Do you know where granite countertops come from? We do! Go on a journey with us as we learn all about the origins of granite and how it is transformed into the beautiful countertops you have come to love.
Granite is an igneous rock. Igneous rock forms when magma, the molten fluid found below the earth's crust, cools and crystallizes. As the magma cools, it can mix with minerals like mica, quartz, and feldspar. These minerals create the unique color composition found in granite.
Most of the granite used in countertops is quarried in Brazil, China, India, and Italy. Because the mineral makeup in different areas of the world differs, the granite found in different areas has unique characteristics. For example, if the granite contains large amounts of feldspar or quartz, it will be one of the white types of granite on the market.
Granite is not blasted from the sides of mountains the way other stones are quarried. If this method were used, the granite would shatter. Therefore, granite is used by drilling or jet piercing the rock. Jet piercing utilizes a hot flame that cuts a channel in the granite so it can be split. Drilling is used to cut the granite into large blocks.
These large blocks of granite are then transported to a fabrication facility. Once it arrives at the facility, it is cut into slabs using giant saws. The slabs are then polished in the order that they were cut to ensure consistent coloring and patterning.
Polishing not only makes the granite smooth to the touch, but it also brings out the colors and patterns in the granite. Diamond polishing pads remove the top layers of the granite until it is smooth and beautifully colored.
After polishing, the polished slabs are bundled in the order they were cut and then placed in groups of six to seven slabs. This group of slabs is then sent to a supplier who will cut and install your granite countertops.
Granite is a type of rock formed from deep within the earth. Over millions of years, the granite makes its way to the surface, where it is quarried and transformed into countertops. Some of the most popular granite countertops come from Italy, India, Brazil, and China.
