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EDUCATION IS KEY WHEN PURCHASING
NATURAL COUNTERTOPS
The three most appealing
features of granite are natural beauty, life-long durability,
and low maintenance. To fully appreciate the benefits of granite,
however, it is important to understand the characteristics
of stone and what makes it superior to man-made products.
Installed granite may not be exactly like a showroom sample.
Each product has unique natural patterns, markings, veining,
or darker or lighter spots. While some people view these as
part of the natural essence, others may not.
HISTORY
Stone is a natural solid formation comprised of one or
many minerals. Thousands of stone types have been quarried
through the centuries from quarries located around the world.
The majority of natural stone comes from Italy, Spain, Turkey,
the United States, Mexico, China, Taiwan, India, Greece, Canada,
France, and Brazil.
Composite minerals come from the same liquid and gas minerals
that formed the earth. As the earth developed as massive bodies
of gas and liquid, minerals slowly cooled and condensed to
a solid core. Extreme pressure then formed the earth's crust.
Heavy minerals were trapped when they were forced down into
the earth's core. As the crust thickened, it shifted the inner
core creating intense pressure and heat from deep within the
earth.
Crystals and other solids form through the release of mineral
vapors. Over a one-hundred million year period, the expansion
and shifting of the earth's crust produced extreme heat and
pressure which pushed the solid minerals to the earth's surface.
Many of the colossal rock beds which were formed are today’s
stone quarries.
Crystals come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be
identified by their color, hardness, and crystal formation.
The large number of these minerals make them difficult to
identify. While each is distinctive and unique, many stones
look very similar to each other. It is imperative to know
the exact type of stone product you have purchased in order
to effectively and safely maintain it.
As stone products are natural, they can be severely damaged
by some cleaning chemicals and procedures. Most stones are
a natural alkalis which tend to attract other alkali like
dirt. The proper selection of cleaning procedures and chemicals
for stone product cleaning is critical.
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