Granite

Mondariz Crema Julia

Mondariz Crema Julia is a classic Carboniferous granite from the long-established quarry district of Mondariz/Porriño in the Galician province of Pontevedra in north-west Spain — medium- to coarse-grained, with a warm creamy beige plagioclase groundmass, strong black biotite and hornblende dots and occasional grey-green quartz accents. Internationally also listed as Crema Julia, Granito Nº3 and Crema Pontevedra; used for external façades with lasting polished gloss, floor surfaces, stairs, bar counters, window sills, skirtings, pool coping and project-specific cutting to size.

Granite Spain Frostbeständig Säurebeständig 2.640 kg/m³

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

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Other trade names: CREMA JULIA, Crema Berta, Gris Mondariz, Mondariz Crema Julia, RO-01-089, Rosa Moncao

About Mondariz Crema Julia

Mondariz Crema Julia shows a classic, medium- to coarse-grained granite character with a warm, friendly appearance. The groundmass consists predominantly of light cream-beige plagioclase and potassium feldspar crystals with a subtle honey-warm tint; evenly distributed within it are strong black biotite and hornblende mineral dots (markedly larger and higher in contrast than in finer-grained Iberian granites such as Gris Targa) as well as occasional grey-greenish quartz and feldspar areas. The ratio of light to dark lies at around 65–75 % creamy warm groundmass to 25–35 % black mineral dots — which produces an overall warm, inviting impression with a clearly legible crystalline structure. Compared with cooler grey-white Iberian granites, Mondariz brings a warmer, more inviting note that makes the stone particularly suitable for Mediterranean and classical architecture. On a polished surface, the stone develops a classically warm gloss that brings out the light groundmass with its subtle honey-warm tint; the black mineral dots stand out in relief and create the lively Iberian granite look typical of the family.

Geologically, Mondariz Crema Julia is a Carboniferous granite (around 300 million years old) from the Hercynian granite complex of the Iberian Peninsula. The quarry district lies in the Mondariz and Porriño region in the Galician province of Pontevedra in the far north-west of Spain — one of the most significant granite provinces in Europe, which has supplied light to mid-grey building granites worldwide since the 19th century. The DNSA natural stone research lists the material under the identifier 1063 with the main name Mondariz and the trade aliases Crema Julia and Granito Nº3. The name 'Mondariz Crema Julia' used by the ROSSITTIS supplier combines two of these trade designations for the same stone. In international trade the designations Crema Pontevedra and Galician Cream Granite also circulate. The same quarry district also supplies the world-famous Rosa Porriño (pink granite) and Gris Mondariz (grey variant).

Technically, Mondariz shows the solid values of a Carboniferous Iberian granite: bulk density 2,640 kg/m³, compressive strength 110 MPa, flexural strength 15.3 MPa, water absorption 0.3 %, abrasion resistance 8.8 cm³/50 cm² (Italian norm class 1 = very hard), Mohs hardness 6–7. Frost resistance is DNSA-confirmed; likewise acid resistance (within the normal range for granites). Polished surfaces are durable outdoors as well (polish durable outdoors) — a property not all granites have. This makes Mondariz fully suitable for everyday use in internal and external applications including external façades with retained polished gloss.

At ROSSITTIS we stock Mondariz Crema Julia as a raw slab in 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 60 mm thickness (from the standard tile through wall and floor slabs to solid applications such as steps, bar counters or solid thresholds), in tiles for floor and wall applications, as a tread and riser, window sill, skirting, terrace slab and for project-specific cutting to size. The stone is also excellently suited as a fountain element, for pool coping and for external façades. The finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Compared with related Iberian granites, Mondariz Crema Julia brings a particularly warm, friendly character: Gris Mondariz (same quarry, but in the grey variant) appears cooler and more matter-of-fact; Rosa Porriño (same quarry, pink variant) is stronger and sweeter in colour; Gris Targa/Tragal (northern Portugal) is a neutral, cooler salt-and-pepper; Gris Quintana (Galicia) is similarly warm but somewhat darker. Against Chinese or Indian crema granite imports, the Galician origin with fully documented DIN/EN standard values, long proving on the European market and shorter transport routes is a clear advantage in public building tenders, listed buildings and projects with high quality demands. For architectural projects with a classically warm appearance — public buildings, universities, banks, hotels, prestige residential buildings, external façades with high weather stability, squares and stairs with heavy traffic — Mondariz Crema Julia is a reliable and expressive choice in the middle to upper segment of Iberian building granites. The stone is one of the traditional 'workhorses' of the Spanish granite industry — proven, easy to fabricate and with excellent block-to-block consistency for large-area applications.

In stock

Current availability from our warehouse.

87 slabs in stock · plus 49 blocks

Thicknesses: 1–7 cm · Finishes: Polished, Honed C120, Flamed + brushed once · Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Paving slabs, Tiles and flooring slabs

Updated daily from our live stock.

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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.

Rohdichte 2.640 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 110,0 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 15,3 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,30 %

Frostbeständig Ja

Säurebeständig Ja

Suitability by application

Particularly suited to

Außenbereich ✓ Ideal

Finishes

Mondariz Crema Julia is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Polished

Polishing is the most classic finish in the hard stone segment — a mirror-smooth, high-gloss surface with the highest possible colour intensity and maximum depth effect in the mineral structure. As an acid-resistant silicate stone, polished granite is easy to care for and the first choice for kitchen worktops, wall claddings and prestigious exposed surfaces.

Honed C120

A matt appearance created by coarse honing with C120 grit — the level surface shows a more restrained colour intensity than polished and can carry visible honing marks. Compared with a polish it is more maintenance-intensive but stylistically calmer; the preferred choice for modern interior architecture with reduced reflection.

Flamed + brushed once

The surface is roughened by heat and brushed once to smooth sharp-edged mineral residues and remove loose material. The feel is somewhat gentler than purely flamed, it remains slip-resistant, and the colour is less intense than polished. The standard choice for outdoor areas, terraces and heavily used floor areas.

Care & fabrication

As a Galician Carboniferous granite, Mondariz Crema Julia is a robust hard rock with low water absorption (0.3 %), DNSA-confirmed frost resistance and acid resistance (in the normal range for granites) as well as durable polishability outdoors. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, sanitary cleaners or descalers leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone — the stone is markedly easier to care for and excellently suited to intensive everyday use.

For internal applications we recommend a silane or polysiloxane-based sealer at first installation. On polished internal surfaces, a refresh every 8–10 years is sufficient; on heavily used floor surfaces, stairs or external applications we recommend a check every 3–5 years. A sealer protects against deep penetration of oil, grease and pigments — otherwise discolouration from sauces or red wine can settle more visibly on the light groundmass.

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 fundamentally unproblematic, but should nevertheless not be used, because they can attack the sealer. The finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

For kitchen worktops, Mondariz is solidly suitable: cut- and scratch-resistant, insensitive to heat (hot pots and pans can be set down directly for short periods, but prolonged heat exposure above 200 °C should nevertheless be avoided), acid-resistant and with good stain repellency. The warm creamy beige surface does, however, show sauce, red wine or turmeric stains more strongly than dark granites — with intensive kitchen use you should react promptly.

For external applications, Mondariz is particularly well qualified: the DIN/EN-confirmed values (110 MPa compressive strength, 15.3 MPa flexural strength, frost resistance) and above all the durable polishability outdoors make the stone the first choice for demanding external façades with retained gloss. The finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

For pool surrounds, external terraces and fountain surrounds, a slip-inhibiting textured finish is obligatory — on polished external surfaces there is a high risk of slipping when wet. In areas with frequent salt contact (de-icing salt, pool chlorine) we recommend an additional sealer refresh every 2 years.

Frequently asked questions

What is Mondariz Crema Julia geologically?

Mondariz Crema Julia is a Carboniferous granite (around 300 million years old) from the Hercynian granite complex of the Iberian Peninsula. The quarry district lies in the Mondariz and Porriño region in the Galician province of Pontevedra in the far north-west of Spain. DNSA lists the material under identifier 1063. Geologically a classic medium- to coarse-grained plutonic rock with a plagioclase/potassium feldspar groundmass and a biotite/hornblende component.

What synonyms are there for Mondariz?

In international trade, Mondariz also runs under the designations Crema Julia, Granito Nº3, Crema Pontevedra, Galician Cream Granite and occasionally simply Crema Granito. The DNSA main name is 'Mondariz' with the trade aliases 'Crema Julia' and 'Granito Nº3'. The name 'Mondariz Crema Julia' used by the ROSSITTIS supplier combines two of these trade designations for the same stone.

What technical values does Mondariz Crema Julia have?

Solid values: bulk density 2,640 kg/m³, compressive strength 110 MPa, flexural strength 15.3 MPa, water absorption 0.3 %, abrasion resistance 8.8 cm³/50 cm² (Italian norm class 1 — very hard), Mohs hardness 6–7. DNSA confirms frost resistance, acid resistance (in the normal range for granites) and durable polishability outdoors. These values qualify Mondariz fully for demanding internal and external applications including prestige external façades with retained gloss.

What does 'polish durable outdoors' mean for Mondariz?

This DNSA designation confirms that polished Mondariz external surfaces retain their gloss over years — UV radiation and weathering do not lead to visible dulling. With many other granites, polished external surfaces dull after 5–10 years of UV exposure; with Mondariz the full gloss effect is retained permanently. A polished external façade is therefore a proven solution — no compulsory preference for a flamed or honed finish as with other stones.

Mondariz, Gris Mondariz and Rosa Porriño — what is the difference?

All three come from the same Galician quarry district (Pontevedra), but differ dramatically in colouring. Mondariz Crema Julia shows a warm creamy beige groundmass with strong black dots — friendly and inviting. Gris Mondariz is the grey variant with a cooler, more matter-of-fact character — more neutral and more modern. Rosa Porriño is the pink variant with a strong warm colour — energetic and sweetish. All three have similar technical values; the choice is primarily an aesthetic decision.

Is Mondariz suitable for a kitchen worktop?

Yes, well suited. With a Mohs hardness of 6–7, low water absorption (0.3 %), good compressive strength (110 MPa) and full acid resistance, Mondariz is cut-, scratch- and heat-resistant and absorbs no wine, lemon or vinegar acids. The warm creamy beige groundmass does, however, show sauce, red wine or turmeric stains more strongly than dark granites — with intensive kitchen use you should react promptly and check the sealer every 3–5 years.

What finishes are available in Mondariz Crema Julia?

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

Where does Mondariz Crema Julia come from?

Mondariz comes from the Mondariz and Porriño quarry district in the Galician province of Pontevedra in north-west Spain — one of the most significant granite provinces in Europe. Since the 19th century the region has been among the long-established Iberian granite provinces supplying light to mid-grey building granites worldwide. The same quarry district also produces Gris Mondariz (grey variant) and the world-famous Rosa Porriño (pink variant).

What does Mondariz Crema Julia 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.