What Kind of Stone Is Gray Stone?

Match Gray Stone to Use

• Match the type of gray stone to its use. Limestone works well as garden borders, landscape rock and even some types of paving, but is not suited for heavy-duty flooring or countertops. Most slates are some shade of gray and may be used inside and out, for paving, flooring or even roofing. Granites and marbles are very hard, come in a variety of gray shades and make good countertops or other hard surfaces. Basalt is a hard volcanic rock that is almost black

Origin Matters

• Colors also will vary by geographic region. Not all granites or slates will have the same shades or color patterns, depending on where they are quarried. Granites and marbles, for instance, are quarried in America but also in countries as diverse as Italy, China, India, Spain, Germany and France. Colors will depend on the natural elements which formed them in those locales millions of years ago.

Gray Sandstone

• A very heavy, solid form of sandstone is often called bluestone or graystone. It can be found in areas as diverse as China and the eastern United States. It is typically a bluish gray color, usually fairly uniform in shade, and is easily cut to regular shapes. It is popular for flooring, patios and walkways. It is much harder than regular sandstone, almost with a slatelike texture.

Slate Is Popular Gray Stone

• Slate is probably the most popular form of gray stone. Its shades will vary from very light to deep grays and usually will be uniform throughout the stone, unlike granite whose coloring will vary widely within the same piece of stone. Slate is used for patios but also frequently for indoor flooring, especially in entryways or areas with a lot of traffic and subject to mud and moisture.