Basalt

Etna Basalt

Etna Basalt is an exceptional Sicilian lava basalt from Mount Etna in the province of Catania — a Quaternary volcanic basalt formed from cooled lava flows, with a characteristically deep dark grey to anthracite-black groundmass and the typical fine vacuolar porosity (a gas-bubble microstructure). Also traded internationally as Lava di Etna, Pietra Lavica dell'Etna and Etna Lava Stone; used for external facades, paving, floor areas, external stairs, pool surrounds, terrace slabs and prestige building applications with an iconically Italian volcanic-stone presence.

Basalt Italy 2.863 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Paving slabs, Tiles and flooring slabs

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About Etna Basalt

Etna Basalt shows an exceptionally characterful dark lava-basalt appearance with the iconic material presence of Sicilian volcanic rock. The groundmass is a deep dark grey to anthracite-black calcite–plagioclase–pyroxene matrix with the characteristic volcanic sheen. Its defining feature is the fine vacuolar porosity — small to medium-sized round cavities in the slab surface, formed by escaping gases (CO2, water vapour) during the rapid cooling of the original lava flow. These pores give the stone its unmistakable volcanic character and are an authentic design element that sets Etna Basalt apart from artificially produced dark materials. The overall effect is calm, even and powerful — the stone reads as a dependable, solid material with an iconic volcanic identity. The finishes currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down this page.

Geologically, Etna Basalt is a Quaternary lava basalt from Mount Etna in Sicily, one of the most active volcanoes in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. At over 3,300 metres, Etna is the highest active volcano in Europe and has supplied lava stone for building work in Sicily and throughout Italy for centuries. Petrographically it is a basalt in the strict sense — a basic volcanic extrusive rock with plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine minerals, characteristic of cooled mafic lava. The ROSSITTIS selection comes from the quarrying district in the Provincia di Catania on the eastern foot of Etna. The city of Catania itself (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002) is largely built from Etna basalt — the historic city walls, churches, squares and street paving all show the iconic black-grey lava-stone appearance. Several synonyms circulate in international trade: Lava di Etna (the principal Italian designation — 'Etna lava'), Pietra Lavica dell'Etna (Italian: 'lava stone of Etna'), Etna Lava Stone (the English trade name) and occasionally Sicilian Black Lava.

Technically, Etna Basalt shows values typical of a volcanic basalt: bulk density 2,863 kg/m³ (very high — typical for basalts), water absorption 4.0 % (relatively high because of the volcanic porosity — an important point for care), Mohs hardness 5–6, high compressive strength, good flexural strength. Full frost and acid resistance is confirmed for this silicate rock — wine, lemon juice, vinegar or bathroom cleaners leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone. One important property: the high water absorption of 4.0 % calls for careful sealing — otherwise white salt efflorescence or pigment ingress can show up more visibly on the dark surface.

ROSSITTIS carries Etna Basalt as a raw slab in 10, 13, 20, 30 and 40 mm thicknesses (from thin wall and floor tiles through standard thicknesses to solid applications for stairs or paving), as tiles for floor and wall applications, as treads and risers for stairs, as skirting, as terrace slabs and for project-specific cutting. The finishes currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down this page.

Compared with other dark building stones, Etna Basalt is a distinctive choice with an iconic volcanic identity: Impala (a South African norite, denser and without pores) is more uniform; Nero Assoluto Zimbabwe (a dark norite) is deeper black and more even; Negresco (a Brazilian slate-quartzite) has a similar dark tone but a different mineralogy; Pietra Lavica del Vesuvio (a related Italian lava stone) is the sister selection from Vesuvius. Within the Italian volcanic-stone family, Etna Basalt is the most widely used and the most iconic selection. For architectural projects seeking an iconically Italian volcanic-stone presence — prestige external facades on Mediterranean-inspired buildings, classic Sicilian paving, pool surrounds with a dark character, external stairs, building applications with a historic Mediterranean ambition and conservation work on Sicilian buildings — Etna Basalt is a choice with deep tradition and strong expression. One point for planning: the high water absorption calls for careful sealing and maintenance — a realistic expectation is worth setting from the outset.

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 2.863 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 182,0 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 15,4 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 4,00 %

Suitability by application

Finishes

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

Poliert

Politur erzeugt eine glänzende Oberfläche mit höchstmöglicher Farbintensität und tiefer Schwarz-Wirkung. Basalt ist als Silikatgestein vollständig säurebeständig und sehr hart — pflegeleicht und alltagstauglich. Eine repräsentative Veredelung für Küchenarbeitsplatten, Wandverkleidungen und Statement-Anwendungen mit kraftvoller Materialcharakteristik.

Satiniert

Mattes Erscheinungsbild durch Bürsten — die Oberfläche wirkt etwas unebener als geschliffen oder poliert, mit subtiler Tiefenwirkung. Säurebeständig und pflegeleicht, alltagstauglich; eine zurückhaltende Veredelung, die den dichten Basaltcharakter ohne harten Glanz zur Geltung bringt.

Geschliffen C220

Mattes Erscheinungsbild durch feinen Schliff mit Körnung C220 — die ebene Oberfläche zeigt die typische Basaltporösität (Mikroporen sind sichtbar). Klassische Variante im Basaltsegment, pflegeleichter als geflammt, säurebeständig als Silikatgestein. Wahl für moderne Bodenflächen und Wandverkleidungen.

Care & fabrication

As a Sicilian lava basalt, Etna Basalt is a robust hard rock with full frost and acid resistance. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, bathroom cleaners or descalers leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone — the stone is acid-resistant and well suited to intensive everyday use. IMPORTANT: the relatively high water absorption (4.0 %), a consequence of the characteristic volcanic porosity, calls for careful sealing and maintenance.

For internal applications we recommend very careful sealing at first installation, on a silane or polysiloxane basis, ideally applied in two coats for sufficient penetration depth. The high water absorption calls for a more intensive sealing strategy than dense hard rocks such as granite. For internal applications we recommend refreshing the sealer every 3–5 years, and every 2–3 years on heavily used floor areas or external applications.

Routine care is with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft cloth or microfibre mop. Clear warm water is usually sufficient. Acidic cleaners are not in themselves a problem, but should nevertheless be avoided because they can attack the sealer. On the dark, porous surface, water marks and pigments can show up somewhat more clearly than on dense dark granites — drying off with a polishing microfibre cloth after damp mopping keeps the appearance crisp.

IMPORTANT: on the dark lava-basalt surface, prolonged exposure to water can occasionally produce white salt efflorescence or calcite deposits that stand out against the dark groundmass. Careful sealing prevents this; where it does occur, these can be removed with specialist stone cleaners.

For kitchen worktops, Etna Basalt is suitable only with reservations — the high water absorption (4.0 %) makes particularly careful sealing mandatory. At Mohs hardness 5–6 the stone is somewhat softer than a typical granite (Mohs hardness 6–7). For intensively used professional kitchens we recommend denser hard rocks such as Mahogany India or Steel Grey. For a designer kitchen with a dramatically dark volcanic material presence and careful maintenance, Etna Basalt can be highly coherent — a realistic expectation is worth setting from the outset.

For external applications, Etna Basalt is a choice with deep tradition — the famous paving of Catania and of many Sicilian town centres is made of Etna basalt and has proved itself over centuries. Its frost and acid resistance qualify the stone for demanding external facades, classic Mediterranean paving, pool surrounds and external stairs. The finishes currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down this page. In areas with frequent salt contact we recommend refreshing the sealer every 1–2 years because of the higher water absorption.

Frequently asked questions

What is Etna Basalt geologically?

Etna Basalt is a Quaternary lava basalt from Mount Etna in Sicily, one of the most active volcanoes in Europe (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013 and, at over 3,300 metres, the highest active volcano in Europe). Petrographically it is a basalt in the strict sense — a basic volcanic extrusive rock with plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine minerals. The characteristic fine pores (vacuoles) were formed by escaping gases during the rapid cooling of the original lava. The quarrying district lies in the Provincia di Catania on the eastern foot of Etna.

What synonyms are there?

In international trade, Etna Basalt also runs under the designations Lava di Etna (the principal Italian name — 'Etna lava'), Pietra Lavica dell'Etna (Italian: 'lava stone of Etna'), Etna Lava Stone (the English trade name) and occasionally Sicilian Black Lava. All of these designations refer to the same Sicilian volcanic stone.

What technical values does Etna Basalt have?

Values typical of basalt: bulk density 2,863 kg/m³ (very high — typical for basalts), water absorption 4.0 % (relatively high because of the volcanic porosity — an important point for care), Mohs hardness 5–6, high compressive strength. Full frost and acid resistance is confirmed for this silicate rock. The high water absorption calls for careful sealing — a frank care recommendation is appropriate here.

What are the pores in Etna Basalt?

The characteristic small to medium-sized round pores (vacuoles) in Etna Basalt were formed by escaping gases (CO2, water vapour) during the rapid cooling of the original lava flow. These pores are authentic geological structures and a principal hallmark of volcanic lava stones — they distinguish Etna Basalt from artificially produced dark materials and are an important design element. They do, however, lead to the raised water absorption (4.0 %), which calls for careful sealing.

Where has Etna Basalt been used historically?

Etna Basalt has been the traditional building stone of Sicily for centuries. The city of Catania (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002), its historic city walls, churches, squares and street paving are largely built from Etna basalt. The iconic black-grey lava-stone character is typical of Sicilian urban architecture. Many other Mediterranean buildings and pavements in Italy were also built with Etna basalt.

Is Etna Basalt suitable for a kitchen worktop?

Suitable with reservations, and with clear limitations. The high water absorption (4.0 %) caused by the volcanic porosity makes particularly careful sealing mandatory. At Mohs hardness 5–6 the stone is somewhat softer than a typical granite. For intensively used professional kitchens we recommend denser hard rocks. For a designer kitchen with a dramatically dark volcanic material presence and careful maintenance, however, Etna Basalt can be highly expressive.

What finishes are available in Etna Basalt?

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

Is Etna Basalt suitable for paving?

Outstandingly so — and this is its principal historic application. Etna Basalt has been the traditional paving stone of Sicily for centuries — the famous town-centre paving of Catania and of many other Sicilian cities is made of Etna basalt and has proved itself over centuries. For paving carrying vehicle traffic we recommend slab thicknesses of at least 30–40 mm. For classic Italian paving, the honed C220 finish is particularly authentic.