What is granite?
Granite and other granite-like stones are formed of hard minerals such as quartz, feldspar and mica, which were fused together under intense heat and pressure into a very hard stone ideal for kitchen counters because its polish is resistant to household acids such as citrus and vinegar and is hard enough to resist scratching from knives and pots and pans.
Granite is igneous rock, which provides a clue to its origins. “Igneous” come from the Latin igneus meaning “fire” (also the root word of ignite) and indicates that it was formed by liquid, fiery magma and melted just like volcanic lava. In fact, its chemical composition is similar to that of lava. However, unlike lava, the molten rock never reached the surface. It solidified deep inside the earth, where it slowly cooled and crystallized. The granite that comes from the Canadian Shield is estimated to be approximately 3.8 billion years old. Splits and rifts caused by the earth’s plates shifting (due to seismic activity) forced the granite to the surface in the Precambrian age, more than 570 million years ago.
The term “granite” is used to cover a group of related stones, all of which have their origin deep in the earth s molten mantle. As this extremely hot liquid material rises and cools, it forms a crystalline, granular structure, hence the term granite. Granite and other granite-like stones are formed of hard minerals such as quarts, feldspar and mica, which are fused together into a very hard stone ideal for kitchen counters because its polish is resistant to household acids such as citrus and vinegar and is hard enough to resist scratching from knives and pots and pans.
Granite is an igneous rock. This means that at one time during its development, it was melted like volcanic lava. Unlike lava, however, this melted rock never reached the surface. It remained trapped inside, where it slowly cooled and crystallized, resulting in a very uniform, speckled stone that ranges in color from blacks and grays to pinks, browns, and reds. Polished granite is a very durable stone, much harder than marble. Granite has been popularly used for commercial purposes for many years. Granite can often be found on building exteriors, interior walls, and high-traffic floors. Granite will withstand almost any element including heat and cold.
