How Do You Get Different Coloured Granite?
Posted on 21st April 2022 at 08:50
How Do You Get Different Coloured Granite?
Different coloured granite is common, with granite worktops available in a huge range of hues and patterns. Nowadays, more and more homeowners are opting to have granite countertops installed on account of their quality and durability. If you have an interest in granite worktops and how the stone is formed, you may have wondered why so many granite colour options exist. Today, we are going to explore granite colour options in depth: asking how manufacturers obtain different coloured granite.
Why Are There Different Granite Colour Options? People often see the wide range of granite colour options available and believe this is altered in the manufacturing process. A lot of people are often surprised to find out that, as granite is naturally formed, different coloured granite is not altered. Conversely, the colour of granite is a process that occurs naturally. To give you a bit of context, granite is an igneous rock that was formed deep underground. Granite is the result of magma or lava cooling and solidifying under intense pressure. The colour is produced as a result of the rocks' makeup as well as the mineral percentage. Common minerals found in granite include sodium feldspar, potassium feldspar, and amphibole. Quartz also makes up the majority of granites' genetic makeup, with 20-60% of the minerals in granite typically being quartz. The formation of the granite and its mineral composition is, essentially, how we are awarded different granite colour options. Granite containing predominantly quartz, for example, will look hugely different to granite with a large potassium feldspar percentage. Below, we explain different coloured granite in relation to mineral composition.
Different Coloured Granite Explained
As stated, the different minerals that make up granite are responsible for the unique colours we see in different types of granite. By looking at the colour of granite, you can actually identify what minerals make up that granites' mineral composition. Below is a list of minerals commonly found in granite and the corresponding colour makeup produced by that mineral.
Quartz: typically milky-white
Feldspar: typically off-white
Potassium feldspar: typically salmon-pink
Biotite: typically black or dark brown
Muscovite: typically metallic gold or yellow
Amphibole: typically black or dark green
Granite Colour Options at Granite Unlimited
We hope you enjoyed our brief insight into the formation of granite and how different coloured granite is achieved. If you are interested in having granite worktops in your home and are looking to explore granite colour options, we can help. We have a wide range of granite available in our showroom and have a team of experts that can match your kitchen to the best colour option. For more information, visit our dedicated page or, alternatively, give us a call on 01206 598 890.
Share this post: