Branco Franciscato is a Brazilian gneiss with a pale creamy white ground tone, classic 'salt-and-pepper' speckling and warm pink-red garnet phenocrysts. A characterful high-performance building stone with full acid, heat and frost resistance for kitchen worktops, stairs and prestige interior and exterior surfaces.
Brasilianischer Gneis (mittel- bis hochgradig metamorphes Gestein, im internationalen Handel oft als „Granit" geführt) aus den präkambrischen Schildgebieten Brasiliens. Mineralisch charakterisiert durch helle Plagioklas-Quarz-Grundmasse mit dunklen mafischen Phenokristalle (Biotit, Amphibol) und besonders durch warm-rosa bis rotbraune Granat-Phenokristalle (Almandin), die einen Indikator für die mittelhohe Metamorphose-Stufe darstellen. Mohshärte ca. 6, hohe Druckfestigkeit, niedrige Wasseraufnahme, vollständig säure- und hitzebeständig.
Branco Franciscato is a Brazilian gneiss from the extensive metamorphic shield areas of Brazil — the same large geological structure from which many other Brazilian premium building stones are quarried.
Geologically it is a gneiss (a medium- to high-grade metamorphic rock) with a clear foliation structure. Characteristic are the warm pink to red-brown garnet phenocrysts (almandine), which give the otherwise pale ground mass a particular mineralogical note. Garnets typically form under medium-high to high metamorphic conditions and are a classic indicator of the metamorphic history of the rock. In the trade, Branco Franciscato is often carried across the board as a 'granite' — the hard-rock robustness is the same under either classification.
In the slab pattern, Branco Franciscato shows a pale creamy white to soft ivory ground tone with classic 'salt-and-pepper' speckling from dark mafic minerals (biotite, amphibole). The image is accentuated by characteristic warm pink to red-brown garnet phenocrysts, distributed across the surface like small set rubies and lending the pale tonality a particular liveliness. In places, subtle foliation lines are recognisable, indicating the original metamorphic direction of pressure.
For application this means: Branco Franciscato is an excellent choice for kitchen worktops, islands, vanity tops, wall cladding, floor and wall tiles, stairs, window sills and façade elements. The pale tonality with warm garnet accents harmonises excellently with warm timber, bronze, brass and muted earth tones.
Technically, Branco Franciscato is a classic high-performance building stone with a Mohs hardness of around 6 and full acid, heat and frost resistance. Steel knives leave no scratches, wine and lemon no etch marks, and hot pans can be set down directly. A single sealing at installation is advisable given the pale tonality.
At ROSSITTIS we currently carry Branco Franciscato as 19 unsized slabs in 20 mm thickness with a polished finish. On request we produce from these all the usual building stone applications.
For anyone comparing Branco Franciscato with other materials: stylistically close are other Brazilian pale granites and gneisses with warm mineral accents — Branco Itaúnas, Branco Romano, White Galaxy. Among the garnet-bearing gneisses, the historic Indian cream granites (Madurai Gold, New Kashmir White) and some Finnish migmatites are related. Anyone looking for the same material image without garnet accents should turn to classic Bianco granite grades such as Bianco Sardo or Bianco Romano.
Our honest assessment: Branco Franciscato is a special choice for projects looking for a pale high-performance building stone with characterful mineralogy and warm garnet accents — with full hard-rock robustness. Anyone who needs a pure, mineralogically quiet solid-colour appearance should reach for more monochrome granite grades. But anyone who values the classic Brazilian gneiss character with lively garnet pigmentation will find Branco Franciscato a decidedly attractive stone.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
Loading slab images…
Finishes
Branco Franciscato 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
Branco Franciscato is a dense Brazilian gneiss with high compressive strength and full acid, heat and frost resistance.
Daily cleaning: a soft microfibre cloth, warm water and a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner.
Do not use: concentrated acids, steel wool.
Sealing: on polished surfaces, advisable every 18–36 months depending on exposure. Given the pale tonality, sealing is important in order to prevent oil and food stains.
Kitchen worktop: hot pans can be set down directly, and wine and lemon leave no etch marks.
Stain treatment: wipe off fresh splashes immediately.
Repair: scratches in the polish can be evened out by proper re-polishing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the warm pink accents in Branco Franciscato?
Garnet phenocrysts (almandine) — typical of medium- to high-grade metamorphic rocks. Garnets form under specific pressure and temperature conditions and are an indicator of the metamorphic history of the rock. They give the pale ground mass a particular mineralogical liveliness.
Is Branco Franciscato really a granite?
Petrographically it is more precisely a gneiss (a foliated metamorphic rock), often carried across the board in international trade as a 'granite'. For application this means: full hard-rock robustness under either classification.
Where does Branco Franciscato come from?
From Brazilian gneiss deposits — part of the Precambrian Brazilian craton.
Is Branco Franciscato suitable for a kitchen?
Yes, excellently. With a Mohs hardness of 6, the building stone is scratch-resistant, acid-resistant and heat-resistant.
Which finishes are available?
The surface finishes currently held in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.
How much material do you currently hold in stock?
We currently carry 19 unsized slabs of Branco Franciscato in 20 mm thickness.
