and many other rocks, simply “granite.”[4].
Many minerals make up each slab and give it the unique colors we see in different types of granite. Granite is a combination of minerals and rocks, primarily Quartz, Potassium Feldspar, Mica, Amphiboles, and a trace of other minerals. Granite that is high in Potassium Feldspar will have rich red and pink highlights. Granite that contains Mica will produce brown or black veining. Below is a list of the minerals and what colors they usually produce in granite slabs[5].
