Terminology

• True granite: igneous rock with 20 to 60 percent quartz by volume, with 35 to 90 percent of its feldspar as alkali feldspar
• Dimension stone: stone sawed, cut, split, or shaped to size; molded or cast units made from crushed stone are excluded
• Quarry source: the named quarry or region; color and veining vary between sources

History and demand

First uses in construction

• About 2510 BC, the Pyramid of Menkaure at Giza used granite blocks alongside limestone (Wikipedia)
• Granite and marble working are among the world's oldest stone industries, dating to ancient Egypt
• Imperial Roman granite came mainly from Egypt, with other sources in Turkey and on the islands of Elba and Giglio

Sourcing

• Leading quarrying countries: China, India, Italy, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Spain, and the United States (Wikipedia, undated)
• United States dimension stone imports, 2021 to 2024, by value: Brazil 21 percent, Italy 19, China 17, India 16 (USGS, all dimension stone)
• United States 2025: granite was about 18 percent by tonnage of the 2.3 million tons of dimension stone sold or used, from 215 quarries and 150 companies (USGS)
• USGS does not publish state-level dimension stone output because most states have only one or two producers

Demand trend

• US producers sold or used about 2.3 million tons of dimension stone valued at $460 million in 2025, with limestone 46 percent, granite 18, and sandstone 17 (USGS)

Grades and types

• By color and pattern: named stones from named quarries, such as Red Aswan granite from Egypt

Properties

Physical

• Density: about 165 to 172 lb/ft3 (2.65 to 2.75 g/cm3)
• Composition: potassium feldspar, plagioclase feldspar, and quartz, with mica, pyroxene, and amphibole; average silica about 72 percent

Mechanical

• Compressive strength: usually above about 29,000 psi (200 MPa)

Standards

Material specifications

• ASTM C615: granite dimension stone for general building and structural purposes; properties are absorption, density, compressive strength, modulus of rupture, abrasion resistance, and flexural strength

Test methods

• ASTM C97: absorption and bulk specific gravity
• ASTM C170: compressive strength

Uses in buildings

Building elements

• Wall Cladding: anchored stone veneer and panels
• Countertops: polished and honed counter tops, valued for acid resistance and appearance
• Site Paving: paving, steps, and curbs
• Terrazzo: granite chips as aggregate
• Retaining Walls: cut stone and stacked stone walls

Pros and cons

Pros

• Very hard and durable
• Resists acids better than limestone and marble
• Wide range of colors and finishes

Cons

• Heavy and costly to quarry and transport
• Color and pattern vary between quarries and blocks
• Cutting releases crystalline silica dust, a worker health concern

Manufacturing and cost

Main manufacturers and suppliers

• Rock of Ages
• Polycor

Trade association: Natural Stone Institute.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Granite, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granite
• USGS: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, stone (dimension), https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-stone-dimension.pdf
• Stone World: how much natural stone does the US actually quarry, https://www.stoneworld.com/articles/95709-how-much-natural-stone-does-the-us-actually-quarry
• ASTM International: C615 granite dimension stone, https://store.astm.org/c0615_c0615m-23.html
• Image: Granite (cut & polished surface).jpg, James St. John, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Granite_(cut_%26_polished_surface).jpg