Natural Stone - Everything You Need To Know
Natural stone slabs are one of the oldest and most reliable building materials on the market. Offering one of a kind designs with a variety of benefits, it’s no wonder why natural stone has been the go-to option for thousands of years.
What is natural stone?
Natural stones are a product of the Earth that result from geological changes and mineral compositions that have been occurring for millions of years. These materials are quarried from Earth’s surface and used for a variety of projects such as: sculptures, countertops, fireplaces, flooring and more.
What are the types of natural stone?
There are many different types of natural stone. Each kind has its own set of properties that make it unique.
Granite
Granite is among one of the most popular natural stones on the market. It is one of the hardest and most durable materials, and requires little maintenance. Granite is ideal for a number of projects including countertops, fireplaces, outdoor projects, floors and more. It comes in a variety of colors, textures and finishes.
Limestone
With its unique appearance and durable features, Limestone is among one of the most diverse stones. It is used both indoors and outdoors in a variety of projects including road construction, building materials and more.
Marble
Although marble is more susceptible to scratching and staining, it has an elegant appearance that is attractive to many homeowners. Marble is a classic natural stone. It has been the go-to material for architectural projects for many years.
Onyx
Onyx is one of the most unique natural stones. Although it is not as durable as other stones, it has translucent properties and the ability to be backlit, making it ideal for statement walls, fireplaces and art pieces.
What Is Black Onyx?
While onyx comes in several colors, the most well-known is black onyx. Historically, it was believed that onyx caused disagreements and conflict, but it’s now celebrated for many positive qualities. Black onyx is a grounding, balancing, and protective stone with several benefits and potential feng shui applications.
Black onyx crystals can be used for grounding, protection, and self-control, and as a shield against negative energy. It also enhances discipline, allowing more ease in following through on goals and completing tasks. Black onyx has a calming quality, which can be beneficial in working with challenging emotions such as grief and anxiety.
Black onyx also helps to balance yin and yang. It helps us to feel centered, make wise decisions, and get to the root cause of issues. It can assist with logical thinking, as well as intuitive receptivity. Black onyx can give us the strength to look within ourselves, to understand the past, present, and future, and to take charge of our lives going forward.
Black onyx is also believed to help with issues related to the feet and bone marrow. It has been used to enhance physical endurance, and to provide support in regaining physical strength after an illness.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a great material for high-traffic areas such as kitchens. It is among one of the hardest and most durable stones, meaning scratching and wear-and-tear will not be a problem. These natural stone slabs also have unique hues that can add extra appeal to any space. quartz, widely distributed mineral of many varieties that consists primarily of silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2). Minor impurities such as lithium, sodium, potassium, and titanium may be present. Quartz has attracted attention from the earliest times; water-clear crystals were known to the ancient Greeks as krystallos—hence the name crystal, or more commonly rock crystal, applied to this variety. The name quartz is an old German word of uncertain origin first used by Georgius Agricola in 1530. Quartz has great economic importance. Many varieties are gemstones, including amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, and rose quartz. Sandstone, composed mainly of quartz, is an important building stone. Large amounts of quartz sand (also known as silica sand) are used in the manufacture of glass and ceramics and for foundry molds in metal casting. Crushed quartz is used as an abrasive in sandpaper, silica sand is employed in sandblasting, and sandstone is still used whole to make whetstones, millstones, and grindstones. Silica glass (also called fused quartz) is used in optics to transmit ultraviolet light. Tubing and various vessels of fused quartz have important laboratory applications, and quartz fibres are employed in extremely sensitive weighing devices.