Great Uses of Granite: Most Popular Uses of Granite

Great uses of granite will be discussed in the following passage. Granite is one of the world’s toughest materials and has been used in buildings for thousands of years.

 

Granite As a Natural Stone

A natural stone, it is formed by extreme heat and pressure deep underground. It is a light-colored plutonic rock found throughout the continental crust, most commonly in mountainous areas. It consists of coarse grains of quartz (10-50%), potassium feldspar, and sodium feldspar. These minerals make up more than 80% of the rock. Other common minerals include mica that is muscovite and biotite and hornblende. The chemical composition of granite is typically 70-77% silica, 11-13% alumina, 3-5% potassium oxide, 3-5% soda, 1% lime, 2-3% total iron, and less than 1% magnesia and titania.

Granites the Most Abundant Plutonic Rocks

Volcanic rock of equivalent chemical composition and mineralogy is called rhyolite. Granites are the most abundant plutonic rocks of mountain belts and continental shield areas. They occur in great batholiths that may occupy thousands of square kilometers and are usually closely associated with quartz monzonite, granodiorite, diorite, and gabbro.

Granite either Igneous or Metamorphic

Debate has long centered on whether granite is igneous or metamorphic in origin. Originally granite was thought to form mainly from magmatic differentiation of basaltic magma, but geologists now believe there is simply too much of it for it to have formed this way, except locally. Most granite seems to have formed either by melting, partial melting, or metamorphism of deeply buried shale and sandstone.

 

Granite Dikes

Granite dikes are clearly igneous, and granite emplaced in the upper few kilometers of the Earth’s crust also often shows evidence of forceful intrusion into surrounding rocks, whereas some granites that formed deeper within the crust seem not to have been forcefully emplaced. Evidence of intrusion or great mobility is considered to indicate an igneous origin that stems from melting of sediments; but where no good evidence of either a magma chamber or of fluidity is observed, a metamorphic origin must be considered.

Granite as a Building and Ornamental Stone

Granite is used as a building and ornamental stone. Many ore deposits copper, lead, zinc, gold, and silver, for example were produced by hydrothermal solutions created during late stages of cooling of granite bodies. Granite is a hard, tough, igneous rock that is widely distributed in the Earth’s continental crust. It is medium- to coarse-grained and consists of a number of minerals, especially members of the feldspar group and quartz.

It varies in composition and comes in a range of colors, such as white, pink, buff, gray, and black, often occurring in combination. Given its ruggedness and wide distribution, it has been used as a construction stone since antiquity. For example, it was used to build some of the pyramids of ancient Egypt and temples of ancient southern India.

Today, granite continues to be used as a dimension stone in buildings and monuments. In addition, given its strength and aesthetic appeal, it is used for kitchen countertops and flooring tiles. Polished granite stones are used in the team sport known as curling.

Granite Durability in Monument

From gravestones to temples, monuments that are intended to last down the generations are often made of granite. Before power tools existed, carving granite was laborious and time-consuming, so the stone was often reserved for important projects. Already at number one, the uses of granite already show popular with monuments that are built to last. 

Granite Strength

What do Roman bridges, the Pyramids and cathedrals have in common? Granite of course! Many ancient and historic buildings use granite to create a core of strength at their centers. As granite can be polished to a beautiful sheen or clad in another stone, it was commonly used for supporting pillars.

 

 

 

Granite Applied in Floors

Polished granite is a stunning natural stone, and is often used alongside marble in stone floors. While marble often has very striking veining, granite typically has a more subtle patterning making the two stones perfect complements.

Granite Paths and Patios

Granite paving slabs are ideal for use outdoors as they are very tough and weather-resistant. Many people are surprised at the number of shades of granite that are available, paving slabs come in a wide range of hues, from red to green, as well as the well-known greys and blacks.

Granite as External Cladding and Building Blocks

Halfway through our 10 great uses of granite, we have building blocks. Rough granite looks very different from the high gloss finished stone you’ll often see indoors. Many cultural groups use rough-hewn granite as building blocks or cladding for important buildings such as town halls and religious buildings.

Granite Mosaics and Tile Patterns

As natural granite is available in many colors, it’s entirely possible to create a mosaic or tile pattern using only this stone. Using a single type of tough stone is a good way to ensure that no part of the patterned floor wears out. 

Granite Backsplashes and Bathroom Tiles

Modern technologies allow us to cut granite into thinner tiles than ever before, making it an ideal choice for a backsplash or tiled bathroom. As a result, Granite is waterproof and stain resistant. This makes it easy to handle the damp and dirt.

Granite Mantelpieces and Staircases

Using larger slabs of granite is a great way to preserve and display the beauty of the stone. Granite mantels and stairs are popular thanks to their blend of beauty and practicality: granite mantels won’t catch fire and granite stairs won’t wear out.

Granite Kitchen Worktops

At number nine, granite is a popular choice for kitchen worktops. Granite is waterproof, stain resistant, heat resistant, easy to clean and hard to damage making it a very practical choice for the kitchen or bathroom.

Granite as a Gemstone 

Many kinds of granite are common enough to be affordable building materials, a few are both rare and stunningly beautiful. These may be used as gemstones and set into jewelry.

To learn more about us, click here. 

Send your price quotes directly to our WhatsApp through this Link: https://wa.link/ord5k8

Sources

www.surreymarbleandgranite.co.uk/10-great-granite-uses/

www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Granite

nature.berkeley.edu/classes/eps2/wisc/granite.html