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| Slate |
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Slate is a very distinctive
flooring material with rich layers of depth
that can be used for any indoor or outdoor
application from floors to walls. Gauged slate
is uniform in thickness, while ungauged slate
varies in thickness, creating a three-dimensional
appearance. As durable as it is beautiful,
slate can stand up to even the heaviest use,
such as in kitchens, foyers, patios and laundry
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| Travertine |
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Travertine is one of several
natural stones that are used for paving patios
and garden paths. It is sometimes known as
travertine limestone, sometimes as travertine
marble; these are the same stone, even though
it is neither limestone nor marble. The stone
is characterized by pitted holes and troughs
in its surface. Although these troughs occur
naturally, they suggest to some eyes that
considerable wear and tear has occurred over
many years. Some installers use a grout to
fill these holes, whereas others leave them
open - travertine can even be purchased "filled"
or "unfilled." It can be effectively polished
to a smooth, shiny finish and comes in a variety
of colors from grey to coral-red. Extensive
deposits exist at Tivoli, Italy, near Rome.
In fact, travertine derives its name from
this town. Tivoli was known as Tibur in ancient
Roman times. The ancient name for the stone
was lapis tiburtinus meaning tibur stone,
which has been corrupted to travertine. |
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| Quartzite |
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Quartzite is a hard,
metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone.
Through heating and pressure usually related
to tectonic compression within orogenic belts,
the original quartz sand grains and quartz
silica cement were fused into one. Pure quartzite
is usually white to grey. Quartzites often
occur in various shades of pink and red due
to varying amounts of iron oxide. Other colors
are due to impurities of minor amounts of
other minerals. |
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| Granite |
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Granite is an igneous rock and
is formed from magma. Suitable for many household
and commercial applications, granite can help
to beautify floors, walls, fireplaces, countertops
and more. Characterized by distinct crystals
of Feldspar, Mica and Quartz, granite is an
extremely durable and scratch-resistant stone.
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| Marble |
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The word "marble" derives from
the Greek marmaros, "shining stone". Noted
for its brilliant colors and subtle movement,
marble is an elegant choice for virtually
every kind of project, including floors, tub
surrounds, fireplaces and more. Marble comes
in many different textures and finishes to
meet your personal preferences. |
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| Sandstone |
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Sandstone is a sedimentary rock
composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock
grains. Most sandstone is composed of quartz
and/or feldspar because these are the most
common minerals in the earth's crust. Like
sand, sandstone may be any color, but the
most common colors are tan, brown, yellow,
red, gray and white. Since sandstone beds
often form highly visible cliffs and other
topographic features, certain colors of sandstone
have been strongly identified with certain
regions. |
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Some sandstones are resistant
to weathering, yet are easy to work. This
makes sandstone a common building and paving
material. |
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| Limestone |
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Limestone is a sedimentary
rock composed largely of the mineral calcite
(calcium carbonate: CaCO3). Limestone often
contains variable amounts of silica in the
form of chert or flint, as well as varying
amounts of clay, silt and sand as disseminations,
nodules, or layers within the rock. The primary
source of the calcite in limestone is most
commonly marine organisms. |
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| Mosaic |
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