Pick your stone.

Five stones, each with its own history, hardness, and temper. What they are, where they come from, and how they cut.

Metamorphic limestone — the sculptor's stone. Soft enough to carve, hard enough to last.

Igneous and nearly unbreakable. Countertops, curbs, and monuments that outlive the quarry.

Sedimentary and everywhere. The stone that built the great cathedrals.

Sandstone baked into near-quartz hardness — the tough one that still sparkles.

Talc-rich and silky to the touch. For fireplaces, sinks, and hand carving.

The five stones

Shot where the stone actually happens.