But how are granite and marble made?

Granite is a natural stone, an intrusive magmatic rock. Granite is the result of the slow cooling deep underground of large masses of intrusive magma, which most often form plutons. It is non-porous, impervious, indestructible, and remains a reliable material for monuments, offering nearly 500 color variations. Granite in its solid form appears with the erosion of millions of years. The mineral composition of granite is quartz, feldspar, and mica. Its chemical composition is 75.5% SiO2, 14% AlO3, 9.5% Na2O K2O, 2% oxide. Its average density approaches 3000 kg. For use, pieces of stone are cut directly from mountains with specialized machinery. Once these massive granite blocks are cut into slices of two and three, they are sent to various distributors worldwide. Today, more than 500 different colors of granite are counted. It is an acidic rock rich in silica and dense.

From the Latin “granuum,” which means grain. Granite forms several kilometers beneath the earth. It will only appear tens of millions of years later.

The largest granite monoliths in the world are found in Yosemite Park, California. It is therefore one of the most commonly used materials for countertops. It is a very hard material. Granite is cut in its natural state before being polished for use in the home. The extracted blocks are then transported to factories and workshops where they undergo several mechanized operations before transformation (roughing, cutting by sawing) until finished products are obtained, as ordered by the clients.

A material of this hardness is difficult to scratch and can withstand temperature variations. Granite is used as a construction material.

There are more than six different types of granite, namely:

Calco-alcaline granites
These are type I granites of mixed origin. They are found in the continental crust.

Tholeiitic granites
They result from the advanced differentiation of a basaltic-origin magma. They have a light color.

Alkaline granites
These are type M granites of mantle origin. They play an important role in the formation of the protocrust.

Leucogranites
They are rich in alumina. These are two-mica granites.

Anatexite granite
This granite has a different appearance from others. It often has heterogeneities with oriented minerals. It does not digest the enclosing rocks and is of type S.

Marble

Marble is a metamorphic rock derived from limestone that has undergone high pressures and temperatures deep within the earth. It is primarily composed of calcite crystals. Limestone rocks are specifically soft, which makes them more prone to wear than plutonic stones. When marble is not polished, it is very brittle. Marble is poorly resistant to external aggressions, which is why it is not recommended for use in funeral monuments.

The term marble is derived from the Greek “amaros,” meaning shining stone, and from the Latin “marmot,” which refers to any polished stone in the process of transforming the original rock.