Italian Black Slate
This is the most popular and darkest slate available. Uniformly black when treated with in some instances a barely detectable mistiness resulting from very fine quartz particles. (Quartz is a major constituent of slate and confers durability and hardness)
The natural, riven finish is flat with a ‘woodgrain’ appearance running the length of the slab. Recommended where the hearth may see a lot of traffic as it does not show the scratches.
The honed finish is satin smooth but with no reflections.
One of the younger slates at 90 million years old .
Italian riven slate hearth
Italian honed slate hearth
Black Italian riven slate
Black Italian honed slate
Italian Black Slate Characteristics Summary
| Colour: | Black with occasional jet black inclusions and sometimes a barely visible silvery mist |
| Slab Thickness: | 20 and 30 mm. Thicker by special order direct from the quarry. |
| Raw slab size: | 2.2 – 3 metres by 1.2 – 1.35 metres |
| Surface finishes: | Honed and Riven |
| Scratch resistance: | Medium |
| Porosity: | Slight |
| Cost: | Medium |
| Surface treatment: | WD40 |
| External use: | No |
