Understanding Stone

Egypt is one of the major natural stone producing countries which usually figures in the top 10 countries of export figures of limestone in any government trade statistics. There is simply no need to even introduce anyone to the country´s history of using natural stone, the Pyramids are evidence enough. In the modern industry, however, with, literally, thousands of confusing commercial names for the thousands of different varieties of natural stone that now exist in the market, it makes sense to make a brief summary of at least the most popular stones from that country.

Teresa González Díez teresa.litosweb@gmail.com

In the natural Stone industry several countries are associated in the minds of people with one specific stone even though that country may have different varieties of stones. When one talks of Portugal, a country with a large variety of granites and marbles, the first name that comes to mind is ROSA PORTUGUESE.

The marble denominated Negro Marquina is one of the Spanish ornamental rocks most known internationally along with Crema Marfil, Marron Emperador, Rojo Alicante, to name  just a few. For this very reason, there are some companies who, using the prestige of this unique material, commercialize the material of their quarries under the same name- Negro Marquina (sometimes also spelled as Negro Markina).

Luca Alciati & Laura Fiora

Among the thousands of stones being sold in the international markets, there is one which from the distance is mistaken for wood because of its physical appearance: the sandstone Rainbow / Teakwood This unique physical characteristic has given it a very special niche in the market, and it has become extremely popular all over the world because it is perhaps the only natural stone with an aesthetic aspect that resembles wood.

One of the most well known granites from India in the world markets is TAN BROWN. It is valued for applications in decoration. This article highlights the different varieties of this material since, as is so often the case in natural stone, there is often a wide range of colours and varieties existing within any single material.

In the international stone industry trade fairs any observer would have noticed that several Indian companies (especially from the north), exhibit a wide range of stones that look like sandstone. Most of the time these stones are quartzite, though in commercial parlance, they are often sold as sandstone. This article explores the world of quartzite in India.