Kyanite countertops and backsplash dazzle in the kitchen of a private home. The natural stone comes in several colors.

Now the product is making a dazzling entrance into kitchens and bathrooms of homes around the globe, appearing as countertops in a variety of configurations.

The attractive and elegant nature of the stone is enhanced by its strength, corrosion resistance, and low porosity and absorption. Available in red, silver, and blue, kyanite doesn't fade and is competitive, price wise, with other stone products.

Kyanite resists cracking, warping, scratching, or any form of deformation, even under high temperatures. Household cleaners won't damage the finish, and it doesn't require sealing or other maintenance. Thomas Holton at Classic Kitchens of Virginia reminds us it takes diamond saws to cut the product and warns users against cutting on the stone to avoid damaging their knives.

Kyanite is at home in traditional or contemporary settings. In this installation white cabinetry contrasts beautifully with silver Kyanite contertops and natural wood flooring.

It all starts with huge boulders taken from Willis Mountain and the adjacent ridge by Kyanite Mining Corporation, with headquarters in Buckingham County. The company is the world's oldest and largest producer of kyanite and is a supplier of the basic product to firms in 27 countries on six continents. In business since the 1920s, the firm has been owned by the same family since 1948. It came up with the innovative countertop idea, and the product has been installed in locations as far away as Australia.

President Guy Dixon suggests the reason for the success of the firm and its product is the result of "strict monitoring of production. Our products are produced according to exact standards for quality and consistency, and we have industrious, loyal employees." John Snoddy, the company's director of the environmental and dimensional stone department, adds, "Our residual is crushed into sand and used for masonry, golf courses, and as concrete sand in other applications."

Cogswell Stone in Palmyra has been the primary installer of kyanite countertops in Virginia. President John Cogswell reports a growing popularity with discriminating homeowners and predicts the product will be a leader. "In addition to its striking character, my clients appreciate the opportunity to use a local product," he says enthusiastically.

	Left: Kyanite is comparable to other stone in both price and durability. But for striking and unusual good looks, homeowners are looking to this locally produced mineral more and more. Below: Huge boulders of kyanite are quarried not far from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello by the Kyanite Mining Corporation.