Granite is an igneous rock, which means it was once molten and formed as it cooled deep within the earth. Minerals within granite typically appear as small flecks throughout the stone, once creating a "salt and pepper" look.  Other types have veining similar to marble.  Granite is a dense-grained, hard stone.  It comes in a variety of  finishes;  polished,  leather, or honed.  A broad spectrum of color is available. Quarried from the mountains of Italy, the U.S., Canada, India, Brazil, China, and dozens of other countries around the world, Granite is one of the most popular and affordable  natural stones in the market.