Migmatit

Listed in our range under Granite.

Tempest Black

Tempest Black is a dramatic Brazilian migmatite of the granite trade family with directionally flowing black-grey banding, pale cream-white quartz and feldspar layers and a characteristic scattering of luminous raspberry-red to burgundy almandine garnets. Also traded internationally as Black Tempest and Preto Indiano; used for expressive wall claddings, bar counters, bookmatched statement surfaces, kitchen worktops, stairs and prestige interior applications with high material ambitions.

Petrographically, Tempest Black is a Brazilian migmatite with almandine garnets — a metamorphic hybrid rock type. In the trade it is listed as a granite, in part also as a quartzite; under the European dimension stone standard EN 12440, migmatite would be the correct designation. At ROSSITTIS we classify Tempest Black in the granite family in line with trade usage, following the widely established trade convention for Brazilian hard stones. Synonyms: Black Tempest, Preto Indiano.

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About Tempest Black

Tempest Black lives on an exceptionally dramatic migmatitic structure of movement. Across the slab surface run diagonal, flowing bands of deep black, anthracite and dark brown, articulated by pale cream-white to pale grey-green layers of quartz and feldspar. The slab picture works like a squall frozen into stone — hence the name Tempest. On this dynamic composition, luminous raspberry to burgundy almandine garnets set an unmistakable visual accent — small, round mineral grains in deep red, scattered like sparks in the storm, that give the stone its unambiguous identity. Here and there, subtle bluish-grey quartz zones and isolated yellowish feldspar dabs appear as additional accents of light. On a polished surface the stone develops an exceptional depth of effect — the black bands look almost mirror-like, while the pale layers shimmer silkily and the red garnets stand out luminously. Every slab picture is a unique piece — with Tempest Black, selecting from real slab pictures is especially worthwhile, because the distribution of the white layers and the density of the red garnets vary strongly from block to block. The stone is outstandingly suited to bookmatched laying (mirror-image laying), because with two slabs mirrored side by side the flowing bands produce symmetrical, storm-like large-scale motifs.

Geologically, Tempest Black is a Precambrian migmatite from Brazil — a metamorphic mixed type formed from partially melted gneiss material, in which pale quartz- and feldspar-rich melt layers (leucosome) alternate with dark biotite- and amphibole-rich residual portions (melanosome). The red garnets are typically almandine (an iron-rich garnet from the pyrope-almandine-spessartine system), formed under high-pressure and high-temperature metamorphism. In international trade the stone circulates under the designations Tempest Black, Black Tempest and Preto Indiano (Portuguese: Native American black). Some European distributors classify it as a Brazilian quartzite, because the pale layers are quartz-rich and the material is acid-resistant; under the European dimension stone nomenclature (EN 12440), however, the petrographically correct designation would be migmatite. At ROSSITTIS we classify Tempest Black in the customary way in the granite family, in accordance with the widely established trade convention for Brazilian migmatites with hard stone characteristics.

The typical technical properties of Brazilian migmatites are a high compressive strength, low water absorption, a Mohs hardness of around 6.5–7 and full acid resistance thanks to their silicate character — wine, lemon juice, vinegar or sanitary cleaners leave no etch marks. The material is fundamentally suitable for interior and exterior applications.

At ROSSITTIS we carry Tempest Black as a raw slab in 20 mm and 30 mm thickness for luxurious statement bar counters, kitchen islands, fireplace surrounds, prestige wall claddings, bookmatched settings, stairs and for project-specific cutting. For kitchen worktops too, Tempest Black can be used expressively, with its dramatic look and the characteristic red garnet accents. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

Compared with more uniform black granite classics such as Nero Assoluto or Star Galaxy, Tempest Black brings a dramatically livelier, more animated slab appearance with characteristic red accents. Compared with strongly clouded Brazilian migmatites such as Aurora Indien (with a similar garnet scattering, but more brown-burgundy tones) or Magma Black (with higher-contrast golden banding), Tempest Black looks more expressive in its directional band structure and more emphatic through the intensely luminous raspberry-red garnets. For architectural projects with a dramatic material effect — designer kitchens with a high-contrast red-black accent, hotel lobbies with bookmatched wall surfaces, restaurant bar counters with a storm-like character and prestige fireplace surrounds — Tempest Black is a very exclusive and expressive choice in the upper premium segment of the Brazilian migmatites.

In stock

Current availability from our warehouse.

36 slabs in stock · plus 3 blocks

Thicknesses: 2 & 3 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: 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.

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Suitability by application

Finishes

Tempest 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.

Care & fabrication

As a Brazilian migmatite, Tempest Black is a robust hard stone with low water absorption, full acid resistance and a Mohs hardness of around 6.5–7. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, sanitary cleaners or limescale removers leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone — the stone is markedly 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 migmatite surface an impregnation matters particularly, because oil, grease and pigment stains can otherwise settle more visibly on the paler quartz layers than on the black bands. On polished interior surfaces a refresh every 5–8 years is enough; on heavily used kitchen worktops or exterior applications we recommend a check every 2–3 years.

Daily care is done with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft cloth or microfibre mop. Clear warm water is usually enough. Acidic cleaners are fundamentally unproblematic, 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, Tempest Black is well suited: resistant to cuts and scratches, insensitive to heat (hot pots and pans can be set down directly for short periods; nevertheless avoid longer heat exposure above 200 °C), acid-resistant and with good stain repellency. The expressive, animated surface conceals small traces of use astonishingly well. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down.

For exterior applications we recommend a project-specific data sheet check on frost resistance before ordering. For exterior façades or pool areas a slip-resistant textured finish is obligatory — on polished exterior surfaces there is a high risk of slipping when wet. Polished exterior surfaces can show minimal losses of gloss after years in locations with heavy UV loading. In areas with frequent salt contact (de-icing salt, pool chlorine) we recommend an additional annual refresh of the impregnation. The dark ground tone stores a great deal of solar energy in hot climate zones — for pool areas in the south, combine with locally cooled irrigation where appropriate.

Frequently asked questions

What are the red dots in Tempest Black?

The characteristic luminous raspberry to burgundy dots in Tempest Black are almandine garnets — minerals from the garnet system (iron-aluminium garnets from the pyrope-almandine-spessartine series). They crystallised during high-grade metamorphism in the migmatite complex. The garnets are characteristic of Brazilian migmatites and give Tempest Black its unambiguous visual identity — they lend the stone a drama that no other black hard stone offers in this form.

What is Tempest Black geologically?

Tempest Black is a Brazilian migmatite — a metamorphic hybrid rock type in which pale quartz- and feldspar-rich melt layers (leucosome) alternate with dark biotite- and amphibole-rich residual portions (melanosome). In international trade the stone is traded as granite; some European distributors classify it as quartzite. Under the European dimension stone nomenclature (EN 12440), migmatite would be the petrographically correct designation. At ROSSITTIS we classify Tempest Black in the customary way in the granite family, in accordance with the widely established trade convention.

Which synonyms are there for Tempest Black?

In international trade, Tempest Black also runs under the designations Black Tempest and Preto Indiano. The latter is the original Portuguese designation and means literally “Native American black” — a reference to the pictorial effect with the red accents, which recall traditional Native American mineral pigments. All designations refer to the same Brazilian migmatite type.

Is Tempest Black suitable for a kitchen worktop?

Yes, well suited. With a Mohs hardness of around 6.5–7, low water absorption and full acid resistance, Tempest Black is resistant to cuts, scratches and heat and absorbs no acids from wine, lemon or vinegar. The expressive squall-like look with the red garnets conceals small traces of use astonishingly well and suits designer kitchens with a deliberately dramatic material staging. For a calmer kitchen with less pictorial weight we recommend alternative grades such as Nero Assoluto.

Is Tempest Black suitable for bookmatched laying?

Outstandingly suited. With bookmatched laying (mirror-image laying of two slabs), the flowing, directional black-and-white bands produce symmetrical, storm-like large-scale motifs — squall mirrors, for instance, or flowing symmetrical layerings. The red garnets set harmonious accents along the axis of symmetry. For prestige wall claddings, bar counters and designer statement surfaces, bookmatching is a very fitting way to stage the material.

Which finishes are there for Tempest Black?

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

Where does Tempest Black come from?

Tempest Black comes from Brazil — the typical mineralogy and appearance point to the Brazilian migmatite provinces in the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais or Bahia, which are known for the production of garnet-bearing hard stones. Consistent data sheet documentation at quarry level is not available for this grade; for large-area projects or exterior applications we recommend requesting a project-specific data sheet.

How do I clean and care for Tempest Black?

As a Brazilian migmatite, Tempest Black is very easy to care for: daily care with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a microfibre cloth is enough. We recommend an impregnation at first installation; for interior applications a refresh interval of 5–8 years depending on use, for heavily used kitchen worktops a check every 2–3 years. Acidic cleaners are fundamentally unproblematic, but should nevertheless not be used. On polished dark surfaces, dry cleaning with a polished microfibre cloth after damp wiping is recommendable for the full depth of effect of the black bands.

What does Tempest Black 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.