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Granite countertops are commonly found in modern day homes. This beautiful natural stone is one of the most durable materials you can choose for your home and is also among the easiest to care for. If you are looking to incorporate natural beauty into your home, granite is a great choice for countertops, backsplashes and many other surfaces. This guide will provide you with knowledge on how granite is mined and how it is ultimately transformed into kitchen countertops and various other home surfaces.
How is Granite Mined?
The journey of granite begins at granite quarries located around the world. Many types of granite come from countries such as Brazil and India, but the stone can be found in many places in the United States as well.
Granite is an igneous rock that is made up of primarily quartz and feldspar. It is formed by the cooling and solidification of magma (molten rock that is underground). This rock contains the natural stone that makes up countertops and other surfaces.
Powerful machinery and explosives are used to mine granite out of the earth. This raw granite is extracted in blocks that are later shaped into granite slabs. Granite is one of the most popular types of dimension stone – stone that is quarried for the purpose of creating blocks or slabs. After quarrying, the blocks of granite are transported by truck to facilities that cut the stone into slabs of granite.
What Happens Once Slabs Are Created?
Once granite is cut into slabs, the stone is polished to smooth out its naturally rough exterior. It is then transported to locations worldwide, and ultimately, will be formed into countertops and other surfaces.
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How Are Slabs Turned into Countertops?
The granite slabs are transported to a fabrication facility. It is here that fabricators will cut and shape the stone according to the specific needs of your countertop. Rough edges are smoothed as part of the process.
Step 1 | Granite is extracted from the earth at quarries worldwide. |
Step 2 | The granite blocks are transported to facilities where they will be cut down into slabs. |
Step 3 | Slabs are transported to locations all across the world. |
Step 4 | Fabricators shape the granite slabs into your countertops (or other home surfaces). |
Step 5 | Professionals will install your brand new granite countertops. |
Without granite mining, we would not enjoy these beautiful natural stone surfaces seen in many homes. There are other mining processes that produce stones such as marble and quartzite that are later transformed into countertops, backsplashes and more.
This incredible natural stone endures quite the journey across the world. From beginning as stone cut from rock beneath the earth’s surface to becoming a shiny new countertop in your home, there are many processes involved in creating granite countertops. The first of these processes is granite mining. This guide gives you knowledge about the mining process as well as what happens after granite leaves the quarry.