Natural stone is one of the most commonly used materials, not just for the exterior or interior of a home, but for the exterior or interior of any building. However, most of you may have never wondered how each of these rocks formed or their characteristics. In this blog post, we will try to explain how different natural stone tiles are formed and with their characteristics.

Natural stones are created over hundreds of thousands of years and the types of stones created depended on the combination of different minerals due to their location.

Stone can come from anywhere in the world, and the type of stone is determined by its origins. There are many large quarries in China ,America, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Brazil, however other countries around the globe can also provide natural stone tiles. Some countries have many natural stone quarries and others only have a few.

Calacatta Gold Marble

Marble

Marble is actually the result of limestone that is altered through heat and pressure. It’s a versatile stone that can be used almost for any application, this includes statues, stairs, walls, bathrooms, counter tops, and more. Marble can be sourced in many varying colours and veining, but the most popular seems to be the white and the black marble ranges.

Turkey Roman Travertine

Travertine

Travertine is created over time when natural waters wash through limestone. As it dries, the extra minerals solidify to create a much denser material called travertine, there are different grades of travertine, a much denser stone with less holes and range with slightly more holes and these are usually graded during the manufacturing process. Being a great alternative to marble or granite due to its durability but a type of stone that is much lighter and easier to work with. Travertine is more commonly used on floors or walls, and if maintained regularly, it is estimated to last very long time.

Mont Blanc Quartzite 

 Quartzite

Quartzite also originates from another type of stone through heat and compression, this stone is sandstone. Coming also in varying colours, it is one of the hardest natural stone types, making it an excellent choice for counter-tops or other structures that require a heavy-duty stone.

Granite

Granite originally being an igneous stone that had been exposed to magma (lava) it is altered with the help of different minerals over time. Granite is commonly found in countries that have seen high volcanic activity at some point, being available in wide range of colours from black, brown, red, white, and almost all the colours in between makes granite a very popular option and being one of the hardest rocks and also due to its antibacterial qualities, Granite is a great option for kitchens and bathrooms.

Cosmic Black Granite

Limestone, being the result of the compression of coral, seashells, and other ocean life together in most limestone tile they are actually visible hence giving this stone type the unique appearance. There is a harder type of limestone that is full of calcium, and a softer type with more magnesium. Hard limestone is often used in the building industry with its more water resistant properties, it is suitable for all environments in your home.

Slate is created when shale and mud-stone sediments were altered through heat and pressure. Coming in colours from black, purple, blue, green, and grey. Although, slate has become a popular choice for roofing due to the fact that it can be cut very thin and withstands cold temperatures. Slate tiles are also used as floor and wall tiling due to its robust nature.

Each of these types of natural stone needs specific care. Please make sure you know exactly what chemicals to avoid and how to maintain the stone of your choice properly to help preserve its natural look over its lifetime.