Igneous rocks
Igneous rocks are the oldest, having been formed by the solidification of the molten core of the earth. They form about 95 % of the earth crust. Depending whether solidification occurred slowly within the earth’s crust or rapidly at the surface, the igneous rocks are defined as plutonic or volcanic respectively. In the plutonic rocks, slow cooling from the molten state allowed large crystals to grow which are characteristic of the granites. Volcanic rock such as basalt is fine-grained and individual crystals cannot be distinguished by the eyes.
Granite
Most granites are hard and dense, and thus from highly durable for building materials, virtually impermeable to water, resistant to impact damage and stable within industrial environments. Granites may be flamed to a peeled off surface, produced by the differential expansion of the various crystalline constituents. Nowadays, many buildings have combined the polished and flamed material to create interesting contrast in the depth of color and texture. A wide variety of colors including black, blue, green, red, yellow, and brown are imported from foreign countries. Because of the high cost of quarrying and finishing granite, it’s frequently used as cladding materials or alternatively cast directly onto concrete cladding units.
HOW TO CUT AND POLISH GRANITE
KITCHEN WITH GRANITE FINISHES
Cast basalt
Basalt is a fine-grained stone nearly as hard as granite. It can be melted at 2400 0 C and cast into tile units which are deep steel grey in color. A slightly patterned surface can be created by swirling the molten basalt within the mould. Annealing in a furnace produces a hard virtually maintenance-free shinny textured surface flecked with the shades of green, red and bronze. Larger cast units for worktops, in either a honed or polished finish, can be cut to size.
BASALT WALL AND FLOOR TILES
SAWN AND FLAMED BASALT
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