LusernaStone(Gneiss)
Schistose metamorphic rock quarried exclusively in the Piedmontese Prealps. Known for its exceptional mechanical resistance and frost resistance, it is characterized by a natural predisposition to "cleft" splitting. This allows for the extraction of very thin slabs with a brilliant surface, historically used for alpine roofs ("lose") and prestigious paving.
The "natural cleft" technique inserts steel wedges along the schistosity veins, allowing the stone to be opened into thin slabs (lose) with a naturally rough and non-slip surface.
Quarried exclusively in a small basin of the Cottian Alps in Piedmont, Luserna Stone is an icon of Italian architecture and urban planning. Famous for its silver reflections and its indestructibility, it is the skin that covers historical roofs and Savoy squares.
Luserna Stone is an orthogneiss, a metamorphic rock derived from the profound transformation of ancient granitic rocks under immense tectonic pressures and temperatures. This process stretched and aligned the constituent minerals (quartz, feldspar, and micas) in parallel bands. This layered arrangement, called schistosity, is the most important engineering characteristic of the material: it allows quarriers to insert wedges and "split" the block along perfect planes, obtaining very thin but exceptionally strong slabs, impossible to obtain from ordinary granite.
In addition to its formidable compressive strength, the almost total absence of porosity (< 0.3%) makes Luserna Stone totally unassailable by frost and de-icing salts spread on winter roads. Aesthetically it stands out for the high concentration of phengite (a mica) which gives the split surface a metallic brilliance. It exists in three natural chromatic variants: "Blue-Grey" (the most classic), "Mixed" (with warm golden/brown veins due to iron oxidation), and the rare "Green".
Standards
European and international references applicable.
Physical properties
Usage environment
Luserna Stone is totally unassailable by frost and de-icing salts spread on winter roads. Aesthetically it is distinguished by the high concentration of phengite (a mica) which gives the split surface a metallic brilliance.
Documented applications
TAV. DOutdoor Paving
Cleft or flamed slabs (for perfect flatness), ideal for squares, sidewalks, and pool edges due to high grip.
Cobblestones
Historic urban furniture. Vehicular paving in contrasting arcs ("peacock tail") laid on a sand bed.
Alpine Roofs (Lose)
Traditional stone roofs with overlapping scales, an icon of mountain architecture capable of withstanding blizzards and frost.
Facade Cladding
Thin panels for contemporary building, dry-anchored, which exploit the natural chromatic reflections of the stone.
Flexural Strength (Ability to withstand loads on thin slabs)
TAV. EThe extraordinary flexural strength of Luserna Stone (often superior to standard granites) is what allows it to be cut into thin "lose" (slabs) even 3 cm thick. These slabs do not break under the concentrated weight of thick blankets of snow or under the vehicular transit of heavy vehicles.
Used in these systems
TAV. SOperational documents from this sheet
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