Migmatit

Listed in our range under Granite.

Raw Silk

Raw Silk is a classic Indian gneiss from the Melur quarry area in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu — fine-grained and directionally furrowed, with a warm pink-ivory ground mass, parallel running cream-beige-pink layer bands and subtle anthracite-grey mineral stripes whose textile character gave the stone its name. Also carried internationally as Raw Silk Ivory and Ivory Raw Silk; used for exterior façades, wall and floor areas, stairs, window sills, bar counters, skirtings and prestigious building applications with a warm, elegant character.

Raw Silk is petrographically a gneiss from Melur in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, India — a directionally foliated metamorphic hard rock. In international trade the stone is traditionally carried as 'granite' (a trade convention customary in India for metamorphic hard rocks). At ROSSITTIS we classify Raw Silk in the customary trade manner within the granite family.

Migmatit India Frostbeständig Säurebeständig 2.588 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs, Skirting

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About Raw Silk

Raw Silk shows an exceptionally elegant directional slab character that fully deserves its name — the fine-grained gneiss structure with its parallel running layer bands really does recall woven raw silk or an extremely finely figured wood veneer. Evenly parallel, slightly undulating bandings in warm tones run across the entire slab surface: creamy ivory main layers alternate with gently pink-toned strata, and to these are added subtle beige-honey accents and fine anthracite-grey mineral stripes of biotite and hornblende. The band structure is not strictly linear but slightly undulating and irregular — like genuinely woven silk with a lively natural structure. Occasionally small brownish mineral streaks or delicate lighter quartz veins appear as fine additional accents. On a polished surface the stone develops an exceptional silky effect of depth — the warm tones intensify, the layer bands emerge clearly and the whole slab pattern reads almost like a tapestry woven in stone. Every slab pattern is a unique piece — the distribution and intensity of the bands vary from block to block.

Geologically, Raw Silk is a Precambrian gneiss from Melur, a place in the Madurai district in the south of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The region belongs to the south Indian granite-gneiss complex, one of the most significant hard rock provinces in India. Petrographically a fine-grained, directionally foliated gneiss with a characteristic layered structure. On the market the material is carried under the principal name 'RAW SILK IVORY'. In international trade the stone is, despite its gneissic petrography, traditionally carried as 'granite' — a trade convention customary in India for metamorphic hard rocks. In the trade the designations Raw Silk Ivory, Ivory Raw Silk and occasionally Madurai Pink (alluding to the pink-ivory tint) also circulate.

Technically, Raw Silk shows solid values: bulk density 2,588 kg/m³, compressive strength 169.2 MPa (alternative data sheets show 100–117 MPa), flexural strength 10.2 MPa, water absorption 0.60 % (alternative sources 0.35 %), Mohs hardness 6–7. Full frost and acid resistance confirmed as a silicate rock — wine, lemon juice, vinegar or sanitary cleaners leave no etch marks as they do on marble or limestone. Raw Silk is therefore fully suited to everyday use for interior and exterior applications, including exterior façades in central European climate zones.

At ROSSITTIS we carry Raw Silk as a raw slab in 10 mm and 20 mm thickness (standard thicknesses for wall and floor applications), in tiles for floor and wall applications, as a skirting and for project-specific cut to size. Also available as tread and riser, window sill and bar counter. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Compared with related Indian gneisses such as Juparana Colombo (with stronger pink tones and a more pronounced band structure), Juparana India (with less pink, more brown-yellow), Madura Gold (a yellowish-bronze banded gneiss version) or Madura Light (lighter with a less pronounced band structure), Raw Silk brings the finest, most elegant layer structure with a warm pink-ivory tint. Against European pink granites such as Rosa Porriño (more even, fine-grained) or Rosa Beta, Raw Silk is markedly more directional and more elegant, with its characteristic textile character. For architectural projects with a warm, elegant character — exterior façades on prestigious residential buildings, boutique hotels with a warm atmosphere, interior surfaces in spas and wellness areas, bar counters with an elegant character, prestigious floor areas and project-specific building applications — Raw Silk is a tradition-rich and expressive choice within the warm Indian gneiss range. The name 'Raw Silk' describes the material effect aptly: warm, fine, lively and elegant — like genuinely woven silk.

In stock

Current availability from our warehouse.

4 slabs in stock · plus 3 blocks

Thicknesses: 1 & 2 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: Slabs, Skirting

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 2.588 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 169,2 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 10,2 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,60 %

Frostbeständig Ja

Säurebeständig Ja

Suitability by application

Finishes

Raw Silk 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.

Care & fabrication

As an Indian gneiss, Raw Silk is a robust hard rock with a moderate water absorption (0.60 %), full frost and acid resistance and solid compressive and flexural strength. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, sanitary cleaners or descalers leave no etch marks as they do on marble or limestone — the stone is considerably easier to care for and well suited to intensive everyday use.

For interior applications we recommend an impregnation on a silane or polysiloxane basis at first installation. On the heterogeneous banded gneiss surface, impregnation is particularly important, because oil, grease and pigment stains can otherwise settle more visibly on the lighter creamy-pink strata than on the darker mineral stripes. On polished surfaces a refresh every 5–8 years is enough; on heavily used kitchen worktops or exterior applications, check every 3 years — the somewhat higher water absorption (0.60 %) compared with very dense granites calls for somewhat more frequent refreshing of the impregnation.

Day-to-day care is carried out with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft cloth or microfibre mop. Clean warm water is usually enough. Acidic cleaners are in principle unproblematic (acid resistance as a silicate rock), but should nevertheless not be used, because they can attack the impregnation. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

For kitchen worktops Raw Silk is well suited: resistant to cutting and scratching, insensitive to heat (hot pots and pans can be set down directly for short periods; longer heat exposure above 200 °C should nevertheless be avoided), acid-resistant and with good stain repellency. The elegant band structure conceals small traces of use astonishingly well. With intensive kitchen use you should, because of the somewhat higher water absorption, react promptly to spills of sauce, red wine or turmeric.

For exterior applications Raw Silk is well suited — the frost resistance is confirmed. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. For pool surrounds, exterior terraces and fountain surrounds, a slip-inhibiting textured surface is mandatory for slip resistance. In areas with frequent salt contact (road salt, pool chlorine) we recommend an additional annual refreshing of the impregnation.

Frequently asked questions

What is Raw Silk geologically?

Raw Silk is a Precambrian gneiss from Melur in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Petrographically a fine-grained, directionally foliated gneiss with a characteristic layered structure. On the market the material is carried under the principal name 'RAW SILK IVORY'. In international trade the stone is traditionally carried as 'granite' — a trade convention customary in India for metamorphic hard rocks. At ROSSITTIS we classify Raw Silk in the customary trade manner within the granite family.

Which synonyms are there?

In international trade Raw Silk also runs under the designations Raw Silk Ivory, Ivory Raw Silk and occasionally Madurai Pink. All designations refer to the same Indian gneiss from the Melur quarry area in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu.

What technical values does Raw Silk have?

Solid values: bulk density 2,588 kg/m³, compressive strength 169.2 MPa (alternative data sheets show 100–117 MPa), flexural strength 10.2 MPa, water absorption 0.60 % (alternative sources 0.35 %), Mohs hardness 6–7. Full frost and acid resistance confirmed as a silicate rock.

Where does the name 'Raw Silk' come from?

The name 'Raw Silk' describes the characteristic material effect: the fine-grained gneiss structure with parallel running layer bands in warm pink-ivory tones really does recall woven raw silk or an extremely finely figured wood veneer. On a polished surface the stone develops a particularly silky lustre that underlines this textile character. A very fitting trade designation — the name does not come from nowhere.

Is Raw Silk suitable for a kitchen worktop?

Yes, well suited. With a Mohs hardness of 6–7, a moderate water absorption (0.60 %), good compressive strength (169.2 MPa) and full acid resistance, Raw Silk is resistant to cutting, scratching and heat and absorbs no wine, lemon or vinegar acids. The elegant band structure conceals small traces of use well. Given the somewhat higher water absorption compared with very dense granites, with intensive kitchen use you should take up spills of sauce, red wine or turmeric promptly and check the impregnation every 3 years.

Which surface finishes are there for Raw Silk?

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

Where does Raw Silk come from?

Raw Silk comes from Melur, a place in the Madurai district in the south of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The region belongs to the south Indian granite-gneiss complex, one of the most significant hard rock provinces in India. Tamil Nadu produces over 50 % of the coloured granites traded worldwide and is home to numerous classic building grades.

Is Raw Silk suitable for exterior façades?

Yes, well suited. The frost resistance is confirmed by DNSA; the compressive strength (169.2 MPa) and low water absorption qualify the stone for exterior façades in central European climate zones. Polished exterior surfaces can, in heavily UV-loaded positions, show minimal losses of gloss after years — for classic exterior façades we recommend flamed or brushed, because these surfaces offer full weather stability and show the warm band structure vividly. The elegant band structure suits prestigious residential buildings and historically classical architecture.

What does Raw Silk 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.