Volga Blue Granite is a stunning stone that has earned its reputation as one of the most attractive stones on the market. It is quarried in limited quantities in Ukraine and is occasionally called Blue Polar Granite, Labradorite Blue granite, and Emerald Pearl granite.
It is a great stone to use for kitchen countertops and backsplashes. Let’s take a look at what makes this stone so special.
From afar Volga blue granite countertops will look very dark in color, despite its name – it looks very black from afar. The countertops overall appearance from a distance are not entirely uniform and it is possible to see lighter patches and veins. Only the largest deposits of the blue minerals are visible from afar – and unfortunately, deposits of this size are not very common.
Look at how awesome this volga blue looks.
As you get closer you can begin to see that the black bedrock is actually very complex and has many interesting details to it.
The bedrock of this stone is actually a very light grey – despite its overall black appearance. What gives it its black color is the vast amounts of black mineral deposits that make up over 80% of this stones mass. These black mineral deposits can range in color from a very dark grey, through to pure black. They are usually dense and well defined – which gives an effect that almost looks like shattered glass.
It looks great with white cabinets
However despite the black minerals making up the bulk of this stone, it is the stunning blue mineral deposits that give this stone its name. And boy are they stunning!
They can range in shade from a deep and dark navy blue, through to a super bright almost sky blue color. Depending upon the density of the minerals in these sections they can actually be pearlescent. This means that they will look slightly metallic in color, and will display a range of shades of blue – depending upon how the light has reflect off of the stone. It honestly creates quite a stunning effect and is the main reason why this granite is so very popular.
Dotted around the countertops you will be able to see small and infrequent patches of white quartz. This gives the countertops a little shine and sparkle – but they are not really visible overall unless you are specifically looking for them
Volga blue granite does vary significantly in different lighting conditions. The darker the room – the more uniform the stone will look from afar.
The lighter the room – the more the blue minerals will stand out. More importantly, in kitchens that have an abundance of natural light you will be giving the blue minerals more of an opportunity to display their stunning pearlescent effect.
The tiles and Volga Blue granite complement each other.
If you only have a few parts of your kitchen that have direct natural light and are able to specifically choose your slab – request that the parts with the highest concentration of blue to be used in the well-lit areas.
There is a low amount of variation between different slabs of this granite. The black mineral deposits are very consistent in their density and concentration. The amount of the blue mineral deposits that are present can vary a little. Some slabs will have a huge amount, and others will have barely any.
As it is a dark granite Volga blue will be a little harder to clean than lighter granites. Any fingerprints or crumbs that have been left on your countertops will be easily visible – so you should get used to wiping them down!
This being said it is an incredibly durable granite and will not permanently stain easily.
How Much Does Volga Blue Granite Cost?
The price of this granite varies a little due to its unique appearance. Obviously the patches of blue are the most impressive thing about this stone – and everyone wants slabs that have a good amount of the blue minerals in. Therefore slabs that have a high amount of this mineral will be more expensive than average, and slabs with a lower mineral content will be cheaper than average.
Either way – for a 3cm thick slab of Volga blue granite you can expect to pay around $60 to $90 per square foot depending upon the stones mineral content.
How about using this to top a bathroom vanity?
Volga blue countertops combined with dark kitchen cabinets creates a very peculiar effect (in a good way!). The black minerals in the stone are black for all intents and purposes – but they are actually very very dark blue. The only way you are really able to see this is when you combine this granite with dark cabinets. The “real” black of the cabinets looks different to the “black” of the countertops – creating the blueish effect.
It is really quite stunning – and while the overall appearance is still pretty much black – you can certainly tell there is a blue tinge to it.
The pearlescent blue minerals become much more pronounced when you combined Volga Blue granite with dark cabinets. The dark bedrock and the dark décor means that any slight bit of bright color will be given more room to shine. And this works wonders with the stunning blue minerals present in the stone.
This is a very light slab of volga blue. Look at the blue mineral shine in the light!
Just because it looks good with dark cabinets does not mean that is the only option! Volga blue countertops with white kitchen cabinets are also stunning. This time the overall appearance of the stone is black again as there is nothing to compare it to. They contrast against the white cabinets strongly. The bright blue minerals bring a little bit of life back into the room allowing the overall effect to be striking – but not too bold.
With either type of cabinets you should give some serious thought to getting a Volga blue splashback to complement your countertops. See if you can get a piece that has some particularly large blue mineral deposits for this. If you do – your splashback can become a great little focal point of your kitchen for a minimal added cost.
A couple of other stunning alternative granites that look quite similar to Volga Blue are Blue Eyes Granite and Sapphire Blue Granite – be sure to take a look!
What do you think about this awesome stone? Do you have any questions or comments? Write to us in the box below!
