Granite and Basalt

Both granites and basalts are natural stones of great utility and prestige in construction, and as such, they are part of the range of stone materials that Naturpiedra presents. We also offer the services of expert layers of this type of material, as can be seen in the numerous and important works carried out with these types of material.

Granites and basalts are igneous rocks that have been formed through the cooling of magma under the earth’s crust. Both are composed of minerals of the silicate group, so their composition is highly concentrated in silicon and oxygen.

Granite is an intrusive igneous rock of varied colours, essentially made up of quartz, feldspar and mica, as the main minerals common to them; others are added in smaller quantities in the numerous varieties that exist. Granites are formed when magma with a high silica content (known as saturated magma) solidifies deep beneath the earth’s crust, under conditions of high pressure and slow cooling.

Basalt is a dark-coloured extrusive igneous rock of volcanic origin and mafic composition (rich in magnesium and iron silicates and silica), with a high density; it is one of the most common rocks in the earth’s crust.

Both types of natural stone have been widely used in architecture since prehistoric times, as can be seen in numerous constructions, including those dating back thousands of years, all over the world, thanks to their hardness and resistance to weathering. It is appreciated for its extraordinary hardness, together with the multiple ways in which it can be worked and finished, such as polished, flamed, bush-hammered, shot-blasted or natural cut.

Among the construction uses to which both granites and basalts can be adapted, we can list:

– Tiles, both dimensional and irregular, for façade cladding and flooring.
– Cobblestones, being the most commonly used natural materials for this use, both in irregular and mechanised form.
– Masonry, both in both concrete and unconcreted form.
– Special pieces, urban furniture, lathing, etc., thanks to the various possibilities of moulding it, despite its hardness.