Granite is probably one of the most plentiful natural stones available, quarried in many areas of North America as well as worldwide. Granite is an igneous rock that forms when magma cools slowly beneath the earth’s surface, forming large, easily visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica. Scientifically, igneous rock must contain between 10% and 50% quartz to be classified as granite, but other similar stones such as gabbro, diabase, anorthosite, sodalite, gneiss, and basalt are sometimes sold as “granite” commercially.
What about color? It is the most common question Monarch Stone International is asked. The usual color variation of typical granite used for cobblestone is gray, speckled black/white and pink. The alkali feldspar is what gives a distinctive pink color, and the amount of crystals add to the speckled appearance.
Most folks come to us looking for antique granite cobblestone, and are excited to find the color of our cobblestone (granite and sandstone) is unique. Historic European Cobblestone is unlike many antique granite cobblestone varieties. The granite extracted from European deposits, create a variation of gray, gray-burgundy and earthy tones, with less obvious crystallization’s. In addition, the age and worn surface of the stone leaves the beautiful, authentic aged patina which is unlike anything newly quarried. For images of this unique product, please visit our website dedicated to the Historic European Cobblestone collection, or give us a call!