IGNEOUS
Igneous rocks were molten matter deep in the earth. They cooled and took shape as the mass was pushed to the surface over millions of years. Igneous rocks include GRANITE, GABBRO, BASALT, and PORPHYRY. The mineral composition if primarily feldspar and quartz plus other materials such as mica and hornblende. The variation of each of these materials contributes to the unique color of each stone. Much like the human fingerprint, no two stones are exactly alike.

The grain structure can range from coarse to fine and is generally consistent throughout the stone, although some can show veining. Broad ranges of colors are available including reds, browns, blacks, whites, beiges, yellows, pinks, grays, and greens.

Granites are hard dense stones that can be highly polished or finished in a variety of ways. They are equally suited to indoor or outdoor applications. A process called “flaming” conditions granite for tile and paver applications and virtually eliminates what would otherwise be a slippery surface.

SEDIMENTARY
Sedimentary rocks include LIMESTONE, TRAVERTINE, SANDSTONE and SOAPSTONES. They were formed by the accumulation of materials settling in basins and sea beds and becoming compacted over millions of years.

Limestones are a common building stone which range in color from gray to buff and some pastel shades of pink and yellow. Limestones are composed primarily of calcium carbonate. Some limestones are very hard and dense, and others are softer and more porous. Harder limestones may take a polish while the softer ones will not.

Travertines are a crystalline form of calcium carbonate that developed in layered deposits adjacent to cold and warm mineral springs. The characteristic holes and pock marks were formed by the percolation of the mineral waters through the deposit over millions of years. Travertines vary widely in hardness, density and porosity. They are typically light to dark beige although some have white to dark brown veining. Some Travertines can be polished to a high gloss finish. The majority of Travertine used in Outdoor Décor today is from Turkey and Mexico. Sandstones are composed primarily of quartz crystals bonded together with silicon, calcium carbonate or iron oxide. The color is determined by the amount of iron oxide present and the colors range from light to dark including browns, reds, buffs and yellows. The density, porosity and hardness of sandstones will also vary depending on the specific quarry deposit.

Soapstones range in color from gray green to gray brown and are composed of talc and chlorite. The talc gives soapstone its characteristic slippery feel and makes it a very soft, but dense, stone that is often used for ornamental carving.

METAMORPHIC
Metamorphic rocks include MARBLE, SLATES, QUARTZITES, SCHIST and GNEISS. These rocks were formed as another type and over millions of years metamorphosed into the building stones with these familiar names.

Marbles are composed primarily of dolomite and calcite with a wide variety of other minerals contributing to their color and texture. Marble began as limestones and the colors, textures and veining are produced through metamorphic activity. A rainbow of colors from around the world is available including blacks, reds, pinks, yellows, whites, greens, blues, and beiges. Commercially, any stone (except granite) capable of taking on a polish is called marble. However, a true marble is completely metamorphosized.

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