Granite

Azul Aran

Azul Aran is an exceptional Carboniferous pegmatite from the Val d'Aran in the Catalan Pyrenean valley near the French border (quarries at Les and Bosost in the Bossòst district) — a plutonic igneous rock with a very coarse-grained to giant-crystalline structure, a silvery blue-grey ground tone and large white feldspar and quartz crystals that give the slab surface a characteristic 'spotted' mosaic feel. Also traded internationally as Valdaran and Azul d'Aran; one of the most widely used blue-grey structural granites on the German market. Used for external façades, paving, floors, stairs, window sills, bar counters and prestige structural applications with a spectacular crystalline feel.

Azul Aran ist petrographisch ein Pegmatit (DNSA Stein 2525/3410) — eine seltene Variante magmatischer Tiefengesteine mit sehr großen Mineralkristallen. 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 Azul Aran handelsüblich in der Granit-Familie. WICHTIG: 'New Azul Aran' und 'Lennon Granite' sind komplett unterschiedliche brasilianische Materialien — bei Bestellung die spanische Herkunft (Val d'Aran) spezifizieren.

Granite Spain Frostbeständig Säurebeständig 2.600 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs

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About Azul Aran

Azul Aran shows an exceptional pegmatite character with a dramatically coarse-grained mineral structure. Pegmatites are rare plutonic igneous rocks with very large mineral crystals (often several centimetres across) formed by very slow cooling in mineral-rich residual melts. The ground mass is a silvery blue-grey matrix with a characteristically spotted appearance. The individual mineral components are exceptionally clearly delineated: large whitish plagioclase and potassium feldspar crystals, pale bluish-grey quartz areas, and irregularly distributed black biotite and hornblende accents. The designation 'Azul' (Spanish for 'blue') refers to the characteristic silvery blue tone of the plagioclase areas; 'Aran' refers to the Val d'Aran (in Aranese: 'valley of the valley'), the geographical origin. The mineral structure is predominantly isotropic (without direction) with a subtle foliation. On a polished surface the stone develops an elegant depth with clearly legible mineral mosaics — the individual giant crystals appear to stand out sculpturally.

Geologically, Azul Aran is a Carboniferous pegmatite (about 300 million years old) from the central Pyrenean complex. The quarries lie in the Val d'Aran, a north-western Spanish mountain valley in the Pyrenees, which geographically belongs to the Atlantic watershed (the only Spanish valley that drains into the Atlantic) and is culturally and linguistically distinct (with Aranese as the regional language). The specific quarries are located near the settlements of Les and Bosost (in Aranese: Bossòst) in the north of the valley, close to the French border. The DNSA natural building stone database lists the material under two entries (Stein 2525 and 3410, with identical technical data) and expressly documents that the stone is 'very frequently used in Germany'. Several synonyms circulate in international trade: Valdaran (shortened from 'Val d'Aran'), Azul d'Aran (the Aranese spelling variant), Bossost Granite and Aran Blue.

An important clarification: there is a Brazilian stone called 'New Azul Aran' (also carried as 'Lennon Granite') — this is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT material, not to be confused with the original Spanish Azul Aran described here. When ordering, we recommend always specifying the origin (Val d'Aran, Spain) in order to avoid confusion.

Technically, Azul Aran shows solid values: bulk density 2,600 kg/m³, compressive strength 99.9 MPa, flexural strength 10.1 MPa, water absorption 0.36 % (low), abrasion resistance 1.89 (Italian standard), Mohs hardness 6–7. Full frost and acid resistance as a silicate rock is confirmed — wine, lemon juice, vinegar or bathroom cleaners leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone. Polished external stability is durable (DNSA: 'durable for exterior use'). Azul Aran is therefore fully fit for everyday use in demanding interior and exterior applications including external façades with retained polished gloss.

At ROSSITTIS we carry Azul Aran as an unsized slab in 10, 11, 12, 20, 30, 40 and 61 mm thickness (from fine wall tiles through to solid applications for stairs or paving), in tiles for floor and wall applications, as a skirting and for project-specific cutting. The available standard finish is polished (a classic gloss with the full silvery blue pegmatite feel).

Compared with other Iberian blue-grey granites, Azul Aran is a special choice with its characteristic pegmatite giant-crystal appearance: Azul Platino (a Galician two-mica granite from Vigo) is finer-grained and darker with a subtler iridescent effect; Azul Noche (Ávila, Madrid) has a darker ground mass with smaller megacrystals; New Azul Aran/Lennon Granite (Brazil) is visually similar but a completely different material. Within the Spanish blue-grey granite family, Azul Aran is the only pegmatite variant with a characteristic giant-crystal feel. For architectural projects with a dramatic crystalline material effect — prestige external façades, heavily frequented public squares and paving, stairs with a powerful feel, designer bar counters and interior surfaces with an unmistakable mineral appearance — Azul Aran is a tradition-rich and expressive choice in the upper segment of Spanish structural granites. The stone is among the most widely used and best-proven Iberian granite grades on the German and central European market.

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 2.600 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 99,9 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 10,1 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,36 %

Frostbeständig Ja

Säurebeständig Ja

Suitability by application

Finishes

Azul Aran 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.

Care & fabrication

As a Spanish pegmatite, Azul Aran is a robust hard stone with low water absorption (0.36 %), full frost and acid resistance and solid mechanical strength. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, bathroom cleaners or descalers leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone — the stone is markedly easier to look after and well suited to intensive everyday use.

For interior applications we recommend a silane- or polysiloxane-based sealer at first installation. On polished surfaces, a refresh every 8–10 years is sufficient; on heavily used floors, stairs or external applications, check every 3–5 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 unproblematic, but should nevertheless not be used, because they can attack the sealer. The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

For kitchen worktops, Azul Aran is solidly suitable: cut- and scratch-resistant (Mohs hardness 6–7), 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 and with good stain repellency. The coarse-grained pegmatite structure disguises small marks of use astonishingly well. Important as regards the slab edge: with the large mineral crystals, a very sharp right-angled edge can in rare cases show micro-chipping — a light chamfer or rounding of the internal edges makes more sense, particularly at sink cut-outs.

For external applications, Azul Aran is particularly well qualified: the DNSA-confirmed external polishability (durable for exterior use), the low water absorption and the excellent frost resistance make the stone the first choice for demanding external façades with retained gloss. Polished external façades keep their brilliance for years.

For pool surrounds, external terraces and fountain surrounds, a slip-resistant textured finish is mandatory — on polished external surfaces there is a high risk of slipping when wet. In areas with frequent salt contact we recommend an additional sealer refresh every 3 years.

Frequently asked questions

What is Azul Aran geologically?

Azul Aran is a Carboniferous pegmatite (about 300 million years old) from the central Pyrenean complex. Pegmatite is a rare variant of plutonic igneous rocks with very large (often centimetre-sized) mineral crystals, formed by slow cooling in mineral-rich residual melts. The quarries lie in the Val d'Aran, a north-western Spanish mountain valley in the Pyrenees — near the settlements of Les and Bosost (Bossòst) in the north of the valley, close to the French border. DNSA lists the material under two entries (Stein 2525 and 3410).

What does the name 'Azul Aran' mean?

'Azul' means 'blue' in Spanish and refers to the characteristic silvery blue tone of the plagioclase areas. 'Aran' refers to the Val d'Aran (in Aranese: 'valley of the valley'), the geographical origin of the stone. The Val d'Aran is a culturally and linguistically distinct Pyrenean region in north-western Spain with its own language, Aranese — the only Spanish valley that drains into the Atlantic.

What synonyms are there?

In international trade, Azul Aran also runs under the designations Valdaran (shortened from 'Val d'Aran'), Azul d'Aran (the Aranese spelling variant), Bossost Granite and Aran Blue. IMPORTANT: 'New Azul Aran' and 'Lennon Granite' are completely different Brazilian materials — not to be confused with the original Spanish Azul Aran described here!

What technical values does Azul Aran have?

Solid values: bulk density 2,600 kg/m³, compressive strength 99.9 MPa, flexural strength 10.1 MPa, water absorption 0.36 % (low), abrasion resistance 1.89 (Italian standard), Mohs hardness 6–7. Full frost and acid resistance as a silicate rock is confirmed. DNSA confirms durable polish for exterior use — the polished surface keeps its gloss outdoors as well, for years.

What is a pegmatite?

Pegmatites are rare plutonic igneous rocks with very large mineral crystals — typically several centimetres, occasionally even several metres across. They form through very slow cooling in mineral-rich residual melts that remain after the main crystallisation of a granite pluton. The high concentration of volatile components (water, boron, lithium and so on) allows the exceptionally large crystals to grow. In Azul Aran this leads to the characteristic 'spotted' appearance with clearly delineated white feldspar crystals, blue-grey quartz areas and black mica accents.

Is Azul Aran suitable for a kitchen worktop?

Yes, well suited. With a Mohs hardness of 6–7, low water absorption (0.36 %), good compressive strength (99.9 MPa) and full acid resistance, the stone is cut-, scratch- and heat-resistant and does not absorb the acids in wine, lemon or vinegar. The coarse-grained pegmatite structure disguises small marks of use astonishingly well. For the slab edge we recommend a light chamfer rather than very sharp right-angled edges, because the large mineral crystals can break out with fine edge work.

Which finishes are available for Azul Aran?

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

Is Azul Aran suitable for external façades?

Outstandingly suited. The DNSA-confirmed external polishability (durable for exterior use), the low water absorption (0.36 %) and the excellent frost resistance make the stone the first choice for demanding external façades with retained gloss. DNSA expressly documents its frequent use in German buildings — its long-term weather stability has been proven over decades.