Natural Stone
Mother Nature blessed us with abundance of resources, beauty, and elegance. Nature has her way of showing her elegance and beauty. First is the majestic view it gives and the second one is the variety of it. One of the most useful and beautiful things Mother Nature gave to us are the humble stones.
According to the Marble Institute of America, “Natural stone stands up to weathering and time better than any other building material, natural or manmade. This has been proven through the ages. The Egyptian pyramids, the Parthenon or any ancient city offer lessons that demonstrate natural stone are the most sustainable building material available.”
If you have ever taken a tour of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City or toured the Roman aqueducts, you know that natural stone is simply stunning. Michelangelo’s David, made of marble, can bring tears to your eyes, while the Mayan limestone ziggurat at Chichen Itza can make your jaw drop. Natural stone plays a huge role in our history and artwork.
Undeniably, natural stones are extremely useful in many things. Why?
The properties of the natural stones are the answers.
Variety
There is enormous diversity of natural stones that encourages limitless designs potential. Earth has its major contribution in variety and to enhance the creativity it provides. And this stones are having different properties, designs etc. that cannot be duplicated in any form and anywhere.
Durability
Almost all stones contain the nature of durable. Especially natural stones exhibit a durability that cannot be found in other building materials.
Green Attributes
Natural stones like granite, marble, limestone, slate and sandstone, among other possess innate characteristics that contribute towards LEED that is Leadership in energy and environment design.
Unique
Natural stones are made from quartz-like particles called silica etc. Almost most of the stones that are unique possess different design. Designing a project with natural stone show your care for environment, it will always stand out and reflect the passion, taste and personality of the designer along with the designs. Natural stones cannot be faked, mimicked and manufactured in any laboratory so it is one of the kind of building material and unique.
Value
There is a huge value for natural stones and it is more than a momentary measures. The value of these stones is raised because of its properties like longevity, ease of maintenance, permanence and stability.
“In ancient times, people believed that gemstones carried health and spiritual benefits. Some civilizations used gemstones to facilitate the flow of energy through the body. Even today, many people acknowledge their benefits. These are used in spiritual practices that promote a different type of healing. For example, some use certain gemstones to restore a balance of energy to the body, promote well-being, and the feeling of peace.
Based on the composition of the stone, these can help a person achieve homeostasis in different aspects of the human body, mind, and spirit. One of the reasons stones can have a profound effect on humans is because the body is made up of cells and these can resonate with the same silicon-dioxide makeup of crystals. Therefore, such materials can cause a vibratory effect based on the laws of physics through the transfer and flow of energy. Each stone, however, has a different chemical composition that can produce differing effects.”- Ebony Mackey.
“In ancient Egypt and other cultures from antiquity, people believed gemstones had a wide array of health benefits. In modern times, gemstones are mainly used for ornamental purposes. However, some people still believe you can receive health bonuses from certain gemstones and minerals. Some use gemstones as part of their spiritual practices to restore energy fields, gain peace, and promote love and safety. In some belief systems, gemstones are placed on certain areas of the body, called “chakras,” to promote healing. In other systems, gaining health benefits from gemstones can be as simple as wearing a piece of jewelry made with a specific gem.”- IGS.
