
Natural stone has been quarried as far back as 4000 BC, quarrying techniques changed very little over the centuries but in the early 1900’s new quarrying technologies were introduced that helped further improve the cost effectiveness of natural stone as a building material.
The major granite producing countries are South Africa, North & South America, Sweden, Finland, Norway and India, while Italy, Spain, Germany and Portugal are the main marble suppliers.
Almost all natural stones used in modern New Zealand architecture are imported but there are local granites of equal beauty.
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