LAUSTER
Even though Stonetec—the long-standing industry gathering for Germany’s natural stone and stone technology sectors, which was originally scheduled to take place last week—has been postponed until next year due to the COVID-19 crisis: The STEIN editorial team has been gathering information and, since the end of May, has been presenting you with plenty of news in the 06/2020 print issue from the fields of materials, construction chemicals, Tools & More, and art foundries. This news is now also appearing online—today marks the second installment from the “Rocks” section, followed by Construction Chemicals, Tools & More, and Art Foundries.
NATURSTEINWOLF
This year, Lauster Steinbau would have presented itself at Stonetec as a partner for stonemasons, landscape contractors, sculptors, and restorers, offering regional, climate-friendly natural stones with stable supply chains. In recent years, three new sandstone quarries have been developed, so the focus is currently on Lauchheimer sandstone, Tennenbacher sandstone, and Waldenbucher sandstone. Lauchheimer sandstone is a yellowish-green, fine-grained, homogeneous-appearing, often veined, and dense iron sandstone. It is suitable for restoration and sculptural work as well as for landscaping. Tennenbach sandstone is a fine-grained, deep red, homogeneous red sandstone. It is suitable for facade cladding, flooring, masonry work, and restoration projects, as well as for landscaping. Waldenbucher sandstone is a white to whitish-yellow, medium- to coarse-grained Stubensandstein with layered, partly brownish sedimentary structures. It is suitable for facade cladding, flooring, masonry work, and restoration projects, as well as for landscape architecture. This selection is complemented by the well-known and proven materials Maulbronn sandstone, Niederhofen sandstone, and Gauing travertine, as well as the Lauster materials from the Alps: Tauerngrün, Dorfergrün, and Krastaler marble. All are available as sawn pieces, slabs, and custom-cut items.
www.laustersteinbau.de
The latest news from Natursteinwolf is that Gotland limestone—for which they serve as the general importer in Germany—has been named Sweden’s Stone of the Year (selected by the Swedish Natural Stone Association). This hard limestone likely began its history 400 million years ago as a coral reef near the equator. Because Sweden has served as a “regional” natural stone supplier since the Hanseatic era, this stone from the island of Gotland forms a shared cultural heritage of the entire Baltic Sea region. But it has not only proven its worth in many historic buildings; just recently, a new subway station in Copenhagen was clad with it—specifically the Norrvange variety. This durable, light-colored limestone with prehistoric inclusions comes in two additional varieties (Södervange & Kappelshamn); its base color is a shade of cream or gray (Kappelshamn). Natursteinwolf has a dedicated webpage on the subject.
www.gotland-kalkstein.de
RISSE
ROKSTYLE / ROKSTYLE LIVING
Naturstein Risse has a variety of new products to offer: First, six new quartzites from Brazil: Copacabana (black with large white veins), White Silk (white with delicate anthracite-colored veins), Santorini (blue-gray with yellow-orange veining), Fusion (blue, gray-green to dark gray, very fine-grained), Jeriba Blue (wavy color transitions of blue, gray, and warm natural tones), and Cristallo Santa Helena (white with fine beige and golden veins). Also new from Brazil are the exceptionally hard dolomite marble Sequoia Brown, the granite Roma Imperiale (white background, intense golden and brown veins), and the striking pegmatite Patagonia. In addition to the white marble Dover White with gray veins (also from Brazil), the range now includes Mercury Black from India. This stone features a dark background with white and gray veining. Also included are the Chinese volcanic rock Atlantic Stone with a blue-gray base tone and the new Dark Collection from the Israeli manufacturer Caesarstone, featuring low-maintenance and attractive quartz composite (Piatto Black, Oxidian, Empira Black, Black Tempal).
www.naturstein-risse.de
At Rokstyle, alongside theproduction of designer memorials such as the new version of the popular “Dandelion,” it’s clear that people are prioritizing sustainability and natural materials even in the midst of their daily lives. Stones such as marble and granite are increasingly in demand for home use—for example, as kitchen countertops, in bathrooms, or for small home accessories—and the“Rokstyle Living”label has been available for some time now to meet this demand. This design brand now offers steak plates made of natural stone. The recessed surface has been finely polished, a special finishing technique that creates a subtle texture. The grill plates are also suitable for use in the food service industry. In addition, the collection includes scented candles in natural stone cups, vases, lanterns, and other home décor items.
www.rokstyleliving.com
www.rokstyle.de
SÜDTIROL.STEIN
Here, a truly unique specimen is in the spotlight: the “Rabenstein.” The red garnet inclusions are a distinctive feature of this boulder (gneiss). This gemstone, encased here in a silvery-shimmering matrix, has long been prized by various cultures as a protective stone and gem —whether, for example, in Greek mythology as part of the legend of Persephone’s abduction by Hades, as a burial offering among the Vikings, or as a protective ornament on the armor of the Crusaders. Traditionally, garnet is believed to possess magical powers and healing properties, and it is a very popular gemstone for traditional costumes. As a boulder, the Rabenstein is available only in limited quantities. A rock slide brought a Stein measuring approximately 45 m³ and weighing about 130 metric tons down into the valley. It is suitable for kitchen countertops, cover slabs, stairs, and flooring. Currently available in all thicknesses as flooring slabs in strips (30 and 40 cm wide), large-format flooring slabs, and rough-cut slabs.
www.suedtirol-stein.com/de/
