WHAT ARE ROCKS?
Rocks are usually made up of a mixture of different kinds of minerals. They are classified into three different types; igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

Sedimentary rocks form on sea beds, rivers, and lakes. Examples of sedimentary rocks are dolomite, limestone, sandstone, and travertine.

Igneous rocks are formed with high pressure and high temperature by a crystallization of lava or magma and are divided into two subcategories; Extrusive and Intrusive. Igneous Extrusive is fine-grained rock formed by the crystallization of lava on or near the earth's surface. Igneous Intrusive is when magma doesn't reach the surface to build a volcano or lava flow, so it remains below the surface and cools. Also referred to as Plutonic rock. Granite is an example of an igneous intrusive/plutonic rock.

Metamorphic rocks are formed when they are chemically or structurally altered by high temperature, intense pressure, or both. Soapstone, slate; which is derived from shale, and marble; which is derived from limestone, are all examples of metamorphic rocks.

WHAT ARE MINERALS?
Minerals occur naturally in the earth, and are the chemical substances that rocks are made of. Minerals in turn are made of “elements”; simple substances that cannot be broken down into any other substance. Some minerals, such as gold, are made of only one element, but most are made of two or more. The mineral composition of stone can be divided into two general categories; calcareous and siliceous. Calcareous stones are composed of calcium, such as limestone, marble, and travertine. Siliceous stones are composed of quartz and silica, such as granite, sandstone, slate, and quartzite.

WHAT ARE FOSSILS?
Fossils are the impressions or remains of animals and plants that have been preserved in rocks, usually sedimentary rocks. When animals and plants die, they often decay or are eaten. Fossils form when they are covered with sand or sediment before they decay.

WHAT IS SLATE?
Slate is a very fine-grained metamorphic rock derived from sedimentary rock shale and clay. The shale and clay are subjected to a metamorphic process involving heat and pressure during which cleavage planes are formed which differ from their original bedding. This cleavage can then be split into thinner layers. Slate can contain a wide range of different colors from neutral beige and brown shades, to grey and black, to green, blue, and red shades as well. The presence of mica and quartz in some varieties can also give a copper or silver sparkle appearance. Unless the stone's surface has been honed smooth, slate can be recognized by it's distinct cleft pattern.

WHAT IS LIMESTONE?
Limestone is a sandy sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcite or dolomite. It is formed from calcium precipitating out of sea water and is layered with fossilized plant and animal life. Colors are typically white, beige and brown shades, but can be found in grey and black as well. When the mineral dolomite is present, it makes the limestone harder and capable of being polished in the same way as true marble.

WHAT IS MARBLE?
Marble has both a scientific and commercial definition. Scientific Marble is a crystallized rock that is formed as a result of the metamorphic transformation(intense pressure and high temperatures) of limestone. Different substances and minerals enter the composition of the stone during this process, creating the variation of colors and veining. Commercially, any limestone, travertine, or serpentine capable of taking a polish can be referred to as marble.

WHAT IS TRAVERTINE?
Travertine is, in essence, a variety of limestone. It is a sedimentary rock created when hot, carbon dioxide rich water percolates through limestone, such as in hot springs and caves, resulting in numerous cavities within the rock. These cavities are created when the carbon dioxide bubbles are trapped as the stone is formed. Travertine is characterized by these voids in its surface, and although they occur naturally, they suggest considerable wear over time giving an appearance that cannot be simulated. These voids are generally left natural, but can be filled and the stone honed to give a flatter, smoother surface.

WHAT IS GRANITE?
Granite is an igneous intrusive rock, which during its development was melted volcanic lava, but unlike the lava, never reached the surface. Without reaching the outside, this molten rock slowly cooled and crystallized, forming a very uniform, speckled stone. Minerals within granite typically appear as small flecks throughout the stone. Other types can have veining similar to marble. Granite is a dense grained, hard stone that can come in a broad spectrum of colors and finishes.

STONE FINISHES
Along with the numerous varieties of natural stone, comes different surface finishes/ textures. The following are some of the most common surfaces:

NATURAL CLEFT
Cleft or cleft faced is a natural process created by splitting or separating stones that possess cleavage planes or seams, creating a rough texture on both split faces and revealing the stone's natural graining and undulating surface. The amount of texture and coloration will vary from one stone to another. Natural stones such as slate and quartzite are capable of having a cleft finish and will split in only one direction. The color is not disturbed and represents the true color of the stone.

POLISHED
Polished stone has a shiny, mirror like surface. It's smooth texture and glossy appearance reflects light and emphasizes the color and markings of the stone. Marbles, granites, limestones, and travertines that have a crystalline mineral structure capable of reflecting light back to the eye can have a polished finish. In the production process, a series of abrasive pads are mounted to rotating discs which progressively grind the face of the stone under pressure from the raw saw cut surface to a reflective finish. This is accomplished as finer and finer polishing heads move over the surface of the stone until the desired level of shine is achieved.

HONED
Honed slates, limestones, travertines, and granites have a smooth and even texture with a matte or satin feeling finish. This is achieved during the fabrication process by stopping just short of the last stage of polishing to ensure the surface is smooth but not reflective.

FILLED
Limestone and travertine can have small cavities created by gas bubbles trapped as the stone hardens. In many cases, the stone is left naturally, but if desired, these surface holes can be filled with a cement, grout or epoxy, and then polished or honed to give a completely flat surface.

BRUSHED
When the surfaces of limestone or slate are brushed, they feature a very slightly dimpled/textured surface, but with a satin feeling finish similar to honed stones. This is obtained by grazing the surface with a course rotary-type wire brush at a high velocity.

ANTIQUED/TUMBLED
Antiqued is a replication of rusticated or distressed textures. This archaic or worn appearance is achieved when pieces of stone have been "tumbled" with sand, pebbles, or steel bearings during the fabrication process. The tumbling action rounds edges and corners as well as ages the appearance of the front facing. Most stones can be tumbled, although those that are stronger will better withstand the aggressiveness of the process.

SPLIT FACED
Split faced is created through the separation or division of the stone, similar in appearance and texture to the natural cleft surface. The only difference is that the stone does not have to be foliated or have cleavage planes, like slate or quartzite, in order for it to be split. In fact most stones are capable of being separated either by mechanical or manual means by striking the top edge of the stone. They are generally divided to a specified application thickness but will have a random tolerance. The detail revealed at the finished product will vary depending on the coarseness of the graining in the stone.

FLAMED/THERMAL
The flamed or thermal finish is achieved by applying a high temperature flame and cool water to the surface of the stone. The flame heats the minerals and crystals within the stone, which expand at different rates, until they burst from the surface. The water is used to prevent the stone from splitting apart. The resulting texture is a course and irregular surface with very slight protrusions and indentations which then makes the stone highly slip resistant. This method is generally used on granites, but can also be done to some slates and limestones.

HYDRO/WATERJET
A hydro or waterjet finish is produced by focusing a source of water under extremely high pressure. The force of the water across the surface of the stone erodes the face and breaks crystals away from the surface. The resulting texture is fairly similar to a flamed finish.