Where does granite and marble come from?

Granite and other stones are quarried all over the world, from Greenland to South Africa, Mongolia to the United States. Monticello imports most of its granite and other stone products from overseas. Although granite comes from quarries all around the globe, the bulk of granite blocks are manufactured and sold in Brazil, India, Italy, China and the United States. Many of the exotic granite colors originate in Scandinavia, Turkey and Africa as well as several other regions of the world. Natural stone from one part of the world is not superior to others. Mother Nature does not make such distinctions.

Granite is hard igneous stone that is formed over millions of years by volcanic activity. Magma flows from volcanic activity and slowly cools over millions of years. During the process, magma combines with various minerals including hornblende, feldspar, mica and quartz to create its "crystal appearance". The elements are compressed by forces deep within the earth's surface. As softer earthen material surrounding granite deposits eroded over time, hard granite became exposed creating quarries of granite.

How is engineered stone produced?

Combining the functionality and durability of solid stone and the flexibility and practicality of manmade materials, engineered stone countertops might be a good solution for your counter needs. Engineered stone has been manufactured as high-quality stone slabs for kitchen countertops and bath vanities.

The process of manufacturing engineered stone for kitchen countertops starts when raw crystals of natural stones, particularly quartz and marble, with sizes that range from coarse grains to rock salt size, are gathered. Once the natural stone crystals are selected and ground, they are mixed and blended with bonding agents and color. Most manufacturing procedures make use of 5 to 10% resin as a bonding agent to add to the crushed natural stones. The mixture is heated and undergoes a process called vibrocompaction to form a solid and impenetrable surface.

The vibrocompaction process produces many large slabs of engineered stone. Most engineered stone slabs are composed of 93 percent quartz and 7 percent resin pigments and binders. They are free from cracks and fissures. They are also resistant to moisture, water, heat, and bacterial growth.

Ideally, all engineered stone countertops should be made up of 93% quartz to be durable, hard, and impermeable. Meeting this requirement can produce a product that is extremely durable, nonporous, less likely to crack or break during fabrication.