granite
A hard, visibly grained igneous facade stone formed from magma cooling underground, used rough or polished.
Granite is an igneous rock formed when magma is cooled deep within the earth. It is extremely hard, and can be recognized by its speckled, grainy composition. The material comes in a wide variety of colors, and can be either rough or polished.
This type of stone is extremely durable, and highly resistant to stains, weathering, and corrosion. Granite is not as porous as other cladding stones, and thus is not strongly affected by repeated cycles of freezing and thawing.
The natural grain remains part of the material whether its face is rough or polished. Neither a particular color nor a polished finish is required for the granite designation.