-Gandola-
Description & Features
Gandola is one of the well-known granites of southern Egypt: the literature lists it among the Aswan granites used as building materials, and in the trade it is also found as Gandolla, Gandonna Aswan, Egypt Ghiandone or Rosa Abu Simbel. The slab is dominated by a medium-grey background of dark and white grains, densely scattered with pinkish to salmon-beige feldspar crystals; the result is a warm grey-pink, medium-grained look that comes in lighter and darker variants. Data sheets from Egyptian quarries give a density of about 2.63 g/cm³, water absorption of 0.09–0.28% and compressive strength of 111–148 MPa (ASTM methods), while the German DNSA database records 2.65 g/cm³, 0.33% and 175 MPa and rates the stone frost resistant, with a polish that lasts outdoors. It is supplied polished, honed, flamed or sandblasted, as slabs, tiles and custom pieces. It is used for kitchen and bathroom countertops, floors, stairs, window sills, facade cladding, patio paving and memorials. As a silicate rock it withstands everyday acids; on countertops it should be sealed and cleaned with neutral cleaners.
Why choose Gandola
- Well-known Aswan granite (Gandolla / Egypt Ghiandone)
- Warm grey-pink texture with pinkish feldspar crystals
- Frost resistant – for indoor and outdoor use
- Many finishes: polished, honed, flamed, sandblasted
Technical Specifications
| Geological Type | Igneous plutonic rock – Aswan granite (feldspars, quartz, biotite) |
| Country of Origin | Egypt |
| Quarry / Region | Aswan region, southern Egypt |
| Color & Pattern | Medium-grey background with dense pinkish to salmon-beige feldspar crystals, white grains and black specks; medium grain |
| Hardness (Mohs) | ≈6–7 (typical for granite) |
| Density (g/cm³) | 2.63–2.65 (Egyptian quarry data · DNSA) |
| Water Absorption (%) | 0.09–0.33 (ASTM C97 on quarry data sheets · 0.33 per DNSA) |
| Compressive Strength (MPa) | ≈111–175 (ASTM C170 ≈111–148 on quarry data sheets · 175 per DNSA) |
| Flexural Strength (MPa) | ≈9–17 (ASTM C880 ≈16–17 on quarry data sheets · 9.4 per DNSA) |
| Frost Resistance | Frost resistant according to the DNSA database, with a polish that holds up outdoors; for exterior floors and stairs choose a flamed or sandblasted finish for slip resistance |
| Acid Sensitivity | Resistant to acids under normal conditions (DNSA); avoid strong acids and descaling cleaners, which can dull the polish |
| Recommended Finishes | Polished, Honed, Flamed, Sandblasted, Leathered, antiqued, bush-hammered on request |
Common Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Export & project supply
SKARIS MARBLE supplies Gandola to stone importers, fabricators, architects and hotel projects outside Greece. From our facility in Thessaloniki we handle the whole order in-house:
- Slab selection and matching – we grade and match the slabs for colour and veining, so a large order stays uniform across the whole project.
- Cut-to-size and finishing – pieces cut, edged and finished to your drawings, numbered per room or elevation and ready to install.
- Mixed shipments – Greek marbles, granites, porous limestone (porolithos) and quartz surfaces can be combined in one order.
- Export packing – crated and labelled for sea or road freight, ex-works Thessaloniki; delivered terms quoted on request.
Send us your drawings or quantities and we will come back with a quotation and availability.
