Piano Black is a classic Zimbabwean gabbro from the black hard rock family, with a deep black, even base colour and a fine-grained crystalline mineral texture. Traded as granite — high-strength, frost-resistant and acid-resistant, suitable for kitchen worktops, stairs, façades, floor areas and prestigious dark visible surfaces.
Petrographically a gabbro, listed in the trade as black granite.
Piano Black is a classic Zimbabwean gabbro from the famous Mutoko region — Africa's most important extraction region for black hard rock, which also yields Nero Assoluto Zimbabwe and related black granites. Characteristic is a very dense, evenly deep black base colour with a fine crystalline mineral texture without pronounced speckling — the slab appearance is calm, uniform and very flexible in planning terms. At ROSSITTIS we carry Piano Black for kitchen worktops, cooking islands, bar counters, washbasin tops, floor areas, staircases, façade claddings, external paving, plinth details, pool surrounds and project-related special fabrications where a pure black effect is wanted.
Geologically, Piano Black is a gabbro from the Zimbabwean plutonic rock provinces — gabbros are formed by the slow solidification of basaltic magmas at greater depth in the earth's crust, with crystalline mineral textures of pyroxene and plagioclase. In the international stone trade, gabbros are consistently assigned to the hard rocks and listed under “black granite”.
The technical values place Piano Black clearly in the class of robust hard rocks: high compressive strength, low water absorption well below 0.5 per cent, frost-resistant to DIN EN 12371, fully acid-resistant within the normal application range. This makes the material as suitable for demanding kitchen worktops and heavily loaded floor areas as it is for permanent exterior applications with freeze-thaw exposure. Compared with Nero Assoluto Zimbabwe (the classic representative of the Mutoko family), Piano Black typically shows a similarly deep black base colour with a finer and more even mineral texture.
At ROSSITTIS, Piano Black is available as a raw slab (random-size slab), as a floor tile, as a tread and riser, as a window sill, as a skirting, as a paving stone, as a façade element, as a pool surround and as a project-related cut to size; likewise as a kitchen worktop, bar counter and washbasin top. The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.
Our honest assessment: Piano Black is a first-class choice for projects looking for a calm, dense, deep black natural stone with the full robustness of a hard rock. The combination of a pure colour signature without speckling, high compressive strength, full acid resistance and frost resistance makes the material ideal for demanding kitchen worktops and exterior applications.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
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Finishes
Piano Black 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.
Satin-honed
The satin surface is created by brushing, which selectively removes softer minerals and gives the surface a slight depth. A matte appearance with subtle light reflection and a warm feel to the touch. Easy to maintain, insensitive to scratches and suited to everyday use — a popular alternative to a polish in modern kitchens and living spaces.
Eco Antik
The Eco Antik surface is flamed and then intensively brushed — the result is a more rustic, livelier look with a pronounced tactile quality. Recommended for kitchens as well as interior wall and floor claddings in which the material is meant to work as a characterful statement stone with a craftsman-like appeal.
Polished, untreated
A special finish for black hard stones without the colour-enhancing treatment that is otherwise standard. A glossy surface showing the stone's original colour, not artificially intensified. For clients who insist on an unmanipulated material character — in direct comparison, the treated counterparts appear richer in contrast.
Care & fabrication
As a Zimbabwean gabbro, Piano Black can be cared for and cleaned without difficulty over the long term. With its low water absorption and full acid resistance the material is very robust in everyday use — wine, lemon juice, vinegar or carbonated drinks leave no etch marks. An impregnation on a silane or polysiloxane basis after installation provides additional protection against strongly staining substances such as red wine, coffee, oil and tomato sauce. Daily cleaning with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft microfibre cloth. Avoid strongly alkaline intensive cleaners and abrasive steel wool. Outdoors it is frost-resistant and tolerant of road salt. Refresh the impregnation every three to five years.
Frequently asked questions
What is Piano Black geologically?
Piano Black is a Zimbabwean gabbro — a basic igneous plutonic rock from the Mutoko region in Zimbabwe. In the international stone trade the material is assigned to the gabbros and listed under “black granite”.
Which surface finishes are available?
The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.
Is Piano Black suitable for kitchen worktops?
Very much so. As a hard rock of the gabbro family it is acid-resistant, stain-resistant (with a good impregnation) and very robust in everyday cooking.
Is Piano Black frost-resistant?
Yes. Zimbabwean gabbros are frost-resistant to DIN EN 12371 and fully suitable for Central European climate zones.
Piano Black or Nero Assoluto Zimbabwe — which fits better?
Both are Zimbabwean gabbros from the Mutoko region with a similarly deep black base colour. Piano Black typically shows a somewhat finer and more even mineral texture; Nero Assoluto Zimbabwe is the classic, longest-established selection.
How do I clean and care for Piano Black?
Daily care with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft microfibre cloth. Impregnation on a silane or polysiloxane basis after installation. Refresh every three to five years.
