gabbro
A dark, visibly grained intrusive igneous facade stone formed underground, here also including finer-grained diabase.
Pictured: Enger Tower
Gabbro is a hard igneous rock similar to basalt except that it is composed of visibly distinct crystalline grains (whereas basalt is basically homogeneously dark gray without visible grains). It is formed when magma cools and hardens under the Earth's surface (basalt is produced by lava cooling at the surface).
Gabbro is usually dark in color, and can have a natural greenish, reddish, or bluish tint. It includes the rock type diabase, which is finer grained than gabbro.
The visible crystalline texture distinguishes it from generally fine-grained basalt. This material entry also includes diabase as stated above, even though its grains are finer.
gabbro Photos
Related definitions
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alabaster
A translucent gypsum or calcite stone, usually decorative indoors but occasionally used as a facade material. -
basalt
A dark, generally fine-grained igneous facade stone formed when lava cools and solidifies at the surface. -
granite
A hard, visibly grained igneous facade stone formed from magma cooling underground, used rough or polished. -
limestone
A sedimentary stone composed mainly of calcium carbonate, commonly used in natural stone building facades. -
marble
A brittle rock formed from calcite crystal and prized for its mottled patterns. -
quartz
A hard crystalline mineral occurring in many colors, normally clear or whitish when used on building facades. -
quartzite
A hard natural facade stone formed by the metamorphism and recrystallization of sandstone under heat and pressure. -
sandstone
A natural sedimentary facade stone made of cemented sand grains, commonly quartz, with varied colors and textures. -
serpentinite
A green metamorphic facade stone composed mainly of serpentine minerals, often selected for its color and pattern. -
slate
A metamorphic stone that splits into sheets, used as facade sheets or shingles outside roof surfaces. -
soapstone
A soft, talc-rich metamorphic rock with a slippery feel, used as a natural stone material on building facades. -
suevite
A composite rock formed in a meteor impact containing glass and fragments of rocks. -
travertine
A calcium-carbonate stone deposited from water, used as decorative natural stone and sometimes called travertine marble. -
tuff
A relatively soft volcanic rock made from consolidated erupted material, used as a textured natural facade stone.