Natural Stone, Defined -natural ston

As artisans of natural stone, we are often the go-to place for people who want answers to the following questions:

• 天然石とは何ですか？
• Why is natural stone unique? 
• What are the different types of natural stone?

And these common inquiries make sense—natural stone is not a material that everyone is well-acquainted with!

So, today we are here to bring you up to speed on the natural stone information you need to know.

From definitions and makeup to application and categories, discover important natural stone facts, below! 

Natural Stone, Defined 

Natural stone refers to organic rock that is quarried from the earth and used for building or decorative purposes. 

What is Natural Stone Made Of?

Natural stone is an organic, solid composition made up of one or more minerals. 

外壁用天然粗面レジャーストーンシステム

How is Natural Stone Made?

Like all rocks on Earth, natural stone was formed thousands of years ago. 

After our planet originated, mineral gases filled the Earth. Over time, the planet cooled and those mineral gases condensed to form a solid mineral core and crust. 

Eventually, pressure, expansion, erosion, and heat morphed the Earth’s crust into enormous rock beds. Even now, some of those massive rock beds serve as the quarries from which we mine natural stone. 

The term stone not only references the material’s unique, natural makeup but also calls attention to its intended end-use. 

After being quarried, stones undergo sizing and shaping so they can be used in certain applications. For example, stones can be molded into paving stones, floor stones, wall stones, or decorative stone tiles once quarried.

Natural Stone Variation 

What truly makes natural stone beautiful is its inherent uniqueness.  

Stone is a product of nature, and because of this, no two pieces are entirely alike. 

Even though two pieces of stone might look quite similar on the surface, minute variations are present within the material that make each piece one-of-a-kind.

Variations may occur in the stone’s color, shade, veining, markings, texture, movement, or finish. 

If you see these kinds of variations in your natural stone do not be alarmed! Variations are not defects, but rather innate characteristics of the material that give it complex character and charm.