Hello, I found an inch thick slab of black stone (probably granite) that I would like to use as a baking stone for bread making. (One can't make a good bread without a stone.) I was wondering if it is possible to say from photos, or anyhow else, whether this stone is natural granite with low porosity and if it has any nasty chemical coating? One side of the stone is polished, the other is rough. Would appreciate any suggestion. Thanks, H.

Here are the photos of both sides of the plate.

Don't think it is granite. Granite is an Igneous product and wouldn't show fossils. Possibly marble but still good for your purpose. Just clean the polished side and use it.

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Originally Posted by ma0641

Just clean the polished side and use it.

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Thanks! By cleaning the polished side do you mean sanding it completely off or using chemical solvents?

No, use as is.

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Originally Posted by harum

Thanks! By cleaning the polished side do you mean sanding it completely off or using chemical solvents?

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It was factory polished with a inorganic compounding material. Use Kaboom or a very light abrasive cleaner and you should be fine.

Hello h:

You know they make pizza stones that do the same thing. Since they're MADE for it, I assume you WON'T get sick using it... Your rock, who knows?

excon

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Originally Posted by excon

Your rock, who knows?

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Yes, buying a commercial pizza stone is definitely a safe option. I had hoped that a thick and heavy natural stone slab might be way superior to store stones. It was also free. A pizza stone of comparable thickness and size would be quite a damage.

Is there such a thing as synthetic marble to avoid it for baking needs? Don't know where the piece I found had come from.

Well, I took the slab to three different places that make and sell tiles, counter tops and other stone products. They had no idea of what the material might be. What I got back to my question was "This is a weird stone", "This looks like a stone" and "We are not stone specialists". Unbelievable! Who is then, if not them?