When it comes to beautiful and long-lasting surfaces, it’s hard to beat granite. This stone is a type of igneous rock which is mostly composed of quartz, potassium feldspar and sodium feldspar. That mix of materials gives granite its trademark speckled appearance and makes it one of the toughest natural stones available for countertops and surfaces . Granite is very durable and more resistant than marble to scratches, etching and staining. Sealing your granite countertops once a year will help repel water, oils, and other kitchen liquids. If maintained properly, granite can retain its rich colors and surface finish for a lifetime. The slabs come in a wide range of colors and patterns, so there’s something to match almost any décor. Some popular colors are Nero Absolute, Black Galaxy, Fantacy White, Bianco Sardo, Cosmic Black, Alaska White, Atlantic Black, New Caledonia, Black Pearl, Ivory Fantacy, River White, Black Fusion, Silver Paradiso and more.