Stone is a natural solid formation of one or many minerals. There are
thousands of types of stone that have been quarried through the centuries.
The minerals in stone came from the same liquid and gas minerals that formed
the earth. Most of these minerals can be identified by their color,
hardness, and crystal formation. Crystals come in a variety of shapes and
sizes. The wide array of these minerals are often difficult to identify.
Many stones look very similar to each other; however, they are all very
different. It is imperative to know the exact type of stone that is to be maintained. Stone is natural and may have adverse reactions to certain cleaning chemicals and procedures. Most stones are also natural alkalies and so are dirt and soil; therefore, stone and dirt are attracted to each other which often makes cleaning very difficult. This makes the proper selection of cleaning procedures and chemicals for stone very complex.
Reflectivity of Stone
Stone contains natural crystals. These crystals reflect light to provide a shine on the surface. When the crystals are dull, crushed, or broken, they cannot reflect light evenly. Polished stone floors become dull when heavy foot traffic along with sediment erodes the crystals. Normal footwear does not cause the main damage, sediment and grit do. The sediment and grit that lies on the stone surface is the main enemy of the stones crystals. Hardness of Stone
Marble is a relatively soft stone. On a measurement of hardness, marble is approximately a three out of ten. Marble is made of calcium, just like your teeth. If you eat something to hard you will break your tooth. If you eat a lot of sugar you will get a cavity. Stone reacts the same way. If an improper chemical is applied to the surface, corrosion will begin to form cavities in the stone.
