Qualities of Granite

Granite is widely recognized by experts as being the strongest type of material in the world. But, that said, there are a large number of different types of granite, and that sometimes confuses consumers. Below is a list of the qualities that can vary from granite piece to granite piece.

Color:

Consumers often wonder why some colors of granite may be more expensive than others. Well, pricing is usually based on rarity of the material rather than on quality of a color. More expensive granite colors are usually available in very limited quantity from a very limited number of quarries. The reasons for the differences of colors among various types of granite is something that even scientists have difficulty explaining especially briefly so for present purposes we will say, when selecting granite, find a color that suits your tastes and budget.

Strength:

All granite is exceedingly strong and will last for thousands of years (at least) in most cases, but there are several scientific measures of strength that consumers may find helpful. Different types of granite will vary on these measures, and understanding the differences may be helpful as you review literature about the granite you are considering.

Bulk Density: These measures how tightly packed the molecules are packed together in a piece of granite. All granite is extremely dense, of course, but some types are a little denser than others. This can sometimes be used as the main key to knowing how strong a piece is. Generally speaking, a piece that has a high bulk density will also be strong in all of the other measures.

Absorption: These measures how much liquid will absorb into a piece of granite. (And thus tests it’s susceptibility to stains.) This measure is related to density in that, the denser a piece of granite is, the lower its absorption will be. Pieces with very low absorption will allow very little liquid to seep between the densely packed molecules. Liquid will simply rest on the surface of the piece more or less indefinitely. It should be noted that even pieces with high absorption will not by any means absorb liquids easily. But some pieces will absorb liquid if it stays on the surface for a considerable length of time.

Compressive Strength: This measures, simply, how much force must be placed on a piece of granite before the granite will crush.

Modulus of Rupture: This measures how much force must be placed on a piece of granite before it will break apart (or rupture).

In general, even granite with weak scores on each of the above measures is incredibly strong and useful for most common purposes: such as artistic sculptures, building construction, and memorial products. But occasionally, a project will require certain levels of granite strength that only certain types of granite can provide. That is when it’s important to look at the measurement scores when choosing granite.

In most cases consumers, again, will be quite well served by simply choosing a color of granite that they enjoy and that they can afford.

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