Granite has been quarried systematically as far back as 4000 B.C.--long before hardened metals were used. Over the centuries, quarrying techniques evolved very slowly until the 20th Century when industrial techniques allowed large quantities of stone to be quarried in a cost effective manner. Low-compression explosives and drive-in quarrying methods are used to remove large blocks of granite from deposits close to the earth's surface. The granite blocks are then shipped from the quarry by truck or rail to a fabrication facility where they are sawn into slabs of the desired thickness. Each slab is then processed through automatic equipment for the required finish application.
Due to the extreme hardness of granite, much of the fabrication process requires the use of diamond-edge saw blades or a slurry containing a metalic abrasive which contributes significantly to the cost of the finished product. However, recent advances in quarrying and fabrication processes have allowed manufacturers to offer many granites at prices equivalent to, and in some cases, less than man-made granite look-a likes and solid surface materials.
Granite is such a versatile material its uses are almost unlimited in both traditional and contempory design applications as is illustrated in our stunning collection of solid "handmade"Granite bowls,sinks and vanity tops.
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