Silver Cloud (also Brocade, Brocade Granite, Lithonia Silver Granite or Georgia Gray Granite) is a US American gneiss of the granite family from the Lithonia district near Atlanta in Georgia — silver-grey to white in its base tone, with the characteristically swirling, cloud-like mineral signature that gives the material its name. High-strength with a compressive strength of around 168 MPa and low water absorption of 0.34 % — used for kitchen worktops, wall claddings, floor areas, staircases, façade claddings, external paving and prestigious American-inspired interior and exterior architecture.
Petrographically this is more precisely a fine-grained gneiss — a metamorphic rock from the North American Blue Ridge-Piedmont granite/gneiss belt near Lithonia, Georgia (USA). In the trade and in construction it has been listed as a granite for decades, since its technical behaviour corresponds to that of classical granites (compressive strength 168 MPa, water absorption 0.34 %, frost- and acid-resistant).
Gneiss
United States
2.810 kg/m³
Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs
Silver Cloud comes from the long-established quarry area around Lithonia and Conyers in Rockdale County, Georgia (USA) — the central region of the North American Blue Ridge Piedmont granite/gneiss belt. This region is among the most important natural stone suppliers in the United States and has supplied hard rock continuously to the North American construction industry since the late 19th century, and increasingly to international markets. The Lithonia quarries in the greater Atlanta area have made the stone a synonym for “American granite” — many significant public buildings, bridges and monuments in the United States are built from this or from closely related Lithonia stones.
Geologically, petrographically speaking, it is a fine-grained gneiss — a metamorphic rock formed from igneous or sedimentary parent rocks under high pressure and high temperatures, acquiring in the process its characteristic fabric-oriented mineral arrangement. In the stone trade and in construction, however, Silver Cloud is traditionally listed as granite — a convention established for decades that markets all high-strength quartz-feldspathic hard rocks under the collective term granite. The DNSA entry (no. 3985, INSK 47.2) has documented the mineralogical and mechanical properties of the stone for decades and lists the trade names used in parallel: Silver Cloud, Brocade, Brocade Granite, Lithonia Silver Granite, Georgia Gray Granite and Silver Cloud Imperial Granite.
Visually, Silver Cloud is defined by an exceptionally characterful, almost painterly mineral signature. Across a light silver-grey to white base tone, darker grey to charcoal-coloured mineral concentrations spread out in flowing, cloud-like, almost wave- or smoke-like flow patterns. These organically appearing cloud formations arise from the metamorphic foliation of the rock — the arrangement of the dark grey biotite and amphibole components in fine, parallel-oriented mineral bands, which appear in the cut of the slab as rhythmically flowing structures. The name “Silver Cloud” captures the visual impression precisely — the stone looks like a silver cloudy sky, or like mineral diamonds artfully scattered on a light ground. The name “Brocade” refers to the resemblance to precious brocade-like fabric patterns. This unmistakable appearance makes Silver Cloud one of the best-known American natural stones and an international statement material.
Technically, Silver Cloud is among the highest-grade hard rocks worldwide: bulk density between 2,780 and 2,840 kg/m³, compressive strength between 167.0 and 169.5 MPa, flexural strength from 13.2 to 13.8 MPa and a remarkably low water absorption of only 0.32 to 0.36 %. These values qualify it without restriction for all demanding interior and exterior applications, including heavily loaded paving, stairs with high footfall and fully rated façade claddings. Frost resistance is DNSA-documented and confirmed by decades of American construction experience in climate zones with pronounced freeze-thaw cycles (from Florida heat to Canadian winters). Like all granites and gneisses, Silver Cloud is resistant to household acids such as lemon juice, vinegar, wine and cola, and is therefore suitable for kitchen worktops without restriction.
In interior fit-out, Silver Cloud is a proven choice for contemporary, classically elegant and American-inspired architecture. Classic applications are kitchen worktops, wall claddings, floor areas in entrance halls and living rooms, stair treads, skirtings, window sills, bar counters and bathroom applications. The calm silver-grey tonality with its characteristic cloud structure harmonises with numerous design concepts — from contemporary minimalist architecture with clear white and black steel accents to classically elegant rooms with dark wood and brass details. Outdoors, Silver Cloud is used as façade cladding, plinth slabs, stairs, paving and pool surrounds — the frost and acid resistance typical of granite qualify it without restriction for Central European climatic conditions. Silver Cloud is very widespread as a cemetery stone and for gravestone applications — its calm, dignified appearance and the long-term stability typical of granite make it a classic choice in this application category.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
80 slabs in stock · plus 33 blocks
Thicknesses: 0.8–4 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs
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.
Silver Cloud 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 a US American gneiss of the granite family, Silver Cloud 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 we recommend an impregnation after installation and every 2 to 3 years thereafter, using an impregnating agent on a solvent basis suitable for light-ground hard rocks, in order to reduce lasting absorption of oil, fat and intensely coloured foods. With the light, silver-grey base tone of Silver Cloud, strongly staining substances such as red wine, turmeric or black berries can leave small local discolourations if left in contact for longer — a properly applied impregnation 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 sufficient; where green growth appears in shaded locations, commercially available algae and moss cleaners can be used. Hot pots can be set down directly on the worktop — Silver Cloud is heat-resistant. Road salt in winter does the stone no harm and may be used, but it should be rinsed off thoroughly after the frost period to avoid salt crystallisation in fine micro-cracks.
Frequently asked questions
Is Silver Cloud a true granite?
In the trade and in construction, Silver Cloud has been listed as granite for decades, which is the established German and international convention. Petrographically it is more precisely a fine-grained gneiss — 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 classified and fabricated like granites in construction. The technical values documented in the DNSA (compressive strength 168 MPa, water absorption 0.34 %) correspond fully to classic granite specifications.
Where does Silver Cloud come from?
Silver Cloud is quarried in the area around Lithonia and Conyers in Rockdale County in the US state of Georgia — around 30 km east of Atlanta. The region is part of the North American Blue Ridge Piedmont granite/gneiss belt and is among the most long-established natural stone supply regions in the United States. The Lithonia quarries have supplied hard rock continuously to the American construction industry since the late 19th century.
What is the difference between Silver Cloud and Brocade?
Silver Cloud and Brocade are synonymous trade names for one and the same material — both are used in parallel on the international market. Further synonyms are Brocade Granite, Lithonia Silver Granite, Georgia Gray Granite and Silver Cloud Imperial Granite. Which trade name is chosen depends on the individual supplier's marketing — all denote the same fine-grained Lithonia gneiss from Georgia.
Is Silver Cloud suitable for kitchen worktops?
Outstandingly. The properties typical of granite — acid resistance against lemon juice, vinegar and wine, very high compressive strength (168 MPa), low water absorption (0.34 %) and heat resistance — qualify Silver Cloud without restriction for intensively used kitchen worktops. The calm, elegant appearance with its characteristic cloud structure harmonises with numerous kitchen concepts and is a long-standing classic in North American as well as European kitchen architecture.
Is Silver Cloud suitable for outdoor use?
Outstandingly. The frost and acid resistance typical of granite qualify Silver Cloud without restriction for exterior applications in Central European climatic conditions. It is used for façade claddings, plinth slabs, stairs, paving, pool surrounds and cemetery/gravestone applications. On external surfaces that will be walked on, a matt, textured surface finish is recommended. Its performance over decades of American construction experience in climate zones with extreme freeze-thaw cycles is impressive testimony to its long-term weather stability.
Which slab formats are usual for Silver Cloud?
Standard large formats from the American quarries typically lie between 280 × 160 cm and 320 × 200 cm in thicknesses of 2 cm and 3 cm. Through ROSSITTIS, special thicknesses can also be sourced (1 cm and 1.5 cm for lightweight wall claddings, 4 cm and more for stairs, paving and solid applications) as well as skirtings and tile formats. For specific dimensions please enquire directly — as a proven US American standard granite, Silver Cloud is regularly in stock at ROSSITTIS.
What does Silver Cloud 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.
