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Understanding natural - "Fissures in Granite"
This page is designed to help everyone understand the elements
involved in producing natural stone slabs.
Many "Exotic" colored granites have naturally occurring
"Fissures" or "Micro-fissures". These are essentially natural
cracks in the rock. Most "Exotics" are stone colors that in
years past were not able to be quarried or produced due to
their naturally occurring fissures. Today, advanced quarry
techniques and factory production processes have allowed many
new colors to enter the market.
These new colors are extremely delicate in the "raw-unrefined"
condition. In the factory, both sides (face and back) of the
slabs are filled with a penetrating resin that both fills the
fissures and stabilizes the slab. When properly fabricated in
the factory and installed, the granite slabs are extremely
strong and stable.
The choice then remains with the homeowner, if you love the
beautiful colors and patterns available in these new exotic
colors, then you will need to be informed about the process
used to fill the fractures, and be willing to accept the
natural veining, patterns and filled fissures accompanying
these beautiful slabs.
Cracks or fissures in the quarry wall
are natural features of stone.
Many slabs are
destroyed during the cutting process before they can be
stabilized using resin impregnation techniques.
Slabs are dried and prepared for fill
Close up picture of natural (unfilled) fissure in granite slab
Fissures are filled with epoxy and
quartz crystals
Fissure has been filled with quartz crystals and resin ready
for polishing
Slabs begin through the polishing process
Finished Slab with filled fissures
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