Material

All terms: 33

A

AlabasterA pale, often translucent carving stone. The name covers gypsum alabaster and the banded calcite traditionally called Egyptian alabaster.
AndesiteA volcanic rock, usually grey or bluish grey, with a fine background and sometimes larger crystals.

BasaltA fine-grained volcanic rock, usually dark grey or black, sometimes with small holes left by gas.
BocabecDark, visibly grained gabbro from southwestern New Brunswick, historically sold as “black granite”, with greenish or grey mineral tones.

CalciteA relatively soft mineral, clear or white when pure, with coloured varieties including yellow, orange, pink, green and blue.
Carrara marbleMarble from the Carrara area of Italy, commonly white to bluish grey, with fine grain and grey veining.

De Lank graniteSilver-grey granite from Cornwall, England, with visible mineral grains; its appearance changes between rough, honed and polished finishes.
DolomiteA carbonate mineral also found in dolomitic stone, commonly white, cream, grey or pink, with a crystalline texture.

FlintA hard, dense form of chert, commonly grey or black with a pale outer crust. It is used as rounded nodules or split faces in walls and decorative masonry.

GraniteA hard, visibly grained stone, commonly grey, pink or red, with contrasting light and dark mineral flecks.
GreywackeA sandstone of mixed mineral and rock fragments, usually grey to black, sometimes crossed by white quartz veins.

JadeA tough carving material including nephrite and jadeite, often green but also white, yellow, lavender or black.

Lapis lazuliA blue ornamental rock, often marked by white calcite and golden pyrite flecks, used for carving and inlay.
LarvikiteA Norwegian igneous stone, grey to dark grey, with feldspar crystals that can flash blue or silver.
Lava stoneStone formed from cooled lava, ranging from compact grey or black rock to porous red or brown varieties.
LimestoneA sedimentary stone, often cream, buff or grey, sometimes showing fossils, shell fragments or fine layers.

MarbleA crystalline stone used for carving and polished surfaces, ranging from white and grey to strongly coloured, veined varieties.

Natural stoneStone formed in nature, covering many rocks and minerals; colour, grain, pattern and texture vary with the material.

ObsidianNatural volcanic glass, usually glossy black or dark brown, sometimes with pale speckles, bands or a coloured sheen.
OnyxDecorative stone onyx is usually banded calcite, often translucent and honey, cream, green or pink; it differs from quartz-based gemstone onyx.

Portland limestoneA creamy white limestone from Dorset, England, with tiny rounded grains and varying amounts of fossil shell.

QuartzA hard mineral, clear or milky white, with pink, purple and smoky brown varieties.
QuartziteA hard stone formed from sandstone, with tightly joined quartz grains; commonly white, grey or pink, sometimes with coloured bands.

SandstoneStone made from cemented sand grains, often cream, buff, brown, red or grey, with a granular texture.
SchistA layered metamorphic rock with visible mineral flakes, often grey, silvery, greenish or brown, sometimes with a shimmering surface.
SerpentineStone rich in serpentine minerals, often green with darker mottling or pale veins, and widely used for carving.
SlateA fine-grained stone that splits into thin sheets, usually grey or black, but also green, purple or red.
SoapstoneA soft, talc-rich carving stone with a smooth, soapy feel, usually grey, greenish or dark grey.
SpringstoneA hard Zimbabwean carving stone, usually dark grey to nearly black, which can take a deep, glossy polish.
Statuario marbleWhite marble from the Carrara area of Italy, distinguished by its bright background and grey veins.

TravertineA limestone deposited by mineral-rich water, often cream, beige, golden or reddish brown, with natural pores and layered patterns.
TuffA stone formed from compacted volcanic ash, often grey, cream, pink or brown, with a fine or fragmental texture.

Utopia GraniteRed to pink granite from southwestern New Brunswick, with visible quartz, feldspar and dark mineral grains.