The hard and solid masses that are used to form the earth's crust are called rock or stone. Basically, these stones are formed by the combination of multiple minerals. Stones are among the best known building materials that people have used to protect them throughout history. Stone has always been useful for use in arches, walls, windows, floors and roof coverings. Natural stone is among the oldest construction materials processed and used after being extracted from nature and is almost ready in nature.
Natural stones usually come out of the quarry in large blocks and are cut to the desired extent.
There is no standard measure in natural stone production. The size of the plates is that they are the natural dimensions of the block. The final dimensions are cut according to the customer's needs. Not only square or rectangular plates can be cut to the desired size. Stones of various colors can be designed with special processes, unique projects are made.
Although the life of natural stone is not limited to decades, it is seen as an immortal material. While most building materials deteriorate over time and become ugly, natural stone is highly valued. With a good restoration and cleaning, even the oldest stones regain their first-day beauty.
Natural stone does not contain any harmful substances. It can be safely used in the places where food is prepared, especially in kitchen counters.
It is non-flammable and does not release any harmful substances during fire.
Despite the development of technologies and knowledge, natural stones have always taken an important place in human life. In this respect, our country has a lucky position in terms of the existence of natural stone. Both in terms of reserves and diversity, the potential size of our country is very high. generally, our country is among the richest countries in terms of marble. With more than one billion cubic meters of marble reserves, our country has close to half of the world's marble reserves. There are more than 5 rounds in different designs and colors. Our country ranks seventh in the world natural stone production.
However, not only marble but also granite, syenite, basalt, andesite, limestone and travertine are included in the scope of natural stone.
Various studies are carried out in our country in order to determine the location of natural stones used as building materials, to determine their properties and to examine their geographical distribution.
Some of the stones are metamorphic, some are sedimentary and some have magmatic features. For example, marbles have metamorphic properties, while travertine and onyxes have sedimentary features. Granite and basalts are magmatic.
40 percent of natural stones, mainly marble, is used in flooring, 27 percent is used in interior and exterior cladding works, and 13 percent is used in monuments and cemeteries. Entrees, stair steps, kitchens, baths, bathroom sinks and worktops, fireplaces are among the natural stone (marble) usage areas. Marble is a building material that can be used in a wide area from very small ornaments to the covering of very large areas.
Natural stone tests are performed in authorized test and inspection laboratories. During these tests, the current regulations and published standards are taken into consideration. A number of standards based on natural stone tests are:
- TS 10449 Marble - Calcium carbonate based - Used as building and covering stone
- TS 11443 Onyx marble - Calcium carbonate based - Used as building and covering stone
- TS EN 1467 Natural stones - Raw blocks - Specifications
- TS EN 12407 Natural stones - Test methods - Petrographical investigation
- TS EN 13373 Natural stones - Test methods - Determination of geometric properties of units
- TS EN 13919 Natural stones - Test methods - Determination of resistance to so2 degradation in humid environment
- TS EN 14158 Natural stones - Test methods - Determination of breaking energy
- TS EN 14581 Natural stones - Test methods - Determination of linear thermal expansion coefficient
- TS EN 15163 Machines and installations for extraction and processing of natural stones - Safety - Rules for diamond wire cutting machines
- TSE CEN / TR 17024 Natural stones - Guide to the use of natural stones
