Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Sandstone

Sandstone is a Sedimentary Stone consists of quartz, silica, iron oxide and calcium carbonate. It is correct to say that all over the world, Indian Sandstone varieties have fixed the fancy of architects and actual users. Apart from a very large available selection, the price is reasonably low. Usually, sandstone is usually quarried and cut physically.


Sandstone is strong, weather, acid and thermal resistant and has a high grave strength as well. Sandstone is a very even product and as such can be machined to give several different uses other than natural stone flooring and is favored by most of the architects. Particularly, in India, one can locate a wide range of sandstone.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Radiation From Granite

Any naturally formed rock material has the potential of containing varying amounts of naturally occurring radiation. Natural radioactive elements like uranium, radium, and thorium can be present in a wide number of minerals that appear as crystals in granite from around the world. So, it is not unusual for materials such as granite to have some amount of radioactivity (emissions of alpha or beta particles or gamma rays). Depending on the composition of the molten rock from which they formed, some pieces of granite can exhibit more radioactivity than others.

EPA has not conducted studies on radioactivity in granite countertops. However, based on the limited information available, EPA believes that most types of granite used in countertops and other aspects of home construction are probably not major contributors of radiation and radon in the home. EPA will continue to monitor and analyze the evolving research on this issue and will update its recommendations if appropriate.


When present, certain radioactive elements in granite will decay into radon, a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas which may be released from the granite over time. You can see in the diagram below how the decay of Uranium-238 (a radioactive element) produces Radon-222 gas:

However, since granite is generally not very porous, less radon is likely to escape from it than from a more porous stone such as sandstone. It’s important to know that radon originating in the soil beneath homes is a more common problem and a far larger public health risk than radon from a granite countertop or other building materials. Also, any radon from granite in kitchens or bathrooms is likely to be somewhat diluted in the typical home since those rooms are among the most ventilated. To reduce your risk of lung cancer from exposure to radon you should test the air in your home.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Granite Colors

Granite and marble are equally very popular materials for decorating the home, used for things like flooring, bathrooms, walls, and kitchen counter and table tops. Some of the world's popular granite colors are the following:

Absolute Black - this granite has a sleek black sheen with no color alteration whatsoever all through the stone. It is polished to a mirror brightness and it is good looks is in it's stark quality. This kind of granite is mined mostly in India, Sweden, South Africa, and Australia. It is one of the major sellers in attractive granite compared to other patterns obtainable.



Azul Granite - there are a lot of different colors, patterns and types of azul granite, with their names unreliable depending on their country of origin. Azul is the second major popular color for decorative granite universal. Azul granites are mined in dissimilar locations mostly led by Spain and Brazil. While there are other blue colored granites obtainable, azuls are prized for their excellence and the beauty of their patterns, and the truth that the other colours streaking the blue in azul granites are very complimentary to it.

Whites - this color has numerous shades of white granite, with dozens of variations on the idea which again depends on the stone's country of origin. Some examples of this consist of the Big White Flower granite from Guandong, China. This type of stone is mostly white with gray and black markings. Bianco granite is a disparity on white that leans more towards creature ivory in color. Bianco can be mined in astound quarries in Brazil and Italy.


Gold and Copper - metallic colours in these stones are what make them beautiful to sure enthusiasts. Gold and copper granites are found international, and their behind colours are frequently white, gray, and black. While gold and copper granite can be found all across the globe, the highest attention for granite quarries of these shades is Brazil and South America.



Green Granite - of all the different granite colors, green types are perhaps the most changeable when it comes to their additional colors. As most of the other colors have only small differences in their behind shades no matter the source of the granite, greens tend towards immensely different supporting colors.



Rose - while shades of red like crimson and usual red are also a choice between granite buyers, the rarest type of granite in general to find is rose granite. Rose granite ranges from pink to lavender in it's bottom color, and support colors in the stone are typically equally comforting on the eyes, similar to white and pale gold. Some types of rose granite also have opposing colors in the stone, usually gloomy gray, to offer a marked difference to the pink. Brazil and China are the major sources wherever rose granite can be found.