Erupt your Senses with Dramatic, Dark Granite

Image: Volcano Polished Granite Basement Bar Countertop from Arizona Tile

When it comes to choosing the right stone for your home—be it for a kitchen countertop, backsplash, shower, etc.—options are not limited. We all have our preferred aesthetic appearance, and for some, the darker the palette, the better. Within our granite natural stone slabs and tile, we offer many dark options, including some stunning black-based stone pieces, like our rich Volcano granite.

Ideal for both commercial and residential projects, Volcano granite is a delightful mix of several minerals that make up this one-of-a-kind black stone. Its rich appearance makes it a good candidate for countertops in your kitchen, interior walls, shower walls, and around fireplaces.

The Durability of Granite

Granite is a stone most of us have heard about, regardless of your design preferences. If you see a countertop that appears to be stone, it is almost automatic to wonder if it is granite because it is so commonly used. However, this was not always the case: granite has been used throughout history and was once a status symbol—used to honor pharaohs and gods. Today it is much more common to find granite in any home or business. Granite is so relied upon because it is naturally stain-resistant, remarkably durable, full of beauty, and easy to care for. All of these attributes make the visual aspect of granite an appealing option, indeed.

Image: Overhead of Volcano Polished Granite Bar Countertop from Arizona Tile

Volcano granite, however, is even more unique than traditional granite because it contains elements of quartz, mica, biotite mica, feldspar, and garnet. The final composition of these five elements each contributes in different ways.

• Quartz is known as one of the hardest minerals on earth and helps durability.
• Mica adds a heat-resistant element to the stone.
• Biotite Mica is black and adds to the darkness of the granite.
• Feldspar is highly resistant to abrasion helping preserve the visual integrity of the material.
• Garnet is durable enough to resist abrasion and hard enough to hold significant weight.

Once all these minerals meld together, you are left with a deep black background with varying-sized veins and swirls of whites, browns, and oranges. Given the varying characteristics of all these minerals, areas of quartz will be very durable, while areas of mica will fall softer. Selecting the right edging for this unique surface in a beveled or flat edge helps to bring it all together.

Think of your favorite pub with that comfortable, dark ambiance and details of wood, then envision this stunning granite affixed on the bar top.

Black Granite for any Aesthetic

It is fun having all the focus on Volcano black granite, but there are other black granite options worthy of consideration—in both slab and tile formats.

Image: Blizzard Granite Black Kitchen wet bar Countertop from Arizona Tile

One great thing about using black in a design scheme is that it masks many types of stains, spills, or general messes that a light-colored granite would show. This may be helpful for your sanity, especially if you have young children.

• Black Mist Honed is beautiful as a kitchen countertop, for either the interior or exterior. Its black background is complemented by soft, white quartz veining and grey areas.
• On a stormy night in the North Country; you see nothing but the darkness of night and the snow swirling around your face. Envision this as a granite stone slab, and you have Blizzard granite: a black granite with white veining that has the appearance of marble but is more durable.
• With limited variation and a deep hue, Black Pearl and Black Pearl Satin are speckled with crystals that stand out and enhance the depth of color. With its varied uses, these selections offer a more uniform appearance versus the ribbons and veins of some others.

Image: Indian Premium Black Granite Wrap Around Kitchen Countertop & Bar from Arizona Tile

If your design focus is more on tile than stone, black granite tile is a solid accent in a bathroom shower, around a fireplace, as a backsplash, or as flooring.

• Indian Premium Black and Indian Premium Black Honed are dense, black varieties of granite, which are also cross-referenced as “Absolute Black.” The difference between the two lies in the finish: honed tile will lack a highly reflective, polished finish, while a polished finish is just that: polished—and has a glass-like surface.
• Also deeply black in color and dense, Galaxy Black granite showcases medium-sized gold flecks that dazzle in all the right ways.

You Can Never Go Wrong with Black Stone

Do you fear installing black granite? Maybe you think it is too dark, too bold, or lacking detail. Well, fear not because with the correct planning, dark granite can be a centerpiece or the perfect complement to other design elements in your space, just like this Belvedere Satin featured below.. Give it a chance, and we know you’ll feel more confident about black granite.

Image: Belvedere Satin Granite Bathroom Countertop from Arizona Tile

With its timeless style and modernized appearance, granite will remain a favored stone for the ages. We encourage you to embrace its longevity because the appeal of granite is not going anywhere. Read “Back in Black: Are Granite Countertops Outdated?” to be reminded of just how versatile and desired granite is.

Visit our website and check out our Just Imagine – Tile and Slab Visualizer. Also, drop by any Arizona Tile store or slab yard to see and feel your favorite granite slabs and tile. Questions are always welcome, so don’t hesitate to ask our helpful and knowledgeable staff.