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Italian-English Names
Italian/English; Example
Rossa/Red; Rossa Verona
Verde/Green; Verde Alpi
Negro/Black; Negro Marquina
Bianco/White; Bianco Carrara
Perlato/Pearl; Perlato Royal
Azzurro/Blue; Azul Bahia
Dorato or D'oro/Gold; Dorato Valmaneno
Giallo/Yellow; Giallo Siena
Fiore/Flower; Trani Fiorito
Breccia/Broken Pieces; Breccia Oniciata
Arabescato/Flower Design; Arabescato Vagli

Other Stone Types
Marble, granite and limestone are the most common interior stone types that you will encounter. However, there are others. The following is a brief explanation of those types:

Slate
Slate can be found both indoors and out. It is a stone that has been metamorphosed from shale and consists of clay-like materials. It can be recognized by its sheet-like appearance and is found in earth-tone colors. Slate will rarely have a high polish unless a coating is placed on it. Slate can be a problem for the architect/designer. It contains a high clay content, so it will often flake, spall and develop efflorescence easily. This is especially true in wet areas. Slate is best treated with a good quality silicone penetrating sealer.

Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary material which consists of sand crystals cemented together with natural clays. It is seldom seen as flooring material, but an architect or designer will run across a floor or two. Sandstone is very rough because of its sandy structure and is very abrasive on diamond discs. It is acid-resistant and rarely polished. Sandstone is very porous and should be sealed with a penetrating sealer.

Quartzite
Quartzite is also a rare flooring material but is gaining in popularity. It is a metamorphosed quartz sand and is classified as a sandstone, exhibiting those properties.

Shell Stone or Coquina
Shell stone or Coquina is a limestone composed of broken fragments of shell and coral. It is a porous sedimentary material and is easily identified by its shell or coral fragments. It should not be resurfaced because it is a very abrasive stone and will tear diamond discs.

Flagstone/Blue Stone
Flagstone is a term given to almost all stone material cut into thin, irregular shapes. Found extensively on sidewalks, foyer entrances and pool decks, flagstone can be almost any stone material but is commonly the sandstone type known as blue stone. Blue stone gets its name from its distinct blue color. Flagstone should not be ground and should only be cleaned and sealed.

Onyx
Onyx is a type of marble which has been formed by the deposits of cold solutions. It is a translucent material with veins running concentrically to one another. It is very expensive and can be found on table tops and small pieces of furniture. It can be treated just like marble and takes a high shine.

Soapstone
Soapstone is one of the softest materials composed of talc. For this reason it makes an excellent carving material and can be found on fireplace surrounds and hearths. It is treated like marble and should be sealed.

Travertine
Travertine is a limestone formed in hot springs. Water movement causes the erosion of the stone, creating numerous holes of varying sizes. A polished travertine will have its holes filled with a color-matched Portland cement fill. These fillers do not take a high polish and therefore the overall polish is blotchy.