HEADLINES AT A GLANCE:
"New Study Confirms Safety of Granite Countertops"
"A Rock-Solid Niche Business, For Now"
"New Techniques to Understand Marble Quality and Durability"
"Using Traditional Granite in Modern Ways"
"Decorative Stone Export Is Weak Despite Huge Stock"
"Granite Is Now the Surface of Choice"
"Alliance Minerals Setting Up Marble Process Plant in Vietnam"
"Rock Industry Gains County Support Seeking Delay in Planned Regulatory Bill"
"MIA Makes Dimension Stone Design Manual Chapters Available On-line"
"2008 Marble Architectural Awards"
"Italy Aids Development of Pakistan's Granite, Marble Sector"
"Setting the Right Tone, in Stone"
"Cost-Effective Maintenance of Stone Flooring"

New Study Confirms Safety of Granite Countertops
Marble Institute of America (05/13/08)

The Marble Institute of American has announced the conclusion of a recently conducted scientific study of thirteen of the most popular granites used for kitchen countertops in the United States during 2007. The study confirms that granite is a safe material for use in kitchens. The issue of granite containing radon has surfaced repeatedly over the years. The origins of these concerns are advertisements and other communications from the manufacturers of radon detection devices and the manufacturers of competing synthetic countertop materials. Each time these concerns have arisen, the Marble Institute of America, as well as several producing companies, has responded by thoroughly researching the issue to determine if potential health hazards actually exist. MIA's most recent testing was conducted by L. L. Chyi, a Ph.D. and professor of Geochemistry and Environmental Geology at The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio. Dr. Chyi studied 13 of the most popular granites used throughout the United States as determined by an industry-wide survey. Due to their popularity these 13 granites, are believed to represent up to 85% of the granite countertop market in recent years. The testing methodology was designed to measure the amount of radon which each granite type would add to the interior of a 2,000 square foot, normally ventilated home with 8 ft ceilings. The results show that Crema Bordeaux (the most active in terms of radon emissions) would contribute a concentration component of less than 0.28 pCi/L, or less than 7% of the EPA's recommended actionable level of 4.0 pCi/L. This radon amount is well below a level which might cause health concerns. Tropic Brown and Baltic Brown, second and third in radon emanation based upon Dr. Chyi's testing, amounted to only 1% of this action level. The other granites tested added almost immeasurable amounts of radon to the house. Dr. Chyi's test results show that the granites that are currently found in the United States' market place are insignificant contributors to radon levels in the home. Based on the testing results and EPA standards, we can conclude that the most popular granites used as countertop surfaces pose no health threat to homeowners. The test results are available on MIA's website, http://www.marble-institute.com/industryresources/radontesting_u-akron2008.pdf.
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A Rock-Solid Niche Business, For Now
Schenectady Daily Gazette (05/11/08) ; Subik, Jason

Bluestone is a sandstone--located only in the states of New York and Pennsylvania--that can be utilized for architectural stone, paving stone, countertops, and stair treads, among other uses. Bluestone mining in New York has expanded recently into an approximately $100 million sector, with the growth credited to an open bluestone exploration regulation implemented by former Gov. George Pataki and the New York Legislature six years ago. Since the housing crisis began, however, the bluestone business has declined. The law overseeing bluestone mining was sanctioned only for a temporary period, meanwhile, and that authority runs out on July 31. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officials suggested earlier this year that the regulation be renewed for the long term, claiming bluestone costs have increased during the past 10 years. New York State Bluestone Association President Mitchell Bush says in spite of the housing industry slump and the existing low levels of bluestone demand, the price--which is now about $4 a square foot for two-inch high-quality bluestone--will probably not decline. "I've been in the business since 1969 and I haven't seen where the demand and supply laws really affected the price," Bush explains. "What happens is stone just doesn't sell."
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New Techniques to Understand Marble Quality and Durability
Science Centric (05/08/2008)

New research, led by professors at the University of Granada and the University of Gotinguen, examines the causes of marble's physical decay. The study assesses the types of marble, their durability attributes, and their petrography to determine which types are best for construction--particularly as external coatings--and how they can optimally maintained. According to the researchers, "Marbles selection has been carried according to their micro-structural and textural features, especially their size and degree preferred crystallographic orientation, mineralogical composition and level of crystallographic and/or physical-mechanical anisotropy." However, knowing the specific traits of individual stones and separating them from others of different geographic origin can be important in a globalized industry such as natural stone, according to Professor Eduardo Sebastian Pardo of the University of Granada. To foster competition in the stone market--especially in nations where labor costs are lower--such analysis can create a brands of ornamental stone linked to natural, indigenous marbles and stone.
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Using Traditional Granite in Modern Ways
Stone World (05/01/08) ; Stinnard, Michelle

Virginia Tech's new three-story Virginia Bioinformatics Institute is expected to be an important element in the long-term growth of the Blacksburg campus. The designer of the complex said the objective was to build a modern-looking structure that blended in with the surrounding campus, which features NeoGothic traits. "Hokie Stone," a gray granite that is quarried locally, was used on two thirds of the building's exterior. Hokie Stone was first used on campus in the early 1900s, with the University owning two quarries containing the stone. Though some older structures on campus do not feature much of the stone, Hokie Stone is now required cladding for all new buildings on the main campus. Developers said it was challenging to finesse rough-cut stone into a modern look, but reaction to the project has been positive. "Everyone we've talked to says the stone design is iconic of classical Virginia Tech Architecture," said project designer Michael West of Calloway Johnson Moore & West. The complex contains wet labs for research, a large computer lab, an information technology classroom, and a three-story atrium in the main lobby.
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Decorative Stone Export Is Weak Despite Huge Stock
Yemen Times (05/13/08) ; Mojalli, Almigdad

Yemen has an output of more than 2.5 million tons of decorative stone per year, including marble and granite. However, it exports only 850,000 Yemeni Riyals (YR) of the YR 2.13 billion worth of stone that is produced annually, according to the Supreme Council for Developing Exports. The country boasts reserves of approximately 5 billion cubic meters--including 1 billion cubic meters of marble and 6.1 million cubic meters of granite--yet still imports over YR 1 billion in stone each year. Ahmed Al-Sheleif of the Marble and Granite Exporters Association blames the trade gap on weak investment in the field. He claims that the decorative stone market in Yemen is held back by poor infrastructure, including a lack of funding for quarry projects and a lack of railways between quarries and ports. "Transporting one ton of stone to the port costs $20 to $22," according to Al-Sheleif, "but if we had a rail system, the cost would only be between $1 and $2." The Ministry of Industry and Trade points out that most extraction sites are in close proximity to main roads for transportation. Yemen has over 600 different types of decorative stones, with unique colors and shapes. There are over 15 colors of Yemeni marble and granite of noted strength and solidity.
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Granite Is Now the Surface of Choice
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (05/03/08) ; Karlovits, Bob

More homeowners these days are choosing granite and quartz for their kitchen counters. Pennsylvania-based Manor House Kitchen and Bath has seen a surge in granite and quartz jobs to about 90 percent of its business in recent years. "Ten years ago, the only granite you saw was in really custom kitchens, but now it is everywhere," says Manor House President Jeffrey Backus, whose firm boosted annual granite purchases to $3.5 million from $500,000 over the past five years. He notes that an increase in supply has lowered prices, allowing granite to compete with solid-surface acrylics. However, experts point out that the grade of the stone ultimately will determine the price. Though granite is porous and vulnerable to stains, homeowners like that it is resistant to scratches and scars, has an artistic look, and is available in different colors and shades.
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Alliance Minerals Setting Up Marble Process Plant in Vietnam
Business Line (05/11/08)

India's Alliance Minerals Pvt Ltd. announced that it will open a marble processing plant in Vietnam. Alliance, the natural stone division of the Gimpex Group, paid $2.5 million to acquire a marble quarry and build the plant in Haipong. The facility is set to open in June. Alliance Minerals also set up a warehouse in Iowa to facilitate sales to the local market. Although it previously focused on making granite slabs, Alliance intends to enter the domestic market by providing stone for large infrastructure projects, monuments, and countertops. The company already owns quarries in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa and is looking for more throughout Asia. The company hopes to have an initial public offering by 2011.
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Rock Industry Gains County Support Seeking Delay in Planned Regulatory Bill
Crossville Chronicle (TN) (05/06/2008) ; Moser, Michael R.

Representatives of the rock industry recently asked commissioners in Cumberland County, Tenn., to request a delay in pending state legislation that would impose stricter industry regulations and restrictions as well as boost fees and fines. Pointing out that the stone industry has failed to follow in the footsteps of the state's marble, lime, and aggregate industries by formally organizing, Woody Mercer and Delano Thompson said the bill unfairly singles out the stone industry. The pair said they learned of the pending legislation only after it was approved by the state Senate, and they are concerned that industry workers would be negatively impacted by the legislation. The bill--which could require new state permits in the event that property owners face a dispute over mining on their land--is a response to the state's purchase of the Cumberland Trail State Park and its failure to buy the mineral rights along with the land. The mineral rights were purchased by a Florida company that continues to harvest rock on the property; but pending litigation focuses on whether sandstone, fieldstone, and flagstone should be deemed minerals. County commissioners ultimately voted in favor of a delay request.
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MIA Makes Dimension Stone Design Manual Chapters Available On-line
Marble Institute of America (04/30/08)

Individual chapters of the acclaimed Marble Institute of America's Dimension Stone Design Manual VII (DSDM) are now available for download on the Internet, the association has announced. The DSDM is the stone industry's single-source reference for dimensional stone design and construction specs and details. While the entire manual will continue to be offered in a hardcopy format, the option now exists to download individual chapters or the entire manual by simply going to the MIA website, www.marble-institute.com. There is a nominal charge for each chapter selected. "While the entire manual is an important addition to reference libraries for designers, architects, contractors and others in the field, MIA frequently receives requests from those who really only need one or two chapters of the manual," said Chuck Muehlbauer, MIA technical director. "Another benefit of the download system is the flexibility of getting the latest information quickly and without the need to wait a few days for shipping." MIA's technical committee plans to update three chapters of the DSDM this summer. Those chapters are general installation, horizontal surfaces and vertical surfaces. When the update is completed they will be made available for download immediately. For further information, go to www.marble-institute.com and click on the "Bookstore" option, then on "Technical Standards Downloadable Documents."
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2008 Marble Architectural Awards
Stone World (05/01/08)

This year's Marble Architectural Awards recognized the use of natural stone in Central and South America as well as in South Africa. The awards were organized by Internazionale Marmi e Macchine (IMM) Carrara, and the judges evaluated the projects in three separate categories: Exteriors, Interiors, and Urban Landscape. The judges noted that marble--especially white marble--is more commonly being used in residential buildings, particularly prestigious villas. The first prize in Exteriors went to Casa de Meditacion in Mexico City for its use of Grissal granite mined from Spanish quarries. The Museo de Arte Latino Americano in Buenos Aires, Argentina, received one of the first prizes for Interiors because it drew on a variety of materials--such as Argentinean granites, Carrara White marble from Italy, Crema Marfil from Spain, and Jura Stone from Germany. The Casa del Puente in Sierra Amatepec, Mexico, which was built using Mexican travertine and Verde Saint Denise marble, tied for first place in Interiors. In the Urban Landscape category, first prize went to the Northern Cape Legislature in Kimberley, South Africa, made from local slate, including Agra Red, Silver Blue, Pamas Green, and Rich Autumn; various stone materials; and Kimberlite, a native rock that is popular because diamonds are often found in it.
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Italy Aids Development of Pakistan's Granite, Marble Sector
Asia Pulse (05/01/08)

Italian Ambassador Vincenzo Prati vowed on April 30 in a meeting with PASDEC Chairman and CEO Ihsan Ullah Khan that his country will help Pakistan upgrade its marble and granite sector. To that end, modern technology could be transferred to Pakistan--which has the third-biggest granite and marble reserves in the world. Prati stated that Italy was prepared to work with Pakistan in this industry, which has much potential. He also said that Italy and Pakistan wished to expand commerce between the two nations. Meanwhile, Khan stated that joint working teams and interacting tactics were needed to promote the marble and granite industry in Pakistan.
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Setting the Right Tone, in Stone
Edmonton Journal (Alberta, Canada) (04/19/08) P. I1 ; Scott, Marian

Home renovations increasingly involve stone, like marble and granite, for countertops, floors, and other elements. Designer Ellen Coopersmith says, "Stone really is the ideal material. It gives a warm, Old World feeling. It just feels authentic, somehow." Stone starts at about $25 per square foot up to $300 per square foot for rarer materials. Many attribute the recent stone craze to television renovation shows; and, now, under-the-floor heating systems are eliminating one of the major concerns associated with stone floors: cold feet. In terms of countertop sales, stone has increased from just 33 percent of U.S. sales in 2002 to nearly 50 percent of sales today. In Canada, stone imports rose 286 percent to $112 million last year from $29 million in 1992. However, many designers note that glossy stone materials are no longer in vogue, with many homeowners turning to matte or antique surfaces for their counters and floors. As kitchens become larger, the need for stone increases, especially for stone slabs that are either 3/4-inch or 1-1/4-inch thick. The largest size slab stands at about nine feet by six feet. Designers note that islands larger than that often require the incorporation of two or more types of stone and other materials. Many retailers note that granite remains popular due to its durability, but marble blends elements more seamlessly.
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Cost-Effective Maintenance of Stone Flooring
Cleaning & Maintenance Management (04/08) Vol. 45, No. 4, ; Michels, Ed; Harrison, Jim

In the past, cleaning professionals could use only crystallization, diamond grinding, or coatings to clean stone floors. However, the cleaning process has been made more efficient by the use of diamond-coated floor pads in conjunction with auto-scrubbers and neutral pH cleansers. Cleaning professionals should first dust mop stone floors, then use one pad to condition the stone and another to shine the floor. If stone floors are in good to fair condition prior to the use of the diamond pads, experts say it takes only a half-dozen to a dozen applications before a high level of shine is achieved. The use of diamond pads eliminates the need to strip, scrub, recoat, and burnish stone floors to improve their appearance. However, cleaning specialists also must take care to maintain the diamond pads by cleaning them with a spray hose or soft nylon brush and water following every use.
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