Natural stone facts
Last updated November 2026. 46 stones.
Rock family, hardness, water absorption, acid sensitivity and typical bathroom uses for every stone we profile. Each row links to its page, where every figure is sourced. Download the table as CSV.
| Stone | Family | Colors | Mohs hardness | Water absorption | Acids | Bathroom uses | Often compared with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absolute Black granite | granite | solid uniform black | 6–7 (pyroxene and plagioclase) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors | Black Galaxy, Black Pearl, Nero Marquina |
| Alaska White granite | granite | frosty white and pale silver, cream and taupe accents, gray-black spotting | 6–7 | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors | Colonial White, River White, White Ice |
| Arabescato | marble | White ground, flowing gray veins | 3 (calcite) | ≤0.20% by weight (ASTM C503 max) | Etches | Vanities, wall basins, shower walls | Calacatta, Statuario |
| Basalt | basalt | charcoal, black, blue-gray, occasional green | not published (plagioclase and pyroxene are the main minerals) | often under 1% in tile (retail guide) | Varies | floor tile, shower walls, countertops, paving | slate, black granite, soapstone |
| Bianco Antico Granite | granite | white and gray ground, quartz, mica and burgundy garnet flecks | 6–7 (quartz 7, feldspar 6) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, tub surrounds, backsplashes | Viscount White, Dallas White |
| Black Galaxy granite | granite | black with gold bronzite flecks | about 4.5–6 (sources conflict) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, backsplashes, walls | Absolute Black, Black Pearl, Nero Marquina |
| Black Pearl granite | granite | near-black with silver, gold, brown and green speckle | 6–7 (feldspar 6, quartz 7) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors (honed or leathered) | Absolute Black, Black Galaxy, Uba Tuba |
| Blue Onyx | onyx | sky to ocean blue, lavender, gold and rust veins | about 3 (calcite) | not published | Etches | backlit walls, powder room vanity fronts, vessel basins | White onyx, Green onyx |
| Blue Pearl granite | granite | dark gray base with silver-blue feldspar sheen | about 6 (feldspar) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors | Emerald Pearl, Black Pearl, Labrador |
| Calacatta | marble | Bright white ground, bold gray to gold veining | 3 (calcite) | ≤0.20% by weight (ASTM C503 max) | Etches | Bathtubs, vanities, shower walls, sinks | Carrara, Statuario |
| Calacatta Gold | marble | white ground, gray veining with warm gold and taupe | about 3 (calcite) | ≤0.20% by weight (ASTM C503 max, marble) | Etches | vanity tops, shower walls, floors, tubs, basins | Calacatta, Statuario, Carrara |
| Calacatta Viola marble | marble | creamy white with violet, burgundy and wine-red veins | about 3 (calcite) | not published | Etches | vanity tops, shower walls, feature walls, accent tile | Calacatta, Arabescato, Breccia Medicea |
| Carrara | marble | White to blue-gray ground, soft gray veining | 3 (calcite) | ≤0.20% by weight (ASTM C503 max) | Etches | Bathtubs, vanity tops, floors, shower walls | Calacatta, Bianco Dolomite |
| Colonial White granite | granite | pale gray-white ground, black flecks, burgundy garnet specks | 6–7 (feldspar 6, quartz 7, garnet 6.5–7.5) | ≤0.40% by weight (ASTM C615-03 max for granite) | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors (brushed) | Alaska White, River White, Colonial Ice |
| Coral stone | limestone | cream, tan, pink and yellow tones; fossil coral texture | under 4 (calcite) | not published; porous to compact types differ | Etches | wall cladding, floors, pool surrounds, bathrooms | travertine, Indiana limestone, Jerusalem stone |
| Crema Marfil marble | marble | cream to beige and ivory, with fine tan and rust veining | about 3 (calcite) | 0.5 ± 0.1% (producer EN 13755); 0.15–0.2% (panel supplier) | Etches | floors, wall cladding, stairs, vanity tops, shower walls | travertine, Indiana limestone, Jerusalem stone |
| Cristallo quartzite | quartzite | white with delicate pale veins, glassy sheen | about 7 (quartz) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, wall panels, feature walls | Super White, White Macaubas, Calacatta marble |
| Danby marble | marble | white, with gray or black veins in some varieties | about 3–4 (calcite is under 4) | 0.08% by weight (one Danby variety, producer data) | Etches | vanity tops, shower walls, floors, tubs and basins | Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario |
| Fantasy Brown | marble | warm brown, cool gray, creamy white bands | 3.5–4 (dolomite) | not published | Etches | vanity tops, fireplace surrounds, interior walls | Super White, Mont Blanc, Carrara |
| Giallo Ornamental Granite | granite | cream to pale gold ground, small black and brown flecks | 6–7 (quartz 7, feldspar 6) | 0.25–0.35% (StonePly listing) | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, backsplashes, tub surrounds, floors | Santa Cecilia Light, Delicatus Gold |
| Green Onyx | onyx | olive to mint green, white patches, red-brown oxide markings | about 3 (calcite) | not published | Etches | backlit walls, vanity fronts, basins, feature panels | Verde Alpi marble, White onyx |
| Indiana limestone | limestone | warm cream to light buff-brown | under 4 (calcite) | 7.5% by weight (ASTM C97, producer listing) | Etches | wall cladding, fireplaces, floors, carved details | travertine, Jerusalem stone, Crema Marfil |
| Jerusalem stone | limestone | white, cream, gold, pink, tawny, gray | under 4 (calcite); varies by variety | 0.55–1.2% (supplier listing; varies by variety) | Etches | wall cladding, floor tile, paving, shower areas with sealing | travertine, Indiana limestone, Crema Marfil |
| Marble | marble | White to black; veins and swirls from clay, iron oxides and other minerals | 3 (calcite) | ≤0.20% by weight (ASTM C503 max) | Etches | Bathtubs, vessel and pedestal sinks, vanities, shower walls | Quartzite, Cultured marble |
| Mont Blanc quartzite | quartzite | white to cream, smoky gray and charcoal veining, occasional gold | disputed: 7 if quartzite, 3.5–4 if dolomitic marble | not published | Varies | vanity tops, wall cladding, kitchen counters | Super White, Carrara, Taj Mahal |
| Nero Marquina | limestone | Black ground with white veins | 3 (calcite) | not published | Etches | Pedestal sinks, statement tubs, vanity tops, accent walls | Black marble, Absolute Black granite |
| Onyx | onyx | Banded honey, white, green and pink; translucent | 3 (calcite onyx) | not published | Etches | Vessel sinks, vanity fronts, statement tubs, backlit panels | Alabaster, Marble |
| Patagonia quartzite | quartzite | cream, beige, black, grey and brown with gold veins and translucent quartz | 6–7 (trade labels vary: granite or quartzite) | not published | Resists most household acids | feature vanity tops, backlit wall panels, kitchen islands | Cristallo, Taj Mahal, Granite |
| Perla Venata quartzite | quartzite | white to cream, brownish veins | about 7 (quartz) | 0.15% (quarry company figure) | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, kitchen counters | Taj Mahal, Calacatta marble, Super White |
| Quartzite | quartzite | white, gray, gold, pink, blue-green; veining varies | about 7 (quartz) | not published; varies widely by variety | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors, countertops | marble, dolomite, granite |
| River White granite | granite | white to light gray ground, gray veins, burgundy garnet flecks | 6–7 (garnet 6.5–7.5) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors (brushed) | Colonial White, Alaska White, Kashmir White |
| Santa Cecilia granite | granite | cream, ivory to gold ground, burgundy garnets, gray biotite | 6–7 (feldspar 6, quartz 7) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors (honed or brushed if available) | Giallo Ornamental, New Venetian Gold, Colonial Gold |
| Sea Pearl quartzite | quartzite | creamy white to silver-gray, frost and charcoal veins, sea-glass green | about 7 | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, backlit feature walls, shower walls | Taj Mahal, White Macaubas, Calacatta marble |
| Silver Travertine | travertine | cool gray to silver, charcoal and taupe banding | about 3 (calcite) | not published | Etches | shower walls, floors, wall cladding, basins | Gray marble, Beige travertine |
| Slate | slate | gray, black, green, purple, rust and multicolor | about 6 (vendor figure; mixed quartz, mica, chlorite) | below 0.4% (reference); varies by quarry | Resists most household acids | floor tile, shower walls, tub surrounds, vanity tops | basalt, soapstone, black granite |
| Soapstone | soapstone | gray, green and black; light veining in some | 1 (talc); lower-talc grades are harder | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, sinks, shower bases, floor tile | slate, black granite, basalt |
| Steel Grey granite | granite | dark to mid gray with small lighter-gray flecks | about 6 (Litos) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, floors (leathered), wall cladding | Black Pearl, Absolute Black, Silver Grey |
| Super White | quartzite | luminous white to light gray, deep gray veins | disputed: dealer says 7–8; dolomite is 4 or less | 0.10% (one quarry test, Stone World) | Varies | vanity tops, kitchen counters, wall cladding | Mont Blanc, Calacatta marble, White Macaubas |
| Taj Mahal quartzite | quartzite | cream to pale beige, soft gold and taupe veining | about 7 (quartz; supplier figure) | 0.11% (one supplier's ASTM C97 report) | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors, kitchen counters | Calacatta marble, Perla Venata, Sea Pearl |
| Terrazzo | terrazzo | any chip and binder color; white, gray and earth tones common | varies by chip (marble chips are under 4) | not published (epoxy is non-porous; cement binder needs sealing) | Etches | floors, wall cladding, shower areas with proper waterproofing | engineered quartz, concrete, cast stone |
| Travertine | travertine | White, cream, tan and rust; natural voids | 3 (calcite) | ≤2.5% by weight (ASTM C1527 max) | Etches | Bathtubs, vessel sinks, vanities, floors (filled and honed) | Limestone, Marble |
| Verde Alpi | serpentine | Deep green with white or pale green veining | 2.5–4 (serpentine group) | not published | Susceptible to most acids | Vanities, pedestal sinks, accent walls | Verde Guatemala, Green onyx |
| Viscount White Granite | granite | white ground with flowing gray and black movement | 6–7 (quartz 7, feldspar 6) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, tub surrounds, backsplashes | Bianco Antico, White Galaxy |
| White Ice granite | granite | bright white and pale steel gray, black flecks, quartz sparkle | 6–7 (feldspar 6, quartz 7) | not published | Resists most household acids | vanity tops, shower walls, floors (honed or leathered) | Alaska White, Colonial White, Aspen White |
| White Macaubas quartzite | quartzite | white, fine dark or blue-gray linear veins | disputed: 7 if quartzite, 3.5–4 if dolomitic | not published | Varies | vanity tops, kitchen counters, wall cladding | Calacatta marble, Super White, Taj Mahal |
| White Onyx | onyx | ice white, gold or gray veining | about 3 (calcite) | not published | Etches | backlit walls, basins, vanity fronts, feature panels | Ivory onyx, Calacatta marble |
Natural stone varies block to block, and trade names are not standardized; a stone sold as quartzite can test as marble. ASTM figures are standard limits, not measurements of a given slab. Ask for the test data of the block you are buying.
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