Granite
WHAT IS GRANITE?
Granite is a solid formation of one or many minerals. There are many types of granite that have been quarried throughout the centuries. Quarries are located all around the world. A majority of natural stone comes from Italy, Spain, Turkey, United States, Mexico, China, Taiwan, India, Greece, Canada, France and Brazil. The minerals in granite came from the same liquid and gas minerals that formed the earth. The earth developed as a massive body of gas and liquid minerals that slowly cooled and condensed to a solid core. Through pressure, the earths crust began to form, and heavy minerals were forced down to the core of the earth, where they were trapped. As the crust got thicker, it squeezed around the inner core, which created intense pressure and heat from within the earth. Crystals and other solid forms began to grow from mineral vapours that were released. As the earths crust began to expand and erode, heat and pressure pushed the solid minerals up to the earths surface, which formed colossal rock beds. Many of these beds are now used as quarries. Granite is suitable for kitchen bench tops, vanities, fireplace surrounds, stair cases, outdoor BBQ bench tops and many more applications.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Granite
is an igneous rock generally formed at lower crustal levels by a number
of different processes. Two of the main processes include (a) the
accumulation of small amount of residual melt derived from igneous
parent material and (b) partial melting of crustal material that has
been deeply buried. While there are other processes that form granites
these tend to be more localized. Most granites are never total liquids,
generally containing up to about 60% crystals. Because many granites
have the consistency of say porridge, it is often very difficult for the
melt component to effectively separate from the original source
material, which is entrapped and carried with the granite magma. These
tend to become the finer-grained dark inclusions and "balls" that are so
common in granites. Although it has often been generalized that cooling
rates determine the grain size of granite there are many factors that
collectively assume a greater importance.
