Granite is one of the strongest, most attractive rocks naturally produced, which makes it valuable to builders and homeowners for a number of interior and exterior applications. Granite is used in projects to provide elegance and quality.
One of the most popular uses of granite is for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Homeowners like the combination of durability and aesthetic beauty. Granite withstands a great amount of pressure and force, which means it is difficult to chip or break. Also, each piece of granite is distinct, so homeowners get a one-of-a-kind look.
Granite is also used in a number of monuments and gravestones. The strength of granite allows it to stand up against natural weather conditions, allowing for a long lifespan. Its beauty also contributes to the intended striking impression of monuments.
Luxury building exteriors, bridges, floors and patios are also designed with granite. Granite stone, though expensive, creates a stunning aesthetic and offers optimal home protection as a residential or commercial building exterior. Granite patios withstand the weight of grills, outdoor kitchens and furniture, as well as the impact of the elements. In many rooms, a granite floor offers a long-lasting, shiny appearance. Granite stone also extends the lifespan of bridges.
Granite is one of the strongest, most durable and attractive stones, making it versatile and favorable for various architectural and artistic applications. Granite stone is used in monuments, paving, bridges, buildings and several other exterior projects. In interior projects, polished granite tiles and slabs are used for stair treads, tile floors and countertops.
Granite is a prestigious material, whose composition allows it to be shaped into various forms; this makes it the most ideal material for creating impressions of quality and elegance. One of the most popular uses of granite is as kitchen countertops. Granite countertops are widely preferred because they are easy to clean, strong, sanitary, heat resistant and water resistant.
Another popular use for granite is making sculptures, gravestones and memorials. Granite can be curved by hand or using computer-controlled rotary bits and sandblasting over rubber stencils. Granite is also commonly used in architectural trims, backsplashes, bathroom basins or sinks, desktops, table tops, fireplace mantles or to create granite medallions.
Despite the fact that granite has an inert composition, low deterioration rate, low water absorption, and is harder compared to sandstone, limestone and marble, it is still susceptible to damage. After very long periods of time, granite may start blistering, chipping, cracking, flaking and eroding.
Granite weighs approximately 2.75 grams per cubic centimeter, which is 2,750 kilograms per cubic meter. It is composed of slightly less than three-fourths silicon dioxide and roughly one-seventh aluminum oxide. The rest consists of other oxides, such as potassium oxide.
Granite is slightly heavier than pure silica sand and quartz, which, as forms of silicon dioxide, weigh 2.648 grams per cubic centimeter. While it is roughly the same weight as most other igneous rocks, it weighs less than the 2.9 grams per cubic centimeter of basalt. Granite is not composed of exact proportions of minerals, and tens of thousands of granite types exist. The more quartz is in granite, the less it weighs; the other oxides, which naturally occur as the mica and feldspar in granite, weigh more.
While some granites contain heavy, naturally occurring uranium, the 10 to 20 parts per million do not noticeably affect the overall weight of granite.
Granite is an intrusive rock with few contaminants, while basalt is an extrusive rock with many contaminants. Granite is the principal component of the continental crust, while basalt is the principal component of the oceanic crust.
Granite is an intrusive rock that is formed when magma cools inside the crust. This slow cooling gives time for crystals to grow, making it more coarsely grained than an extrusive rock. This coarse grain makes granite a favorite of rock climbers. Basalt, on the other hand, has a smooth texture from rapid cooling, usually by water.
Granite is a felsic rock, meaning that it has a high silicon content; it is mostly made out of quartz, mica and feldspar. Basalt, as a mafic rock, contains more calcium oxide, manganese oxide and iron compounds than granite. Its high iron content gives it magnetic properties, and it may show signs of rust when exposed to air. These impurities make it roughly 10 percent heavier than granite.
Because it cools quickly, basalt is often found in formations where granite is not. While granite often takes the form of monoliths or boulders, basalt is often found in roughly hexagonal columns. These columns are created from the shock of cooling, as cracks propagate through the material.
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