Limestone

Avorio Sand

Avorio Sand is a warm beige dimension limestone from the Dalmatian island of Brač — dense, finely fossiliferous and calm in appearance. Fossil fragments of 0 to 2 mm give the surface a sandy, granular character without veins or banding taking over. Stocked for floors, wall claddings, window sills, skirtings and terraces.

Petrographically this is a dolomitic biosparite — a fossiliferous limestone from the Dalmatian island of Brač. Avorio Sand is naturally formed stone and behaves like a carbonate rock: acid-sensitive, with visible fossil markings and natural variation from slab to slab.

Limestone Croatia

Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Paving slabs, Tiles and flooring slabs · 6 of 14 reserved

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About Avorio Sand

Avorio Sand carries the warm colour signature of the Dalmatian coast: a beige to brownish-beige base tone with densely scattered fossil fragments of 0 to 2 mm. This fine, even grain gives the surface a sandy, calm character — no dramatic veining, but a continuous image that holds large areas together. At ROSSITTIS we stock Avorio Sand as a raw slab, as tile and flooring, as skirting and as a paving slab in thicknesses of 10, 12, 20 and 30 mm.

Origin. The stone comes from Brač, the Dalmatian island off Split. Its limestone quarries have been worked since antiquity and are among the most storied in the Mediterranean — Diocletian's Palace in Split, the nucleus of today's old town, was built from the limestone of this region. Geologically Avorio Sand belongs to the Adriatic carbonate platform; petrographically it is a dolomitic biosparite, that is, a limestone of cemented fossil debris with a sparry binder and partial dolomitisation. The dolomite content makes it somewhat harder and more resilient than a pure calcite limestone.

What that means in daily use. Avorio Sand is a carbonate rock and therefore acid-sensitive: wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola and limescale removers leave matt etch marks that cannot be wiped away. For kitchen worktops it is therefore only suitable with reservations — anyone who wants the warm Mediterranean character there should accept that limitation deliberately, or turn to a quartzite or a sintered ceramic instead. Its strength lies in surfaces under calmer load: floors, wall claddings, window sills, stairs, bathrooms and plinth details, where the fine fossil markings work across the whole area.

Outdoors. Avorio Sand can be used outdoors, but a polish will not last there — weathering turns it matt. For terraces, paths and plinths we therefore recommend the matt finishes: satin-honed, honed C220, or sandblasted and satin-honed. Those are also the versions we carry in stock. The finishes currently available are listed in the »Finishes« block further down this page.

In the trade the stone also runs under Avorio, Adria Beige and San Sebastian di Avorio. Our honest assessment: Avorio Sand is a very coherent choice where a warm, calm Mediterranean stone surface is wanted that remains recognisable as natural stone — with fossil markings, natural variation and the patina limestone develops over the years. Anyone who needs a completely uniform, acid-proof and carefree surface is better served by a pale quartzite or a sintered ceramic in a limestone look.

In stock

Current availability from our warehouse.

14 slabs in stock — 8 available now, 6 reserved · plus 9 blocks

Thicknesses: 1–4 cm · Finishes: Sandblasted, Satin-honed, Honed C220 and more · Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Paving slabs, Tiles and flooring slabs

Updated daily from our live stock.

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Finishes

Avorio Sand is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Sandblasted

The surface is blasted with quartz sand at high pressure and evenly roughened — the surface stays level, but it feels rough to the touch. The colour appears less intense than on polished variants. Slip-resistant and frost-resistant — for outdoor areas, paving and steps with a requirement for sure footing.

Satin-honed

The surface is brushed — softer minerals are selectively removed, creating a subtle depth and a matte appearance. Strongly veined limestones in particular gain a characterful look and feel this way. The more matte finish conceals small etch marks better than a polish and stands up better to everyday use on heavily used interior surfaces.

Honed C220

A matt appearance created by fine honing with C220 grit — the level surface looks calm, with a somewhat more intense colour effect than C120; light honing marks are possible. More maintenance-intensive than polished, but more scratch-resistant and matt-elegant — a popular choice for modern floors and wall claddings.

Sandblasted + satin-honed

The surface is roughened by sandblasting and then brushed — this creates a level surface with a softer feel than sandblasted alone. The colour appears restrained and the texture is slip-resistant. For demanding outdoor applications in which secure footing is to be combined with a finer tactile quality.

Care & fabrication

Avorio Sand is a limestone and needs the care of a carbonate rock. We recommend impregnating it after installation with a product suited to limestone, and refreshing that impregnation according to load; it reduces the penetration of moisture and staining agents, but it does not make the stone acid-proof. Routine cleaning is done with a mild, pH-neutral stone cleaner and a soft cloth or mop.

Avoid acidic cleaners, limescale removers, vinegar- and lemon-based products and abrasive pads — they attack the surface and leave matt patches. Spills with staining or acidic content, such as red wine, coffee, oil or fruit juice, should be taken up promptly. Hot pans are better placed on a trivet.

Outdoors, avoid de-icing salt and rinse residues away with clear water in spring. A polished surface turns matt outdoors over time; the matt finishes stay more stable in appearance.

Frequently asked questions

What is Avorio Sand?

Avorio Sand is a dimension limestone from the Dalmatian island of Brač in Croatia. Petrographically it is a dolomitic biosparite — a limestone of cemented fossil debris with a sparry binder and partial dolomitisation. The base tone is beige to brownish-beige, shot through with fossil fragments between 0 and 2 mm that give the surface a fine-grained, sandy character. In the trade it also runs under Avorio, Adria Beige and San Sebastian di Avorio.

Is Avorio Sand acid-resistant?

No. As a limestone, Avorio Sand consists largely of calcium carbonate and reacts to acids with matt etch marks. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola and limescale removers leave traces that cannot be wiped away and can only be remedied by re-honing. The partial dolomitisation makes it somewhat more resilient than a pure calcite limestone, but it does not remove the sensitivity.

Is Avorio Sand suitable for kitchen worktops?

Only with reservations. Acid sensitivity is the decisive limitation in a kitchen: lemon, vinegar or wine leave matt patches. If the warm Mediterranean character is wanted there, that property has to be accepted deliberately — limestone then ages visibly. For a carefree worktop in a similar colour mood, a pale quartzite or a sintered ceramic in a limestone look is the more robust choice.

Can Avorio Sand be used outdoors?

Yes, with one limitation: a polish is not durable outdoors — weathering turns it matt. For terraces, paths and plinths we therefore recommend the matt finishes such as satin-honed, honed or sandblasted. De-icing salt should be avoided and residues rinsed off in spring.

Which finishes are available?

The finishes currently available are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.

How do I care for Avorio Sand?

Impregnate after installation with a product suited to limestone and refresh the impregnation according to load. Routine cleaning with a mild, pH-neutral stone cleaner and a soft cloth. Avoid acidic cleaners, limescale removers and abrasive pads; take up spills promptly; place hot pans on a trivet.

What does Avorio Sand cost?

The price depends on the batch, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — with natural stone there is no serious flat rate per square metre. Business customers see prices once their B2B account is activated; private customers receive a complete quote through a fabricator near them.