Unearthing Granite's Story: From Geology to Architecture
- Kshitija Mruthyunjaya
- Aug 16, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 21, 2024
Do you know where your black kitchen slab comes from? Your green console? Your dark red bathroom flooring or the grey paving stones in your gardens? We took a field trip to trace granite's journey from quarries to construction to understand the link between the material's origins to its architectural form.
Written by Kshitija Mruthyunjaya and Shivangini Tandon
Construction materials are in constant motion, traversing a complex journey that belies their seemingly static nature. From their origins in geological sites, these materials are extracted and transported to processing facilities, where they undergo transformation before being distributed to construction sites across varied landscapes.
Throughout this journey, they interact with diverse ecosystems and come into contact with numerous individuals, from miners and factory workers to truck drivers and construction crews. Once at their destination, these materials are shaped and assembled by skilled labourers, becoming integral parts of our built environment. Here, they continue their interaction with humans and nature, subject to weathering, maintenance, and the ebb and flow of daily life.
Eventually, as structures reach the end of their lifespan, these materials face demolition or deconstruction, potentially finding new life through recycling or reuse, or making their final journey to landfills. This movement of construction materials not only shapes our physical world but also has profound implications for local economies, communities, and the environment, underscoring the need for sustainable practices in the construction industry.
Among these construction materials, granite stands out for its durability, beauty, and versatility. However, there is often a disconnect between the material as it appears in its final product form and its sources and natural environments. To bridge this gap and gain a firsthand understanding of the materials we need for our sites, we embarked on a field trip to granite quarries and processing units within a 500 km radius of Goa.
Our journey took us to three key locations, each known for a distinct type of granite. Chamarajanagar is famous for its black granite, Sira is home to grey granite, and Salem is known for its white granite. These locations, part of a larger granite belt, share a common geological history but exhibit fascinating variations in grain size, distribution, and shade due to localised formation conditions.
The journey of granite from Earth's depths to architectural marvels is a complex one, blending geology, environmental studies, and economics. Geologists study its molten origins and solidification process, while environmentalists focus on designing plans to minimise mining's impact on habitats. Architects and builders, on the other hand, value its durability and aesthetic appeal.
Understanding granite's geological structure is crucial for its successful extraction and use in construction. Knowledge of joint patterns, potential breakage points, and the distribution of colours and lustre informs both economic viability, environmental safety, and architectural applications.
While each type of granite has its unique characteristics, they all share certain qualities that make them prized in the construction industry. Black granite from Chamarajanagar is known for its deep, uniform colour and high durability. Grey granite from Sira is valued for its subtle, elegant appearance and versatility. White granite from Salem is prized for its bright, clean look and ability to complement various design styles. Red granite from Ilkal is appreciated for its warm tones and unique visual impact.
These granites are popular due to their exceptional workability, versatility in finishing, and the ability to extract large, uniform blocks. They find applications in kitchen countertops, flooring, monuments, and various architectural features.
During our visits to quarries and processing units, we observed that significant amounts of waste are generated at each stage of the supply chain. From rock and granite dust at the quarrying stage to off-cuts during installation, there is a substantial amount of material that can potentially be reused, upcycled, or used as raw materials for building.
We are currently working with suppliers to source their discarded materials and experimenting with ways to utilise these "waste" materials effectively. Stay tuned as we continue to explore sustainable practices in the granite industry and share our behind-the-scenes discoveries.
Further Reading:
Stones: Indian Bereau of Mines
Material Flow:
Jane Hutton Reciprocal Landscapes - Stories of Material Movements
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