Stone Industry Terms Flashcards
(135 cards)
1
Q
Blockmatch
A
Slabs that are cut out of the same stone block/lot
2
Q
DEKTON
A
Dekton is a sophisticated blend of the raw materials used when making glass, porcelain, and quartz. It uses a high tech process which represents an accelerated version of the metamorphic change that natural stone undergoes when subjected to to high temps and pressure over thousands of years.
Zero Prosperity = Minor defects
Ultra compact, can be very durable despite thin widths
3
Q
Abate
A
In stone carving, to cut away material,
leaving parts in relief.
4
Q
Abrasive Finish
A
A non-reflective surface finish. An abrasive
finish may be defined by the grit size of
the abrasive
5
Q
Abrasive Hardness (Ha)
A
A measure of the wearing performance
of stone for floors, stair treads, and other
areas subjected to abrasion by foot traffic
6
Q
Absorption
A
The amount of water absorbed by a stone,
expressed as a percentage by weight.
7
Q
Abutment
A
A solid stone “springer” at the lowest
point of an arch or vault
8
Q
Accelerator
A
In masonry, any ingredient added to mortar
or concrete to speed the curing process.
9
Q
Acid Wash
A
A treatment applied to the face of a stone
to achieve a texture or finish that is distressed.
Most acidic chemical treatments
are effective only when applied to calcareous
stone varieties.
10
Q
Adhered
A
Used in reference to stone veneer,
secured and supported by adhesion of
an approved bonding material over an
approved backing.
11
Q
Admixture
A
A material other than water, aggregates, lime or cement, added to concrete or mortar at the time of mixing. Admixtures are typically added to function as water repellents, coloring agents or to adjust the curing rate of the concrete or mortar
12
Q
Agate
A
A variegated, translucent, cryptocrystalline
variety of quartz showing colored
bands or other markings (clouded, mosslike,
etc.).
13
Q
Agglomerated Stone
A
A manmade product composed of crushed
stone combined with resin. See also engineered
stone and cultured stone.
14
Q
Alabaster
A
A fine grained and translucent variety
of gypsum, generally white in color. Commonly
used in decorative applications as it
is can be cut and carved easily with a knife
or saw. Term is often incorrectly applied
to fine grained marble.
15
Q
Alkaline
A
Pertains to a highly basic, as opposed to
acidic, substance; for example, hydrogen
or carbonate of sodium or potassium
16
Q
Allowable Capacity
A
The safe load that can be resisted by a
stone anchor, determined by dividing the
ultimate capacity by the factor of safety
17
Q
Ambient Temperature
A
Temperature of the surrounding environment.
18
Q
Anchor
A
A corrosion resistant metal fastener used
for securing dimension stone to a structure
or adjacent stone units. Anchor types
for stonework include those made of flat
stock (straps, dovetails)and round stock
(rod cramp, rod anchor, eyebolt and dowel)
19
Q
Anchorage
A
The means by which slabs are secured to a
self supporting structure.
20
Q
Anorthosite
A
A dark-colored igneous rock consisting
mostly or entirely of calcic plagioclase
21
Q
Antique Finish
A
A finish that replicates rustic or distressed
textures. Produced through mechanical
or chemical means to simulate the naturally
occurring effects of the aging process
22
Q
Arch
A
The curved or pointed construction over
a doorway or opening. Arch shapes range
from flat to semicircular or semielliptical
to acutely pointed
23
Q
Argillite
A
A weakly metamorphosed compact rock
composed mainly of clay and shale. Used
locally as building stone, although rarely
produced commercially
24
Q
Artificial Stone
A
A manmade product attempting to
replicate the look of natural stone. This
term is actually a misnomer, as it includes
an obvious contradiction of terms. Stone
is naturally occurring earth material. See
engineered stone and cultured
marble.
25
Backsplash
A vertical covering of the wall where a
countertop surface meets the wall surface,
designed to protect the wall from
moisture. Backsplashes range from a few
inches in height to “full height backsplashes”
that extend from the countertop surface
to the underside of the upper cabinets
26
Bedrock
General term referring to the rock underlying
other unconsolidated material,
such as soil.
27
Bleed
Staining caused by corrosive metals,
oil based putties, mastics, caulking, or
sealing compounds
28
Blending
```
The random positioning of adjacent
veneer panels, floor slabs, or tiles, to
prevent large regions of uniform color,
contrasted by adjacent large regions of
dissimilar uniform color.
```
29
Bollard
A free standing stone post or guard.
30
Bond
1. Pattern of joints in successive courses.
| 2. To stick or adhere.
31
Book Match Pattern
A vein matching technique where opposite
faces of adjacent slabs are exposed,
producing a repeating mirror image of
the veining trend of the material. Bookmatched
material is most commonly
polished to allow the greatest visibility of
the veining character of the stone.
32
Border Stone
Usually a flat stone used as an edging
material. A border stone is generally used
to retain or define the pattern around the
field of paving
33
Boss
In masonry, a roughly shaped stone set to
project for carving in place. A carved
ornamentation to conceal the jointing at
the junction of ribs in a Gothic vault.
34
Bowing
A warping or curving of a stone unit.
35
Brownstone
A trade term applied to ferruginous dark
brown and reddish-brown arkosic quartz
based stone extensively used for construction
in the U.S. during the 19th century.
36
Bullnose
Convex rounding of a stone edge, such as
| a stair tread or countertop.
37
Calcite
A common rock forming mineral. The
chief constituent of limestone and
most marble.
38
Calibration
Within the stone industry, the process in
which stone slabs or units are abraded
to achieve a more precise thickness
tolerance (±1mm) than what would
normally be produced by standard sawing
techniques. The term is most frequently
used in the production of stone tile, which
must have limited thickness variation to
allow installation using thinset adhesive.
The term gauge is essentially synonymous,
although is more commonly used
to describe less precise techniques.
39
Canopy
A sheltering roof, as over a niche or a
| doorway.
40
Carve
To shape a solid material such as stone by
| precisely cutting it with a tool.
41
Caulk
To seal a joint with an elastomeric, adhesive
| compound.
42
Chiseled Edge
The rustic, aged appearance produced by
| mechanically chipping the stone edge.
43
Cladding
Exterior veneer stone covering. Non-load
bearing stone veneer used as the facing
material in exterior wall construction.
44
Cleavage
The ability of a rock mass to break along
natural surfaces; a surface of natural
parting.
45
Cobblestone
```
A dimension stone large enough for use
in paving. A term commonly used to describe
paving blocks, usually granite, and
generally cut or cleft to approximately
rectangular prisms.
```
46
Color Enhancer/Sealer
```
A product that is designed to enrich,
brighten and enhance the color and/or
character of the stone. Stone enhancers
are more frequently used on honed or
textured surfaces where the stone color
and/or character are muted by the finish.
Enhancers are also used to match the
color of an exposed slab edge to that of a
resin treated slab face.
```
47
Cross-cut
The process of cutting the initial block
of stone parallel to the natural bedding
plane. The effect is a mottled or cloudlike
appearance. Synonymous with fleuri cut,
although the term cross cut is most often
used when describing travertine materials.
48
Dolomite
1. The mineral form of calciummagnesium
carbonate. Constituent
of some building limestones.
2. A crystalline variety of limestone
containing in excess of 40 percent
magnesium carbonate as the
dolomite molecule.
Also called “dolostone”.
49
Dolomitic Limestone
Limestone that contains more than 10
percent but less than 80 percent of the
mineral dolomite.
50
Dowel
A short piece of cylindrical nonferous
| metal used as a stone anchor
51
Eased Edge
Standard Edge
A slightly arrised, chamfered, or radiused
edge to eliminate the sharpness of the
fabricated stone edge.
52
Engineered Stone
A manmade product composed of a blend
of natural minerals (generally quartz) and
manmade agents (such as polyester, glass,
epoxy, and other such ingredients).
53
Epoxy Resin
A flexible, usually exothermic curing
resin made by the polymerization of an
epoxide; used as an adhesive.
54
Exposed Face
The visible side of any stone element
55
Fabricated
```
Used in reference to dimension stone,
it means having undergone cutting,
machining, or other processes in order
to refine the product for its intended
application manufactured and ready for
installation.
```
56
Feldspar
A group of crystalline minerals, all silicates
of aluminum with potassium, sodium,
calcium, or barium. An essential constituent
of nearly all crystalline rocks.
57
Fieldstone
A naturally occurring, irregularly shaped
stone, as found in a field, used for various
building applications without further
fabrication. Field stone are commonly
used in freestanding walls, veneers, walkways,
and garden bed linings.
58
Front-end Loader
A heavy equipment earth moving machine
with a hydraulically powered bucket
on two booms (or arms) extending in
front of the tractor portion of the machine.
The bucket may be replaced with
other devices to accomplish specific tasks
in stone quarrying operations.
59
Gauge
Any process, although most frequently
grinding, done to reduce the effects of the
tolerances of stone slab thickness. Gauging
may be done to a precise thickness
with a specific tolerance, or may simply
be done to two or more stones until the
thickness of the lot is uniform.
60
Granite (commercial definition)
A term that includes granite (as defined
below) plus gneiss, gneissic granite, granite
gneiss, and the rock species known to
petrologists as syenite, monzonite, and
granodiorite, species intermediate between
them, the gneissic varieties and
gneisses of corresponding mineralogic
compositions and the corresponding varieties
of porphyritic textures. The term
commercial granite shall also include other
feldspathic crystalline rocks of similar
textures, containing minor amounts of
accessory minerals, used for special
decorative purposes, and known to
petrologists as anorthosite and larvikite.
61
Granite (scientific definition)
```
A visibly granular, crystalline rock of predominantly
interlocking texture composed
essentially of alkalic feldspars and
quartz. Feldspar is generally present in
excess of quartz, and accessory minerals
(chiefly micas, hornblende, or more
rarely pyroxene) are commonly present.
The alkalic feldspars may be present (1)
as individual mineral species, (2) as isomorphous
or mechanical intergrowths
with each other, or (3) as chemical intergrowths
with the lime feldspar molecule,
but 80 + 3% of the feldspar must be
composed of the potash or soda feldspar
molecules.
```
62
Granite
A very hard, crystalline, igneous rock,
gray to pink in color, composed of feldspar,
quartz, and lesser amounts of dark ferromagnesium
materials. Gneiss and black
“granites” are similar to true granites in
structure and texture, but are composed
of different minerals. Commercial and
scientific definitions of the granite group
63
Granular
Stones having a texture characterized by
particles that are apparent to the unaided
eye. For sedimentary rocks, particles less
than 4 inches in diameter and approximately
equal in size.
64
Grout
```
1. A mixture of cementitious material
and water, with or without aggregate,
proportioned to produce a plastic
consistency without segregation of the
constituents; also a mixture of other
composition but of similar consistency.
2. To place and tool grout in the joints
of stonework.
3. In quarrying: a term describing the
product of the quarry which is
unusable for dimension stone,
often piled near the extraction site.
```
65
Hearth Stone
Originally the single large stone or stones
used for the hearth, now most commonly
used to describe the stone in front of the
fire chamber and many times extending
on either or both sides of the front of the
fire chamber. `
66
Honed
A satin-smooth surface finish with little
| or no gloss.
67
Igneous
Any of the various volcanic rocks,
solidified after the molten state, such as
granite. Igneous is one of the three main
rock classifications. Compare with metamorphic
and sedimentary
68
Impregnators
Any applied repellent that penetrates the
stone and resides below the plane of the
finished surface. Impregnators may be
hydrophobic (water-repellent), oliophobic
(oil repellent), or both, and are used in
some stone varieties to increase stain
resistance.
69
Joint
A space between installed stone units or
between a dimension stone and the
adjoining material.
70
Keystone
The central stone of an arch, sometimes
| sculpted or otherwise embellished.
71
Lamination
```
Two or more thicknesses of stone slab
adhered together at an exposed edge,
usually in decorative work such as countertops,
creating an aesthetic effect that
suggests that the stone is thicker than
it actually is. Laminated edges may be
dressed or profiled to a variety of shapes
for additional decorative value.
```
72
Limestone
```
A sedimentary rock composed primarily
of calcite or dolomite. The varieties of
limestone used as dimension stone are
usually well consolidated and exhibit a
minimum of graining or bedding direction
```
73
Lippage
The planar offset of the finished surfaces
| of two adjacent stone units.
74
Lug Sill
In stone masonry, a sill that projects into
| the jambs of a window or door opening
75
Machine Finish
```
Cleaning and/or other remedial activity
performed on a scheduled basis: daily,
weekly, etc. in order to remove dirt, dust
and other contaminants that degrade the
stone’s appearance and/or performance.
```
76
Marble
A metamorphic crystalline rock composed
predominantly of crystalline grains
of calcite, dolomite, or serpentine, and
capable of taking a polish
77
Marble (commercial definition)
A crystalline rock, capable of taking
a polish, and composed of one or more
of the minerals calcite, dolomite, and
serpentine.
78
Metamorphic Rock
```
Rock altered in appearance, density,
crystalline structure, and in some cases,
mineral composition, by high temperature
and intense pressure. Includes slate
derived from shale, quartz based stone
from quartzitic sand, and true marble
from limestone.
```
79
Metamorphism
The change or alteration in a rock caused
by exterior agencies, such as deep-seated
heat and pressure, or intrusion of rock
materials.
80
Microcrystalline
Said of a stone that consists largely or
wholly of crystals that are so small as to
be recognizable only under magnification.
81
Miter
Any condition of stone veneer, coping,
paving strips, etc, where a corner condition
is accomplished by two stones with
angular cuts, with the angles of the cuts
being equal to the bisection of the total
angle.
82
Mockup
```
A sample section of stonework that is
installed, often including other related
construction components, for the purpose
of obtaining designer and owner
approval prior to commencement of
quarrying, fabricating, or installation of
stonework. The mockup may be independent
of the project or may be part of the
project and remain in place as part of the
completed work.
```
83
Modular
Refers to standard patterns used throughout
the stone industry that are usually based
on multiples of a given height or size
84
Moh’s Scale
A relative scale of mineral hardness developed
by German Mineralogist Friedrich
Mohs in 1822 ranking ten common minerals
by their scratch resistance.
85
Moldings
Decorative stone deviating from a plane
surface by projections, curved profiles,
recesses or any combination thereof.
86
Mosaic
A decorative installation, usually a graphic
or artwork display, made up of an assemblage
of small units of different colored
stones or glass to create the total image
or pattern.
87
Natural Stone
A product of nature. A stone such as granite,
marble, limestone, slate, travertine, or
sandstone that is formed by nature, and is
not artificial or manmade.
88
Niche
A recess in an interior or exterior wall
usually for a statue or an urn, often semicircular
in design.
89
Obsidian
A glassy phase of lava.
90
Ogee
A stone molding roughly resembling an
“S” shape, with a reverse curved edge:
concave above, convex below.
91
Onyx
A frequently translucent and generally
layered, cryptocrystalline calcite with
colors in pastel shades, particularly off
white, yellow, tan, and green.
92
Open-faced Quarry
A quarry with relatively large lateral expanse
when compared to its depth, in
contrast to traditional derrick quarries
which had relatively short lateral dimensions
and great depths
93
OSHA
The acronym for Occupational Safety and
| Health Administration.
94
Overhang
The portion of a stone that protrudes past
| the surface on which it is set.
95
Oxalic Acid
A relatively strong acid that is used, typically
as an additive to other polishing
compounds, in the polishing of many
marbles and limestones
96
Palletize
To stack and secure stone units to a pallet
for ease, safety, and efficiency in handling
and transport
97
Panel
A term used to describe either a single
unit of fabricated stone veneer, or a preassembled
panel including multiple stone
units affixed to a structural panel framework.
98
Perforated Wall
One which contains a considerable
number of relatively small openings,
often called pierced wall or screen wall.
99
Polished Finish
A glossy, highly reflective surface finish
that brings out the full color and character
of the stone.
100
Precast
In stone facades, refers to a bi-material
panel consisting of multiple stone face
units and a concrete backer panel. The
panel is cast off-site, then transported to
the construction site for erection.
101
Primer
```
1. A unit or package of ignition devises
used to initiate other explosives or
blasting agents in the quarry.
2. A liquid coat applied to increase
bond strength of a joint sealant.
```
102
Quarried Stone
Stone which has been extracted from
the earth by means of man power and
machines.
103
Quarry
```
1. The physical site, open or underground,
where stone is extracted
from the earth.
2. The process of extracting stone from
open pit or underground mine.
```
104
Quarry Block
```
Generally, a piece of rough stone as it
comes from a quarry, generally dressed or
wire sawed to the shape of a rectangular
prism (having three pairs of roughly
parallel faces) for shipment.
```
105
Quarry Run
A term used by some producers to mean
the lot of material has not been culled or
otherwise limited for range of color and/
or features, and includes the entire spectrum
of material that is yielded by that
particular deposit.
106
Quartz
A silicon dioxide mineral that occurs in
colorless and transparent or colored hexagonal
crystals or in crystalline masses.
One of the hardest minerals of abundance
in stones such as sandstone, granite, and
quartzite
107
Quartzite
```
A dense, hard metamorphic quartz based
stone typically formed from sandstone.
In some deposits, intrusion of minerals
during the formation process creates unusual
coloration.
```
108
Recess
```
Any feature cut into a stone that is set
back or indented from the balance of the
stone surface, either to accommodate another
element, such as anchorage, or for
aesthetic appeal.
```
109
Refinishing
The process of insitu finishing of existing
stonework to return it to its near original
appearance.
110
Reinforcement
Any element, metal, fiberglass, stone,
etc. that is embedded in or applied to the
stone panel for the purpose of increasing
strength.
111
Remnant
A leftover portion of a slab that cannot be
utilized in the primary project, but is
salvaged for possible use in another project.
112
Resin
```
Any of a number of clear or translucent
substances, either from plant origin or
synthetics, used in producing lacquers,
adhesives, plastics, polyesters, epoxies,
silicones, etc.
```
113
Sandstone
Sandstones are sedimentary rocks usually
composed of quartz cemented with
silica, iron oxide or calcium carbonate.
Sandstones range from very soft and friable
to very hard and durable, depending
on the depth at which it was buried and
the nature of the cement. Generally, the
most durable sandstones are cemented with
silica.Sandstone has a wide range of colors
or textures.
114
Sawed Edge
A clean-cut edge generally achieved by
| cutting with a diamond blade.
115
Scotia
A deep concave molding
116
Sealant
An elastic adhesive compound used to
seal stone veneer joints while still allowing
differential movement between the
stone units
117
Sealer
A protective coating or treatment which
prevents or retards foreign liquid or matter
from penetrating the stone by closing
the pores in the surface.
118
Sedimentary
Rocks formed by deposition of particles,
or “sediments” laid down in successive
strata and cemented together by another
agent. The materials of which they are
formed are derived from preexisting rocks
or the skeletal remains of sea creatures.
119
Serpentine
```
A common hydrous magnesium silicate
rock-forming mineral; generally dark
green in color with markings of white,
light green, or black. Rocks composed
predominantly of such minerals are
correctly called “serpentinites”, and are
commercially sold as a marble because
they can be polished.
```
120
Silica
An oxide of silicon with the chemical formula
SiO2, found abundantly in nature as
sand quarts, or other rock components,
The dry cutting or grinding of silica will
produce silica dust, which when airborne
in particles of respirable size, are a well
known health hazard to those exposed to
it without adequate PPE.
121
Siltstone
A fine-grained, non-carbonate clastic rock
composed of detrital grains of quartz and
silicate minerals of silt size. Siltstones are
rarely marketed as such but commonly are
considered as fine-grained quartz-based
stones (sandstones). Siltstone is texturally
transitional between quartz-based
stones and shales (mudstones). Many
bluestones and siliceous flagstones fall
within this category. The term is included
in these definitions chiefly to explain the
relationship of some siliceous flagstones
to the quartz-based stone category.
122
Slab
A flat “sheet-like” section of natural stone
sawn to a prescribed thickness, with
length and width determined by the size
Setting Space
Shim
Sill
Glosssary of Terms | ® 2011 Marble Institute of America www.marble-institute.com 23-25
of the quarry block from which it was sawed.
Slabs will generally receive a face finish
and further fabrication processes to become
usable dimension stone products.
123
Slate
A very fine grained metamorphic rock
derived from sedimentary shale rock,
with excellent parallel cleavage, and
entirely independent of original bedding,
slate may be split easily into relatively
thin slabs.
124
Soapstone
A talc-rich stone with a “soapy” feel, used
for hearths, tabletops, chemical-resistant
laboratory tops, stove facings, and cladding;
known for its heat, chemical, and
stain resistant properties.
125
Stone
Sometimes synonymous with rock, but
more properly applied to individual
blocks, masses or fragments taken from
their original formation or considered for
commercial use. In commercial use, the
term stone is more frequently used, while
scientifically, geologists and petrographers
more frequently use the term rock.
126
Template
A pattern for a repetitive marking or fabricating
| operation.
127
Terrazzo
A flooring surface of marble or granite
chips in a cementitious or resinous
matrix, which is ground and finished
after setting
128
Texture
Surface quality of stone independent
| of color.
129
Tile
A thin modular stone unit, less than
¾” (20 mm) thick, and not exceeding
24” (600 mm) in its greatest dimension.
130
Travertine
A variety of limestone formed by chemical
precipitate from hot springs. Some varieties
of travertine take a polish and are
known commercially as marble.
131
Trim
The framing or edging of openings and
other features on the interior or exterior
of a building, including baseboards, picture
rails, cornices, and casings
132
Undercut
Cut so as to present an overhanging part.
133
Veneer
A non-structural facing of stone, interior
or exterior, serving as ornamentation and
a weather barrier.
134
Wall Tie
In masonry, a type of anchor, generally
a metal strip, used to secure facing to
backup wall or to connect the wythes of a
cavity wall. Ties are mortared into joints
during setting, and thus do not require
that slots or anchor holes be cut.
135
Water Repellent
Any of several types of liquid-applied formulations
used to render masonry walls
less absorptive. These treatments are said
to maintain a material’s ability to breathe
away moisture, as distinct from “sealers”
which form impervious, non-breathing
coatings.
