Ivory White (also Ivory White Granite, Ivory Cream Granite, Madurai Ivory White or South India Ivory White) is a classic Indian gneiss of the granite family from Tamil Nadu with a creamy ivory-white ground effect, evenly interspersed with fine black and dark grey mineral dots as well as subtle reddish-burgundy garnet speckles. High-strength (149.9 MPa compressive strength), low in water absorption (0.29 %) — used for kitchen worktops, wall claddings, floor areas, stairs, façade claddings and prestige interior and external architecture with a classically timeless character.
Petrographisch handelt es sich präziser um einen Gneis aus dem präkambrischen indischen Schild im Bundesstaat Tamil Nadu (Region Madurai/Salem). Im Handel und im Bauwesen seit Jahren als Granit geführt, da das technische Verhalten dem klassischer Granite entspricht (Druckfestigkeit 149,9 MPa, Wasseraufnahme 0,29 %, frost- und säurebeständig).
Gneiss
India
2.613 kg/m³
Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs
Other trade names: Ivory Fantasy Light, Ivory Supare, Milky White, soft
About Ivory White
Ivory White is a classic Indian gneiss from the quarry district in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu — a region that ranks among the world's most important suppliers of pale Indian hard stones and has been supplying the European and North American markets with high-quality white and cream-coloured “granite” grades for decades. Tamil Nadu is one of India's most tradition-rich dimension stone provinces — the region around Madurai and Salem produces an exceptional variety of migmatite and gneiss grades that are known in the international stone industry as “Indian white granites”. In the international market the stone is carried under several parallel trade names: Ivory White, Ivory White Granite, Ivory Cream Granite, Madurai Ivory White and South India Ivory White.
Geologically, petrographically it is a gneiss from the Precambrian Indian shield — a metamorphic rock formed from igneous or sedimentary parent rocks under high pressure and high temperatures, developing in the process its characteristic fabric-oriented mineral arrangement with a subtle foliation. In the stone trade Ivory White is traditionally carried as a granite — the convention established in the international market for high-strength exotic hard stones. The creamy ivory-white ground colouring results from quartzitic-feldspathic mineral components in the main mass — predominantly quartz, plagioclase and orthoclase in a fine-grained gneiss texture. The fine black and dark grey mineral dots are biotite and amphibole components, evenly distributed in the pale matrix, giving the stone its characteristic dotted, textured look. The subtle reddish-burgundy garnet speckles — where present — arise from garnet-bearing mineral components embedded in some grades of the material, lending the stone additional subtle colour accents.
Visually, Ivory White is defined by a classically timeless, almost restrained and elegant material signature. The ground colouring is a luminously creamy ivory-white material with a fine crystalline microstructure, evenly interspersed with fine black and dark grey mineral dots that enliven and structure the slab without dominating it. Subtle reddish-burgundy garnet speckles and occasional warm grey-brown movement veins complement the material signature with fine accents. The slab-to-slab variation is moderate — the overall appearance in every delivery is reliable, and individual slabs show subtle differences in colour intensity and in the distribution of the mineral dots. The calm, even look makes Ivory White a choice that is flexible in planning terms for large-area installations — the stone does not appear obtrusive but sets a classically elegant background that harmonises with numerous design concepts.
Technically, Ivory White is among the high-quality Indian hard stones, with the following characteristic values: bulk density 2611 to 2615 kg/m³, compressive strength 149.9 MPa (high, as is typical of granite), flexural strength 11.1 to 12.6 MPa, water absorption of 0.27 to 0.30 %. These values qualify the stone for demanding interior and external applications including kitchen worktops, heavily walked floor areas, paving and façade claddings. Like all granites and gneisses, Ivory White is largely acid-resistant to household acids such as lemon juice, vinegar, wine and cola — a central advantage over marbles and limestones. The heat resistance is excellent.
In interior fit-out, Ivory White is a proven choice for classically elegant, Mediterranean-inspired and contemporary architectures. Classic applications are kitchen worktops in designer kitchens where a classic white granite look is wanted, wall claddings, floor areas in entrance halls and living spaces, stair treads, skirtings, window sills and bar counters. The creamy ivory-white tonality harmonises with numerous design concepts — from rustically warm solid-timber concepts in oak or walnut to classically elegant designer kitchens with brass accents and also to contemporary minimalist architectures with clear white and black steel. Outdoors, Ivory White is used as façade cladding, plinth panels, stairs, paving and pool surrounds — the frost and acid resistance typical of granite qualify it without reservation for central European climatic conditions. The pale ground colouring is particularly impressive under southern light and harmonises with warm rendered and timber façades.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
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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.
Ivory White 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.
Geschliffen C120
Mattes Erscheinungsbild durch groben Schliff mit Körnung C120 — die ebene Oberfläche zeigt eine zurückhaltendere Farbintensität als poliert und kann sichtbare Schleifspuren tragen. Im Vergleich zur Politur pflegeintensiver, aber stilistisch ruhiger; bevorzugte Wahl für moderne Innenarchitektur mit reduzierter Reflexion.
Care & fabrication
As an Indian gneiss from the granite family, Ivory White is exceptionally easy to care for. Indoors, warm water with a pH-neutral stone cleaning agent is sufficient for daily cleaning; aggressive household cleaners, descalers containing citric acid and abrasive sponges are unnecessary and should be avoided. On polished kitchen worktops, sealing with a solvent-based sealer suitable for pale-ground hard stones is advisable after installation and every 2 to 3 years thereafter, in order to reduce the absorption of oil, grease and intensely coloured foods durably. With the pale, ivory-white ground colouring, strongly staining substances such as red wine, turmeric, olive oil or black berries can leave small local discolourations after prolonged exposure — proper sealing reduces this risk considerably. Soiling should be taken up promptly, ideally within a few hours. Outdoors, regular cleaning with clear water and occasionally a soft brush is enough; where green growth appears in shaded positions, commercially available algae and moss cleaners can be used. Hot pots can be set down directly on the worktop — Ivory White is heat-resistant. De-icing salt in winter does not harm the stone and can be used.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ivory White a genuine granite?
In the trade and in construction Ivory White has been carried as a granite for years, which is the established German and international convention. Petrographically it is more precisely a gneiss from the Precambrian Indian shield — a metamorphic rock formed from igneous or sedimentary parent rocks under high pressure and high temperatures. Gneisses behave technically like granites (high compressive strength, low water absorption, frost- and acid-resistant) and are treated accordingly in construction.
Where does Ivory White come from?
Ivory White is quarried in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu — one of India's most important dimension stone provinces. For decades the region around Madurai and Salem has been producing pale Indian hard stones for the European and North American markets. In the stone trade the stone is also carried in parallel as Madurai Ivory White and South India Ivory White, which names the precise region of origin.
Is Ivory White suitable for kitchen worktops?
Outstandingly. The properties typical of granite — acid resistance to lemon juice, vinegar and wine, high compressive strength (149.9 MPa), low water absorption (0.29 %) and heat resistance — qualify Ivory White without reservation for intensively used kitchen worktops. The ivory-white look with fine black mineral dots and subtle reddish garnet speckles harmonises with numerous kitchen concepts — from classically rustic to contemporary and modern. Sealing after installation and every 2 to 3 years thereafter is recommended.
Is Ivory White suitable for external applications?
Outstandingly. The frost and acid resistance typical of granite qualify Ivory White without reservation for external applications in central European climatic conditions. It is used for façade claddings, plinth panels, stairs, paving, pool surrounds and entrance areas. On external surfaces that are walked on, choosing a matt, textured finish is recommended. The pale ivory-white tonality is particularly impressive under southern light and harmonises with warm rendered and timber façades.
How does Ivory White differ from other Indian white granites?
Tamil Nadu produces a large number of pale granite/gneiss grades, each with its own characteristic material signature. Ivory White is distinguished by its ivory-creamy ground colouring with fine black mineral dots and subtle reddish garnet speckles. Related Indian white granites include Bianco Antico, Imperial White, White Galaxy and other grades with differing tonalities and mineral accentuations. The choice between the various Indian white granites is a question of the desired colour nuance and the character of the mineral accents.
Which slab formats are usual for Ivory White?
Standard large formats from the Indian quarries typically lie between 280 × 160 cm and 320 × 200 cm at thicknesses of 2 cm and 3 cm. Through ROSSITTIS, thinner formats (1 cm, 1.1 cm, 1.3 cm and 1.5 cm for lightweight wall claddings) as well as skirtings and tile formats for floor areas can also be sourced. Please enquire directly about specific dimensions — as a proven Indian standard granite, Ivory White is regularly in stock at ROSSITTIS.
