Characteristics of the andesite stone
The andesite stone has innumerable physical characteristics such as:
- Hardness
- Pressure resistance
- Cold resistance
- Abrasive resistance
- Can be cut
The andesite rock can be used as construction stone and also for decoration. It can be found
in different colour variations, but the dominant colour is dark brown, in some layers with green,
orange and grey iridescence.
Also it is found in different thickness and different surfaces (plain and with unevenness). As far as
durability in time and pressure resistance is concerned it is very safe.
It is a volcanic rock, with a fine granulation, but very hard. The name of the andesite rock comes
from the name of the Andes mountains, where it was found for the first time, where the first
houses and strongholds were built from this solid rock.
After each volcanic eruption the hot lava was flowing in thin streams, in time these cooled down
and more layers were deposited.
In time the mineral salts between the layers started working and thus a wide range of colours
appeared on the surface of the rock. Since the hot lava did not flow with the same regularity, the
thickness of the rock between the layers also differs.
The rock that we mine and sell is between 1 cm and 3 cm thick. The slabs are not uniform
meaning they do not have a regular form, they are rustic.
The andesite rock is used for fences, plinth for houses, cladding constructions, pavements, yards,
interior and exterior decorations, staircases, garden bakestone, restaurants, pizzerias, cellars,
wine cellars.
The rock is placed on wooden pallets, foil packaged and tied with protection bands.
Mineralogical composition Main physical-chemical properties
Piagociazii - 46-52 % Density - 2,840-2,870 Kg/cm3
Pyroxene - 10-12 % Porosity- 8,80-9,79 %
Amphiboles - 5-8% Resistance to rupture - 166-167 N/mm2
Accessories - 1 % Resistance to shock - 4,5-5,0 N/mm2
Paste - 34-42 % Abrasive resistance - 0,13-0,14 g/cm2
Freeze-thaw ratio- 19,16-21,08 %
The mineral substance is andesite of grey and black colour with the following chemical
composition:
SIO2-57,45 % K2O-1,56 %
P2O5-0,11 % TiO2-1,21 %
F2O3-5,77 % CaCO2-7,61 %
Al2O3-15,93 % FeO-3,42 %
MgO-2,42 % CO2-traces
The andesite is a hard volcanic rock, resistant to freeze-thaw, pressure, mechanical abrasion
and is not radioactive. It is a rustic and decorative brown coloured rock with ray and orange
iridescence. It is mined from the Western versant of the Harghita mountains.
