A common question about black granites is “Why do my countertops seem like they are fading?” The best way to prevent this is to go through a reputable supplier that only buys first-quality material, which means they will not be doctored in any way.  It is important to view the slabs in person and not purchase based on price alone.

Photo by Divine Kitchens via Houzz

Black Granites from India such as Absolute Black, Absolute Black Premium, and Absolute Black Super Premium, are all first-quality, dense black granites, not dyed or oiled.  Galaxy Black has an extremely dense black background with bright reflectors.  The gold specks are due to the presence of  Bronzite.  This is very important to view in person so you can see the quality of the black to make sure it was not dyed.

Some vendors buy the cheaper blacks with more “white graining,” and they dye them to hide the defects.

Chinese Blacks are becoming very popular due to their low prices, but can be prone to “shakes and vents.” They may also have a grainy appearance, but are oiled or dyed to hide the defects, which will eventually fade, slowly revealing uneven color.

If you suspect it is dyed, you can perform two tests:

• Take a clean white cloth with acetone on it, and wipe the stone to see if any residue comes off.

• Take MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) and apply to a different section. If there is any color transfer, the stone is dyed.

South African Blacks, common name Zimbabwe Black, have a tight “rice-grain” effect, but are not as dense as Indian Blacks. Nero Impala is also from Africa, but should be categorized as Gray, not Black due to the coloring and grain structure.

Canadian Blacks such as Cambrian Black and Mesabi Black have a “rice-grain” effect with a silvery reflection. Atlantic Black has a slightly larger pattern also with a silvery reflection.

Check out inventory and pricing of black granites or see over 350 different granites that we stock at Marble and Granite, Inc at our warehouses in Westwood, MA and Milford, CT