Azul Aran granite is a stunning complex stone that has a huge amount of variation. It is quarried in northern Italy and is not commonly known by any other industry names. It’s great for countertops – let’s take a look shall we..
From afar this stone has an overall light grey color. It is not very uniform in its appearance and large mineral deposits and veins will usually be visible.
Upon closer inspection you begin to see the real beauty of this stone. Despite its overall grey color, you are able to see that the bedrock of this stone is in fact white. This white bedrock can differ in tone slightly – it is usually a pure bright white, but can occasionally be very light grey in places. It can make up anywhere between 30% and 70% of the stones overall mass.
Grey mineral veins are present in all slabs of this granite. They can vary in size and color but usually will make up around 30% and 70% of the stones overall mass. They are usually light grey in color but can actually be a medium grey in places. They can be found in long winding veins or in isolated patches – and their color complements the white bedrock beautifully.
Dotted around the stone are also light brown mineral deposits. These brown minerals are less frequent than the grey minerals and can make up between 10% and 30% of a stones overall mass. They can range in color from a medium brown, through to a light brown (which is more common).
Also present in the stone are grey quartz deposits. These quartz deposits are a slightly different color to the grey minerals and have a different appearance in terms of their texture. They are much less common and make up less than 5% of the stones surface area on average.
And finally scattered around are very tiny white quartz deposits. These little minerals are not really visible as they are hidden by the complex patterns. However you will be able to notice them when they catch the light and sparkle – they make this stone feel very luxurious indeed.
This granite is rated as having a medium level of variation. While all aspects of the stone can vary in-between slabs – the amount of white and grey is the main thing that will change. Some stones will have a large amount of the grey minerals and others will have much less. This can really create slabs that are so different they could almost be called different names. One slab can be much darker and greyer than the other. So be sure to inspect any slab you are thinking about buying before you commit to the purchase.
This granite is not known to stain or scratch easily and is considered to be a very tough stone. Its light colors and complex patterns will hide fingerprints and crumbs reasonably well so you will not have a whole bunch of additional cleaning to do.
Azul Aran is also known to have very different appearances depending upon the rooms lighting conditions. In bright and well lit rooms the stone will appear lighter as the white bedrock is given more chance to shine and the quartz crystals will be sparkling more. In darker rooms the white will seem much darker and the grey will begin to dominate slightly creating a much more somber overall effect. So if you have your heart set on a white and bright granite, but have a dark kitchen – you may need to invest in additional lighting to get the full effect.
How Much Does Azul Aran Granite Cost?
This is a mid-range granite. A 3cm thick slab of Azul Aran granite will cost you in the region of $40 to $50 per square foot. A 2cm thick slab will cost around $30 to $35 per square foot.
We love Azul Aran granite countertops when they are combined with white kitchen cabinets. The white bedrock and light grey minerals almost blend in with the cabinets – but the countertops are just dark enough to provide a slight accentuation to them. It creates a very natural, light, and airy feel to the room with an overriding sense of luxury thanks to the small white quartz crystals.
When used with dark cabinets the stone will obviously be much more prominent in the room. As all the colors in this granite are light the contrast between the countertops and the cabinets will be quite stark. This can be used to great effect to create a professional and “masculine” feel to the kitchen.
If you have a slab that has a large amount of brown minerals in it combining it with a medium stain on your cabinets can create a great effect. The stone will appear to be more grey and brown than white – which results in a complementary, and natural “earthy” feel to your kitchen.
A couple of great alternatives to Azul Aran granite are Lennon granite, Golden crystal granite, and Alaska white granite. Be sure to check them out!
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