Natural stone quarries in Iran

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Iran is one of the countries with various mines. And, about 25% of the known quarries of Iran are building stone mines. Iran’s natural resources have taken a large share of the world market. In the field of natural stone, there are many quarries in various places and cities of Iran which supply the country’s domestic consumption and foreign exports.

In continue, we will introduce the most important stone mines of Iran.

Mining from the Iranian stone quarries

Extracted stones from Iranian mines have a great variety in type, color, design and quality. Meanwhile, in countries such as Brazil and India, there is only granite and in Italy there is only marble.

As we know, the taste of people in the society is different from time to time and this huge variety of Iranian stones make the market respond faster and customers can choose different stones for their projects.

The variety of discovered stone quarries in Iran is as follows:

  • Marble stones 54%
  • Granite stones 20%
  • Crystal stones 15%
  • Travertine stones 10%
  • Onyx stones 1%

In this article, we’re going to speak about the most important stone mines of Iran in Isfahan, West Azerbaijan, Lorestan, Fars, Yazd and Central provinces:

Isfahan Province

This province has the most important stone quarries of Iran. It has 89 travertine mines, which is the highest number among the provinces of this country.

West Azerbaijan Province

This province produces more than 4000 tons of construction stones every year. stones with high quality and variety. In this province, there are about 440 mines that have licenses, and approximately one-half of this number is related to building stone quarries. Marble, onyx and granite are among the stones which are extracted from the mines of this province.

Azarshahr is the most important and famous city of West Azerbaijan province in this industry. It is famous in the world for its red travertine. Azarshahr city has 40 active mines and from this point of view it is considered one of the important centers of stone production in this country.

Lorestan Province

This province has about a quarter of Iran’s building stone resources, so it is considered one of the important provinces in stone industries in Iran.

There are about 70 marble and crystal mines in this province, and it has the largest number of stone quarries among other provinces.

Fars Province

Crystal and Marble stones are about 15% of all the stones extracted from Fars province mines.

There are 398 active stone quarries in Fars province, which generally are about 10% of the Iran’s stone mines. Also, due to its high-quality stones, this province has exported about 30% of Iran’s natural stones.

Yazd Province

Stone quarries of this province are very diverse and most of them are granite, marble and crystal mines.

About one million and 300,000 tons of stones are extracted from Iran’s quarries every year, and Yazd province owns more than 30% of this extraction.

Central Province

This province has the largest number of the active building stone quarries with 64 travertine mines. And, currently the Central province supplies a significant part of the travertine stone needed by the internal market and it is considered to have important stone mines.

Mahalat city is famous to has one of the most important sources of travertine stone mines in the world and it has a great diversity.

Stones in different types, with different textures and colors are one of the natural materials used for constructions and buildings. Today, slabs of granite and marble stones are used to beautify the different parts of the buildings. Stones have their unique characteristics that make them possible to be used for various purposes. For instance, travertine which is considered an inexpensive stone and has a variety of colors, is mostly used outdoors.

What are the features of a high quality stone?

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The stone used in the interior or exterior design must be free of cracks and even free of harmful minerals. Basically, a high-quality stone should have low water absorption and be resistant to atmospheric changes such as cold, heat, sunlight, and chemicals. In many cases, the buyers of building stones only pay attention to the appearance of the stone, which may cause them problems over passing time and finally they won’t be satisfied with their purchase. Most buyers and consumers of stones are looking for the color and uniformity of the stone, while the stones have been formed over millions of years. So, they have a natural texture and the color of them are inspired by the nature.

When you want to buy a building stone, you should pay attention to the place that the stone is going to be installed. Because, each stone has its special use and it is suitable for one or more parts of the building space. The places that can be separated in the building usually include the different parts of interior and exterior designs, residential and commercial paving, steps, elevators, parapets and etc.

The suitable stone for exterior or building facade is a stone that is resistant to cold, heat and UV rays of the sun. So, stones like travertine, granite and sandstone can be used for this purpose.

The suitable stone for the interior facade is a stone that is hard and has a beautiful appearance. And, it doesn’t need to be resistant to weather conditions or climate changes. Therefore, stones such as marble, onyx, limestone and crystal can be used for interior places. But there is no restriction on the type of stone for the interior walls of the building.

Suitable stone for stairs and steps

The suitable stone for stairs and steps, especially in places with high traffic, is a stone that is hard enough. So, granite stone is the best option for use in stairs. But if you have a desire to use marble stone, you must definitely use high-quality and first-class marble.

Suitable stone for indoor and residential paving

Stone is the best and most highly resistant flooring in the world, and so far, no more resistant and beautiful material than natural stone has been made or known. Stones will give a pleasant and beautiful atmosphere to the building.

The best and most suitable stone for indoors and paving stones of residential buildings are those that have water absorption, high abrasion resistance and less porosity. Among the building stones, marble, onyx and crystal stones are suitable for these places. But, in offices and commercial buildings where there is more traffic, a hard stone which is resistant to pressure should be used, such as granite or high-quality marble stones.

Suitable stone for pavements

A suitable stone for such spaces should be resistant to pressure, frost and chemicals. Granite and crystal stones which are especially produced in the form of cubes are suitable for such spaces.

Suitable stone for bathrooms

For spaces with high humidity, such as bathrooms and WC, the best stone is a stone that has low water absorption and it is resistant to chemical detergents. Among the existing stones, granite and crystal stones are more suitable for this use.

Architects’ opinion about the stones

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Iran is a country with many natural stone mines and since ancient times, the use of stone has been an interest due to its resistance, stability and beauty. Obviously, in the past due to the difficulties of extraction, transportation and grinding, except in the mountain villages and in luxurious buildings, construction with stone has been a difficult, expensive and time-consuming task. In the past, stones not only have been used for decorative work, but they also have been used for their great strength.

With the introduction of mining and stone cutting machines in the new era and the industrialization of natural stone extraction, the use of stones in the facade and flooring have become popular. And, stone which was a luxurious product in urban areas has become a useful material for buildings and constructions. And, it has become easily accessible to the general public.

Before that, most important offices or luxurious buildings were made of stone and they were a symbol of glory and power. With the discovery of new mines and the acceleration of extraction, the variety of stones offered in the market gradually increased and the prices were also adjusted. So, designers developed more creativity in the use of these stable and beautiful materials.

Now, Iran is in the list of the first 7 countries in the world in production and processing of decorative stones. The old methods of processing, transporting and installing natural stones may waste this useful material. And, by considering the fact that in big cities, with the increase in population and the cost of land, tall buildings become more popular. Therefore, it is no longer cost-effective to make the facade heavier by the old methods of slow stone installation. And, the issue of time as well as lightening facade is very important, especially due to earthquakes.

When architects are familiar with stone finishing process that can be applied on the surface of stones with different tools, the suitable stone for strength of the facade, floor and etc., they can make better choices for their designs.

It is obvious that the production and supply market must always consider the demands of architectures, professionals and builders in order to be successful. Also, architects can no longer be accountable to their employers with old approaches and traditional methods of execution.

Methods of cleaning building stones

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There are different ways to clean a building stone. Natural stone surfaces are beautiful, but if they don’t properly maintain, they’ll lose their beautiful appearance and their surface luster. And, they need to be cleaned again. To clean stones, you should use natural cleaning products for natural stones. In the following, we will be acquainted with the method of cleaning different stones.

Undoubtedly, in the most houses, stone is used in different parts, especially on the floor of the building. And, one of the concerns for people using natural stones is how to clean them. Before cleaning, it is better to know a bit about the type of stone used in your building. Because the types of stones are different, and each one has its own characteristics. When you have information about your building stone, it will help you directly in the way of maintaining and cleaning it. First you should know about your stone and its features, then it is time for learning methods of cleaning it, which are discussed below:

Cleaning and polishing the floor and wall stone

Indoor building stones are usually used for kitchen counter tops, between the cabinets, flooring and etc. Unfortunately, some unaware people use chemical detergents to clean natural building stones. Using them work well at first and the surface becomes completely shiny, but after a few years, the stone won’t look the same as before and it will start to crack or break.

The best way to clean the flooring stone is to first gently sweep the debris on it with a soft broom. Be careful, this will prevent the surface of the stone to be cracked. In a bucket with cold water, mix some special stone and ceramic cleaner until it foams. Clean the stone completely using a cloth or a soft cloth so that no detergent remains on the stone and finally dry the stone with a soft cloth. Be sure to use cold water to clean the stone because hot water destroys the enzymes in the detergent.

Cleaning the facade of a building

The method of cleaning stone in the facade needs more care and attention. In order to wash and clean the façade stone, you should keep in mind the humidity level of the nearby area. Because, moisture is the main cause of the stone erosion. This issue can be effective for the frequency of washing the facade. There are different ways to wash and clean the facade, and each of these methods is suitable for its own conditions. On the other hand, the level of air pollution also affects the choice of washing method, for example, the method of cleaning and washing the façade of a building that is in an area full of smoke will be different from the facade that has dirty oily stains.

Types of stone washing methods

In general, there are three types of stone cleaning methods in the exterior section:

  • Washing with water
  • Washing with chemicals
  • Washing by shaving method

Usually, washing by shaving method is done with the help of sand or gravel and it is not very recommended, because in this method, in addition to removing dirt and pollution, some parts of the stone surface is rubbed and it cause damage to the stone. Therefore, do not use this method except in necessary cases. Washing methods with water and chemicals are both suitable and safer for cleaning the façade stone, but each can be done on certain materials.

Important key points in cleaning the building stone

An important point in the field of stone cleaning in all sectors is that the stones must be cleaned quickly when they are contaminated. When the stain appears on the surface of the stone, you should quickly clean it and if you don’t, the stain may be difficult to remove or even not completely removed later.

When the stain remains on the stone, especially if it is a tea or coffee stain, it won’t be easy to clean. In the kitchen counter, we usually use suitable stones. But usually, this part of the kitchen is vulnerable to get many stains. But don’t worry, if you clean the stains from the beginning, they won’t decrease the life of the stone and they will be less trouble for you.

Factors Affecting the Price of the Building Stones

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For those who intend to buy natural building stone, its price has always been important. And, for this reason, they should be familiar with the factors that affect the price of the building stones. Building stones can give a special effect to your building and they are one of the most popular building materials used in constructions.

Among the factors that can affect the price of a building stone, we can mention the items below:

Type of stone

As you know, there are different types of building stones that you can choose according to the design of the building and your taste. Granite, onyx, travertine and marble can be mentioned among the types of building stones. Granite stone has a unique beauty and it is a very suitable option for building columns, walls and floors.

Marble is also a dense and strong stone that is widely used in places where resistant stone is needed. Marble stone is a good choice for stairs and building floors, which are places with high traffic. Travertine stone is another type of building stone that is mostly used in building facades due to its non-dense texture and porosity. Marble is also a stone that gives a special effect to the building due to its special appearance. Marble does not have a good resistance to acid rain, and therefore it is not recommended to use in the facade. Each of these stones have different prices due to their different characteristics.

Color of stone

The color of a stone can also be another influencing factor on the price of the building stone. The color of the stone has a direct effect on the beauty of the building. So, the importance of the color of the stone in this section is well defined. When you want to choose a stone, you should pay attention to the fact that some stones react with chemicals and it may change their color. Therefore, choose a stone that does not lose its color due to reaction with chemicals or exposure to sunlight.

Stone Cutting method

Another factor that affects the price of a building stone is the type of stone cutting method. According to the type of stone and the tools used to cut it, its price will be different. For example, granite has a very high resistance and it is a hard stone. As a result, it will cost more to cut and polish. This cost can have a direct effect on the final price of the stone. In general, it can be said that the harder the stone, the higher the cost of cutting it and vice versa.

Durability of stone

Each stone has a special physical or chemical structure. Some existing physical and chemical factors can affect the durability of the stone. One of the factors that is very effective in reducing the durability of stone is temperature changes that can cause cracking and breaking of stone. Water and humidity can also have negative effects on stone durability.

As a result, any stone that has more resistance will have a higher price. In the field of building stone durability, other factors such as abrasion resistance, bending resistance and pressure resistance are also important. You should keep these things in mind when you want to choose a stone for your building.

Building Stone processing

In order to produce and make building stones, various operations are performed on them, which is known as stone processing. Among these operations, we can mention the cutting of block stone, choosing the suitable machinery for stone cutting, the use of resin and epoxy, polishing, painting and using lace, etc.

The differences in the cost of processing and production of building stone will affect the final price of them. Stones that are resistant, such as granite, require less processing levels, and as a result, their final price will be lower. But stones like marble are the exact opposite of granite.

Check the price of common building stones

Marble, travertine and onyx are among the types of commonly used construction stones. In addition to the factors mentioned above, other factors such as the design of the stone and the internal or external use of that stone have an exact effect on the prices. Each of these types of stones, which were mentioned as widely used stones, have their own advantages and disadvantages and also different prices. Among these three types of stones, marble has a higher price compared to other stones due to its rare quarries and high cost of processing. The uses of marble are different and it is mostly used in the construction of luxury buildings.

Ceramic or Stone flooring ?

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From the past until today, different materials are used to cover the floor of the buildings. Natural stones and ceramics are among the most widely used materials. There are many similarities between these two floor materials, but also there are some differences between them.

Comparison between natural stone and ceramic flooring

Generally, we use natural stones such as marble, onyx, and some travertine stones as the stone flooring of the building. Ceramics are also used to cover the floor of the building. There are many similarities between ceramics and natural stones. Both of them are hard materials which generally have very little water absorption and they are resistant to water penetration.

Therefore, because of these features, they can easily be used for long time as indoor and outdoor flooring. However, there are differences between them that make each of them a unique material with special features. Now the question is, which of them is better for the floor of the building? In this article, we will help you to choose the suitable flooring material by comparing the advantages and features of each of them.

Natural stone features

Natural building stones have their own appearance and they are somehow unique. All stones, have cracks and veins and substances or liquids may penetrate into them and eventually damage the stone. In contrast to natural stones, ceramics have a uniform surface and they don’t have cracks. Ceramics also have stable and similar colors which is an advantage for them. After all, if you want to design a uniform building, ceramics are a very good option for you. But if you like different designs and patterns, natural stones are recommended.

Durability of natural stone and ceramics

The resistance of different types of ceramics is affected by the firing temperature and their materials. Firing at a higher temperature make them more resistant. Crystal ceramics, which are baked at a temperature of about 1200 degrees, are more resistant than other kinds of ceramics. The durability and hardness of natural stones vary according to the type of stone. Granite, marble and onyx stones are very resistant and more durable than those which have porosity.

How to clean the stone or ceramic flooring

Natural stones are vulnerable to acid detergents, so acid cleaners should not be used to clean the natural stones. For ceramics that are glazed, you can use different detergents, but keep this in mind, if you use stronger chemicals, you should be careful of breaking down the bond lines between the ceramics.

The last word

In general, the choice of natural stone or ceramic for flooring, according to their own features, still needs the taste of the architect and the owner of the building. They can choose the appropriate flooring according to their taste and what they want to use for the interior or exterior design of a building.

Ceramics are the right choice for low-maintenance floors. Be careful that ceramics don’t have a completely natural material and although they look very similar to natural stones, they are not able to have the resistance, strength and full beauty of natural stones. Because of the beauty of natural stones, most people tend to use natural materials such as natural building stones to give their building a special and unique effect.

Suitable Stone for Bathroom

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The suitable stone for bathroom is one of the materials that is necessary for the construction of various buildings. One of the applications of natural stone is in the facade and also in different parts of the building. Choosing a suitable stone for a bathroom is very important and you should know the features and usages of different stones. In this article, we will review the necessary points.

As mentioned, choosing a suitable stone for bathroom is an important point. The reason for the importance of choosing this stone is that the bathroom has one of the most humid and watery environments in a building. For this reason, the stone that is used for this part should has sufficient resistance in this condition.

If a stone that does not have sufficient resistance to water and humidity is used in this part, it will soon crack and break, and after a while it will lose its appearance and color. In addition, it is exposed to all kinds of detergents during the day, so builders should use a stone that has high strength and resistance to corrosion and acidic substances.

Characteristics of  bathroom stone

The building stone that you are going to choose for this part must have special features and advantages, like:

  • It should have low porosity (because the porosity allows pollution and chemicals to penetrate into the stone)
  • It has a constant color and does not change its color over time
  • Have a high resistance to water absorption
  • Resistant to acid detergents
  • Have a natural and faded color
  • It should have sufficient and proper polishing, because too much polishing causes slipping, and if the polishing is too low, the stone won’t be beautiful enough.

Types of bathroom stones

There are so many different stones which are used in the bathrooms, but depending on the different part of installation, they should have their special features. For example, the stone of the bathroom wall is in less contact with water than the floor. For this reason, we have more options for choosing bathroom wall stone. In general, it can be said that granite, crystal, onyx and marble stones are the best ones to use in the bathroom.

Granite stone

Various types of granite stones are widely used in the interior of the bathroom. This stone has been recognized by many builders because of its high resistance. Another feature of this stone is its high resistance to water absorption. Granite stone is also very resistant to all kinds of detergents and it can be easily last for a long time without changing its color. You can get granite stone in different colors and dimensions in the market and its various colors can cover all the tastes of people.

Onyx stone

Onyx is one of the luxuries building stones that can give a special glory to the space. This stone is mostly used in the construction of luxury bathrooms. Because of the fact that this stone has a higher price and beauty compared to other stones. Onyx is highly polished and shiny and by passing the light, it increases the beauty in the bathroom.

Onyx has very beautiful veins on its surface and it is mostly available in bright colors. This beautiful and white stone has high resistance to pressure. Also, You should pay attention not to use acidic detergents when washing it.

Marble stone

Marble is another type of suitable stone for bathroom. It is better to use this stone in the bathroom walls. Because marble has less resistance to corrosion and water absorption than other bathroom stones, and for these reasons, it is better not to use for the bathroom floor. Marble has a high diversity in design and color, and most varieties of this stone have a light color. Marble has a reasonable price compared to other stones.

Crystal stone

Crystal stone is also one of the suitable options to use in wet places. This type of stone has sufficient resistance to chemicals. Also, all kinds of crystal stones do not absorb water, so they can be last in the bathroom for many years. The transparency in crystal stone is unique and it is very easy to clean. Since crystal stone has low porosity, water cannot penetrate into its texture and it shows its high resistance to water absorption.