Lapidus is quarried from a bedrock quarry in Espirito Santo, Brazil. Blocks from the top of the quarry have a darker gold color, while blocks extracted from deeper portions of the quarry are lighter. Over millions of years, water has penetrated deep into this stone through small cracks and fissures, causing the iron oxide and other minerals to oxidize. It is this process that produces the rich, vibrant gold tones that are visible in this granite. Before oxidation, the stone’s natural color is gray and some portions are still visible in the slab amidst the golden hues (these areas are known as islands). Due to the qualities of the stone, the slabs are book-matched; meaning slab one and slab two will be cut and polished to create a mirror image of each other. These are then kept in sequence, which allows for a consistent flow in pattern. During the polishing process, an epoxy resin is applied to the surface of the stone to fill in any natural pits, cracks or fissures that may exist. This does not affect the durability, maintenance or beauty of the stone. It is possible for some of the more minute pits that are too small to effectively hold the resin, to reopen during other finishing stages. However, this will not detract from the overall quality or appearance of the stone. As a natural stone product, it is recommended that it be sealed to extend its longevity.