Ottawa Granite Blog & News

How do Granite Countertops in Ottawa Their Unique Colour and Pattern?

Alaska White,Crazy Horse, Cambrian Black—granite countertops in Ottawa come in a wide range of colours along with interesting names. But what factors determine the specific colours that are in each piece of granite?

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Let’s start at the beginning. How is granite made? Granite is a natural stone found within the earth. When volcanoes erupt, the fluid that flows out is called magma. This magma can flow between other rocks in the earth’s crust. It then cools and crystallizes underground. Once it cools to a solid stone, it becomes granite.

Granite consists of large mineral grains that fit together. The main minerals found in granite are quartz and feldspar. These minerals give granite a light colour, in the white to pink range. Hermatite is type of feldspar that gives granite a reddish colour. Amazonite feldspar, on the other hand, is responsible for the greenish tones in granite. Other minerals are also found in granite but in smaller quantities. Black mica biotite and black amphibole are minerals that give granite its darker colours. The colour of each piece of granite depends on the quantity and the type of minerals found in the stone.

Granite is incredibly strong because the mineral grains within each piece have grown tightly together during its cooling period within the earth. Quartz and feldspar are both harder than steel. This is why granite is such a great choice for countertops. It is very hard-wearing, heat resistant and comes in a large selection of colours and patterns. It is form and function at its best.
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How does granite become a countertop? Granite is quarried from large deposits beneath the earth. It is cut out of the earth in large cubes. The cubes are brought inside to a sawing room. The saw cuts the cubes into slabs, usually ¾” and 1 ¼” thick. These slabs are then polished to bring out the colours in the stone. The slabs are then sent to different granite suppliers. A great local company, TNT Tile and Marble, would then cut the slabs into custom countertops, polish the edges and install them into residential homes.

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