Stone is one of the most important materials on Earth. Not only does it constitute a significant percentage of this planet’s surface, but it is also used by humans in a wide variety of ways. Because of its strength, durability, versatility, and resistance to most elements, it is the material of choice for a number of applications, ranging from homes to tools. Natural stones can also be very attractive, with shapes, colors, and finishes that are simply incomparable. So how does a natural stone get its color? To answer this question, a closer look on the science of natural stones is needed.
All stones are made of minerals. Considered as the building blocks of all stones, a mineral is “a solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence”. The number of minerals already discovered is estimated at more than 4,000. A stone can be made up of a single mineral or hundreds of different ones combined either by physical or chemical means. Each individual mineral has its own unique properties. Also, its properties are modified further when they are combined. These properties include hardness, crystal structure, texture, and yes, even color.
So how is a natural stone’s color generated? A look at the physics behind the creation of color is necessary. The color of an object is mainly determined by the wavelengths of light absorbed and reflected by the object. Color is created depending on what light rays are absorbed or reflected. As a rule of thumb, the wavelength reflected by the object is the one that reaches our eyes, resulting to the creation of that specific color. Light ray absorption or reflection is determined by multiple factors, with the most important one being the manner in which the atomic bonds within the material’s surface are arranged.
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There are different factors that affect the molecular structure of stone, and therefore its color. The way a specific stone is created affects its final atomic structure, making its color (and other properties) different from the rest, even when compared to a stone with a similar mineral composition. The presence of other elements, compounds, or minerals that geologists refer to as impurities, may also interfere with the way light is absorbed or reflected. The ionic composition of the stone can also alter the way it absorbs/reflects light rays. All these factors, combined with other properties not mentioned here, determine the color of your natural stone.
One of the major appeals of using natural stone is in its aesthetics. Even with the advancements of science, humans have never quite been able to recreate the unique colors only nature is capable of creating. Learning the science behind the color of stones will only make you appreciate the wonder behind these natural materials. That slab of rock you step on, used as a building block, or utilized as a tile; there is a process behind its creation. The unique process each natural stone goes through is responsible for whatever properties it has. By understanding the science of it all, you won’t look at stones the same way again.