Angola Moon Luanda

Angola Moon Luanda is an exceptional Precambrian anorthosite from the Lubango quarry district (formerly Sá da Bandeira) in Huíla province in southern Angola — a coarse-grained labradorite-plagioclase plutonic rock with a dark grey-black ground mass and the characteristic dramatic blue schiller reflection (labradorescence) of the embedded labradorite crystals. Also traded internationally as Labrador d'Angola, Angola Blue, Angola Black, Blue Moon, Moonlight and Memphis Night; used for statement wall cladding, bar counters, designer kitchen worktops, fireplace surrounds, window sills, floors and prestige structural applications with a dramatic dark blue material effect.

Angola Moon Luanda ist petrographisch ein Anorthosit (DNSA Stein 697) — ein basisches magmatisches Tiefengestein, das aus mehr als 90 % Plagioklas-Feldspat (Labradorit) besteht. Im internationalen Handel wird der Stein traditionell als 'Granit' geführt, weil er in Verarbeitung und mechanischen Eigenschaften wie ein klassischer Hartstein gehandhabt wird. Bei ROSSITTIS klassifizieren wir Angola Moon Luanda handelsüblich in der Granit-Familie gemäß weit verbreiteter Trade-Konvention für Anorthosite und Labradorit-haltige Gesteine. Wichtig: Die Bezeichnung 'Luanda' im Trade-Namen ist eine Marketing-Benennung — die tatsächliche Bruch-Region ist Lubango (ehemals Sá da Bandeira) in der Huíla-Provinz, nicht die angolanische Hauptstadt Luanda.

Anorthosit Angola Frostbeständig Säurebeständig 2.890 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs

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About Angola Moon Luanda

Angola Moon Luanda shows an exceptionally dramatic slab character with the spectacular schiller reflection of the labradorite crystals. The ground mass consists predominantly of dark grey-black areas with a coarse-grained anorthosite structure — anorthosite is a plutonic igneous rock consisting almost entirely of plagioclase feldspar (over 90 % labradorite). The individual labradorite crystals show the characteristic 'labradorescence' — a physical-optical effect in which light is scattered within the lamellar microstructure of the mineral and reflected in spectacular blue, turquoise, violet and silver reflections. Under changing incident light the stone shows a dramatically shifting character — the slab surface seems positively to glow and shimmer, as if moonlight were dancing on a dark expanse of water. Occasional subtle brown and bronze accents in the mineral points add further depth. The mineral structure is isotropic (without direction) — no veining, no bedding, no preferred orientations. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Geologically, Angola Moon Luanda is a Precambrian anorthosite from the Lubango quarry district in Huíla province in southern Angola. The city of Lubango was formerly known as Sá da Bandeira (during the Portuguese colonial period) — the quarry region does not lie in the capital Luanda, despite the confusing trade name. The designation 'Luanda' in the trade name is a marketing label that has nothing to do with the actual geography of the quarry. Petrographically, anorthosite is a basic plutonic igneous rock consisting of more than 90 % plagioclase feldspar (in this case labradorite-bytownite) — a rare rock class quarried commercially above all in Norway (Blue Pearl), Madagascar, Brazil and Angola. Several synonyms circulate in international trade: Labrador d'Angola (French — the most widely accepted international name), Angola Blue, Angola Black, Blue Moon, Moonlight, Memphis Night and Angola Labradorite. The DNSA natural building stone database lists the material under entry 697 with a high confidence rating. In the trade the stone is traditionally carried as a 'granite', which is not entirely correct petrographically — at ROSSITTIS we classify Angola Moon Luanda, as is customary in the trade, within the granite family in accordance with widespread trade convention.

Technically, Angola Moon Luanda shows exceptionally strong values: bulk density 2,890 kg/m³ (very high — about 7 % heavier than typical granite), water absorption only 0.07 % (extremely low), good compressive and flexural strength. Mohs hardness 6 (typical of plagioclase-dominated hard stones). Important: anorthosites are in principle acid-resistant like all silicate rocks — wine, lemon juice, vinegar or bathroom cleaners leave no etch marks as they would on marble. However, the individual mineral components are not permanently acid-resistant, which means that under very long, intensive acid exposure individual minerals can be attacked — an honest set of expectations is sensible. Polished external stability is only conditionally durable (DNSA: 'conditionally durable') — on external façades with heavy UV exposure, loss of gloss and a reduced schiller effect can occur after some years.

At ROSSITTIS we carry Angola Moon Luanda as an unsized slab in 20, 30 and 60 mm thickness (standard thicknesses plus solid applications for stairs or bar counters) and for project-specific cutting. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Compared with other labradorite hard stones, Angola Moon Luanda is a special choice: Blue Pearl Royal (a Norwegian anorthosite from Larvik) is markedly lighter with large crystalline plagioclase mosaics; Labrador Bianco (Norwegian) has a lighter ground mass; Volga Blue (Ukrainian) shows a finer-grained structure; Angola Black (from the same quarry complex as Angola Moon Luanda, but with darker mineral areas) is the blacker variant. Within the Angolan anorthosite family, Angola Moon Luanda is the balanced variant with a characteristic 'moon schiller' look. For architectural projects with a dramatic dark blue material effect — designer kitchens with statement character, hotel lobbies with a crystalline, elegant feel, prestige wall cladding, exclusive fireplace surrounds, bar counters with shifting depth and structural applications with particular design ambition — Angola Moon Luanda is an exceptional and unmistakable choice.

Technical data

Guide values for the stone type, taken from manufacturer and test reports. Natural stone is a natural product — individual batches and slabs can differ. For critical applications, request slab-specific test data.

Rohdichte 2.890 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 257,0 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 25,2 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,07 %

Frostbeständig Ja

Säurebeständig Ja

Suitability by application

Finishes

Angola Moon Luanda is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Poliert

Politur ist die klassischste Veredelung im Hartgesteinsegment — eine spiegelglatte, hochglänzende Oberfläche mit höchstmöglicher Farbintensität und maximaler Tiefenwirkung der Mineralstruktur. Als säurebeständiges Silikatgestein ist polierter Granit pflegeleicht und für Küchenarbeitsplatten, Wandverkleidungen und repräsentative Sichtflächen erste Wahl.

Satiniert

Die satinierte Oberfläche entsteht durch Bürsten, das weichere Minerale gezielt entfernt und der Fläche eine leichte Tiefe gibt. Mattes Erscheinungsbild mit subtiler Lichtreflexion und haptisch warmer Wirkung. Pflegeleicht, kratzunempfindlich und alltagstauglich — beliebte Alternative zur Politur in modernen Küchen und Wohnräumen.

River finish

Die Oberfläche wird durch Wasserdruck aufgeraut und anschließend farbvertiefend behandelt — der Farbton tritt dadurch stärker hervor als bei der geflammt-gebürsteten Variante. Empfohlen für Außenbereiche, Terrassen und Fassadenverkleidungen, in denen eine plane, rutschhemmende Oberfläche mit kräftiger Farbtiefe gefragt ist.

Care & fabrication

As an Angolan anorthosite, Angola Moon Luanda is a robust hard stone with low water absorption (0.07 %), acid resistance in principle and good mechanical strength. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, bathroom cleaners or descalers leave no visible etch marks as they would on marble or limestone — the stone is markedly easier to look after and well suited to intensive everyday use. One important qualification: under very long, intensive acid exposure, individual mineral components can be attacked — careful maintenance is sensible.

For interior applications we recommend a silane- or polysiloxane-based sealer at first installation. With the exceptionally low water absorption of 0.07 %, Angola Moon Luanda is practically non-absorbent — the sealer serves as additional insurance. On polished surfaces, a refresh every 5–8 years is sufficient; on heavily used kitchen worktops or bar counters, check every 2–3 years.

Daily care is carried out with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft cloth or microfibre mop. Clear warm water is usually sufficient. Acidic cleaners are in principle acceptable, but should not be used regularly, because over the years they can attack the individual mineral components and break down the sealer. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Particularly important for the schiller effect: sealers and care products can, if wrongly chosen, dampen or visually alter the labradorescence. We recommend exclusively silane-/polysiloxane-based sealers without film formers — these preserve the full optical character of the stone. Film-forming care products or coatings are to be avoided, because they can impair the unique optical effect of the labradorite crystals.

For kitchen worktops, Angola Moon Luanda is well suited: cut- and scratch-resistant (Mohs hardness 6), not sensitive to heat (hot pots and pans can be set down directly for short periods, though longer heat exposure above 200 °C should still be avoided), acid-resistant in principle and with excellent stain repellency thanks to the extremely low water absorption. The dramatic schiller effect gives designer kitchens an exceptional visual character that uniform dark granites do not offer.

For external applications, Angola Moon Luanda is recommended only with qualifications — DNSA classifies polished external stability as 'conditionally durable'. On external façades with heavy UV exposure, loss of gloss and a reduced schiller effect can occur after some years. For external applications we recommend more matt surface finishes instead of the polished one — these withstand UV exposure better, though at the cost of the full labradorescence effect. For pool areas and external terraces we recommend exclusively slip-resistant textured surface finishes because of the risk of slipping.

Frequently asked questions

What is the blue schiller effect in Angola Moon Luanda?

The characteristic dramatic blue, turquoise, violet and silver schiller effect in Angola Moon Luanda is called 'labradorescence' and is a physical-optical phenomenon of the labradorite plagioclase crystals, of which the stone consists to more than 90 %. Light is scattered within the lamellar microstructure of the labradorite crystals and reflected in spectacular spectral colours. Under changing incident light the stone shows a dramatically shifting character — the slab surface seems positively to glow, as if moonlight were dancing on a dark expanse of water.

What is Angola Moon Luanda geologically?

Angola Moon Luanda is a Precambrian anorthosite from the Lubango quarry district (formerly Sá da Bandeira) in Huíla province in southern Angola. Anorthosite is a basic plutonic igneous rock consisting of more than 90 % plagioclase feldspar (in this case labradorite-bytownite) — a rare rock class. DNSA lists the material under entry 697. In the trade the stone is carried as a 'granite'; at ROSSITTIS we classify the material, as is customary in the trade, within the granite family in accordance with trade convention.

Where does the quarry district actually lie?

Despite the trade name 'Angola Moon Luanda', the material does NOT come from the Angolan capital Luanda, but from the Lubango quarry district in the southern Huíla province. The city of Lubango was known as Sá da Bandeira during the Portuguese colonial period. The designation 'Luanda' in the trade name is purely a marketing label that has nothing to do with the actual geographical origin — an important clarification for buyers.

What synonyms are there?

In international trade, Angola Moon Luanda also runs under the designations Labrador d'Angola (French — the most widely accepted international name), Angola Blue, Angola Black, Blue Moon, Moonlight, Memphis Night and Angola Labradorite. All designations refer to the same Angolan anorthosite from the Lubango quarry district.

What technical values does Angola Moon Luanda have?

Exceptionally strong values: bulk density 2,890 kg/m³ (very high — about 7 % heavier than typical granite), water absorption only 0.07 % (extremely low), good compressive and flexural strength, Mohs hardness 6. The low water absorption and high density qualify the stone for the most demanding interior applications. One important qualification: polished external stability is only 'conditionally durable' (DNSA) — on external façades with heavy UV exposure, loss of gloss can occur after some years.

Angola Moon Luanda or Blue Pearl?

Both are anorthosites with labradorescence, but they differ markedly in character and appearance. Blue Pearl Royal (a Norwegian anorthosite from Larvik) is lighter with large crystalline plagioclase mosaics and a very pronounced schiller effect — the exclusive Norwegian variant. Angola Moon Luanda (an Angolan anorthosite) is darker with a more dramatic black-and-blue overall mood and a subtler but evenly distributed schiller effect. Both are suited to statement staging; the choice is an aesthetic decision between a lighter (Blue Pearl) and a darker (Angola Moon Luanda) feel.

Is Angola Moon Luanda suitable for a kitchen worktop?

Yes, well suited. With a Mohs hardness of 6, extremely low water absorption (0.07 %), good compressive and flexural strength and acid resistance in principle, the stone is cut-, scratch- and heat-resistant. The dramatic schiller effect gives designer kitchens an exceptional visual character. One important qualification: under very long, intensive acid exposure, individual mineral components can be attacked — careful maintenance is sensible, with no direct contact with acids over a period of hours.

Which finishes are available for Angola Moon Luanda?

The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.