Natural Stone Industry Glossary - MSI Surfaces

CALCAREOUS
Substance that is contains calcium carbonate, calcium, or limestone.

CALCITE LIMESTONE
Limestone that does not contain more than 5% magnesium carbonate.

CALCITE MARBLE
Crystalline marble that does not contain more than 5% magnesium carbonate.

CALCITE STREAKS
The white or milky streaks naturally occurring in stone.

CALCITE
A colorless or white mineral compound containing calcium carbonate found in marble, granites and limestone.

CONGLOMERATE
Stone that features an mix of pebbles and other rock particles.

CONSOLIDATION
The combination into a solid mass. In construction, typically refers to the treatment of the surface of stones to delay the decaying process.

CONTOUR SCALING
The crust that forms across the surface of limestone and sandstone that blocks the formation of calcium sulfates.

CONTROL JOINT
The groove joint that is tooled, sawed or formed in masonry structures to manage cracking, shrinkage and expansion.

COPE STONE
The typically flat horizontal stone at the top of a wall or other structure.

COPING
The covering cap atop a masonry wall that is designed to protect by shedding water.

COQUINA
A soft course-textured limestone that is highly porous and composed of broken shells and stone fragments cemented together by calcite.

CORAL LIMESTONE
A limestone rock that consists of calcareous coral skeletons and other organisms.

CORNERSTONE
The stone that forms the base of a corner in construction like in the joining of two walls. Also can be the first stone laid during a formal ceremony at the erection of a building.

CORNICE
A horizontal ornamental molding found in interior and exterior joints where walls meet ceilings.

CORROSION RESISTANT
Products that have been professionally coated or treated to become impervious to corrosion.

COUNTERTOPS
A flat solid surface in kitchens and bathrooms for working.

COURSE
The continual band of stone at a constant vertical height.

COURSED VENEER
In masonry, the use of veneer stones that have equal height to form continuous structure extending full length of the façade.

COUSSINET
The French term for the stone that supports the lowest stone of an arch.

COVE BASE
A thin strip or stone with concave lip to provide smooth transition from floors to walls.

COVE JOINT
The joint where a wall meets the floor.

CRACK
A split, fissure, separation, cleavage or break that extends across a surface of stone that is visible.

CRAMP
An anchor that holds two adjacent stones together.

CRANDALL
A hand-tool used for finishing stone that consists of sharp pointed bars in a hammer-like configuration.

CRATERING
A depression in the coating of a surface that has trapped bubbles.

CROSSETTE
An architectural term that refers to the projection at the corner of a door, window or arch.

CALCIUM OXIDE
Caustic white alkaline solid

CAMBER
Convex or arched shape of a horizontal surface.

CANTERA
A quartz volcanic stone quarried in Mexico

CAP STONE
The top stone of a vertical structure, such as a wall or arch.

CAPACITY INSULATION
The innate ability of stones and masonry to store heat based on the density and mass.

CAPILLARY ACTION
A phenomenon marked by dry materials absorbing moisture through the movement of liquids through porous materials.

CARBONATE
Chemical compound most often salts.

CARBONIC ACID
Very weak acid formed when water dissolves carbon dioxide.

CAST STONE
Commercially produced concrete slabs crafted to simulate natural cut stones.

CATALYST
A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction.

CAULK
Waterproof malleable sealant and filler applied to stone joints, windows, and other joints for moisture protection and finishing.

CEMENT
The dry substance mixed with water, sand or gravel to make concrete.

CHAMFER
Beveled edge that connects two surfaces.

CHAT SAWED
A finish applied to stone by using chat sand to create textured surface.

CHIP
An irregular piece of stone or other surface that is removed and leaves a raw unfinished edge.

CIRCULAR FACE
The outside or convex side of a spherical shape on a stone face.

CIRCULAR SUNK FACE
The inside or concave side of a spherical shape on a stone face.

CLADDING
The exterior stone veneer finish of a wall or other surface.

CLASTIC
Rocks composed of fragments of older rocks and stones.

CLAY MORTAR
A mortar made of clay typically when lime is to expensive or difficult to procure.

CLAY
Fine grained material that is malleable when damp, hard when dry, and vitrified when fired under significantly high temperatures.

CLEAN BACK
In masonry, the end of a stone that is visible.

CLEANOUT HOLES
In masonry the spaces allowed for cleaning out debris and droppings before placement of grout.

CLEAR COATING
A coating in a variety of finishes including matte, semi-gloss, or high gloss that is applied to protect, resist moisture, or repel moisture.

CLEARANCE
The space required for the installation and movement of materials during construction.

CLEAVAGE MEMBRANE
In masonry, also known as the "slip sheet" is the membrane that prevents the mortar bed from bonding to the substrate.

CLEAVAGE PLANE
The plane in which a crystalline substance may be split.

CLEAVAGE
The capacity of a rock to break along the natural plane.

CLIFT FINISH
A rough finish on natural stones that have been separated along naturally occurring planes and seams such as slate.

COATING
A decorative or protective finish applied to the surface of stones to alter the appearance, enhance resistance to weathering or make waterproof.

COBBLESTONE
Rounded rough finished granite or other stones used for paving pathways, sidewalks and driveways.

COMMERCIAL FLOORING
Flooring products that are designed for commercial applications that have specialized Coefficient of Friction and other industrial standards.

COMMERCIAL MARBLE
A rock capable of taking a polish that is composed primarily of serpentine, dolomite, or calcite, or a combination of these minerals.

COMPACT LIMESTONE
Non metamorphic rocks with natural sedimentary nature that are traded as marble.

COMPOSITE
As in masonry, a surface that is comprised of various minerals bonded together into a composite form.

CONDENSATION
The water that collects on cold surfaces when humid warm air comes into contact with it.