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Citadel Stone’s Black Basalt Honed Stone represents the definitive expression of volcanic natural stone in a refined architectural finish. Quarried exclusively from Citadel basalt deposits in the Middle East — consistently the highest-performing basalt source in the world — and precision-ground to a smooth, satin-matte surface, this is a material that delivers volcanic strength and timeless visual authority in equal measure.
The honed finish occupies the ideal position across the spectrum of basalt surface treatments: more refined and comfortable underfoot than bush-hammered or sawn finishes, more practical and forgiving in everyday use than a high-gloss polished surface. The result is a material suited to the full range of residential and commercial applications — from grand hotel lobbies, restaurant floors, and commercial plazas through to contemporary home kitchens, spa bathrooms, outdoor terraces, pool surrounds, and driveways — without compromise on aesthetics or performance.
Available in an extensive range of formats and thicknesses, and supported by Citadel Stone’s full suite of alternative finishes across the same Citadel basalt material, Black Basalt Honed Stone is a versatile, long-life specification choice for projects where quality and longevity are non-negotiable.
Not all basalt is equal. Basalt is quarried globally — from China, Vietnam, Egypt, India, and beyond — but Citadel basalt, sourced from volcanic formations in the Middle East, occupies a category entirely its own. Independent comparative testing consistently demonstrates that Citadel basalt outperforms all alternative basalt origins across every critical performance metric: higher compressive strength, lower water absorption, greater abrasion resistance, and superior long-term durability.
Citadel Stone sources exclusively from its own quarries — not as a geographical preference, but as a quality decision backed by technical data. The volcanic crystalline structure of Citadel basalt is finer-grained and more densely compacted than basalt from competing origins, producing measurably better performance in the applications where it matters most: freeze-thaw climates, pool environments, heavily trafficked commercial surfaces, and vehicular driveways.
The honed finish is produced by precision-grinding the basalt surface through a multi-stage mechanical process, achieving a uniformly smooth, satin-matte texture that reveals the stone’s deep charcoal-to-jet-black colour without surface reflectivity. It is consistently the most widely specified finish across the Citadel Stone basalt range, and for good reason.
Satin-Smooth Surface — Comfortable and luxurious underfoot, with none of the coarse texture of bush-hammered or sawn finishes. Appropriate for barefoot use in bathrooms, spa settings, and pool environments.
Matte Depth of Colour — The matte surface absorbs rather than reflects light, intensifying the stone’s deep black colouration without creating glare, and concealing fingerprints, water spots, and minor surface marks that polished finishes make conspicuous.
Built-In Slip Resistance — The honed surface delivers significantly better traction than polished stone — appropriate for residential living areas, commercial lobbies, kitchens, and light-traffic wet areas without the need for additional anti-slip treatment.
Low Maintenance — Unlike polished surfaces that require more intensive care to preserve reflectivity, honed basalt conceals minor wear and everyday imperfections gracefully, requiring nothing beyond routine sweeping and pH-neutral mopping.
Design Versatility — The restrained matte finish works across every design style, from ultra-modern minimalism and Scandinavian interiors through to industrial contemporary, transitional, and classic architectural schemes.
Extraordinary Hardness & Density Citadel basalt registers 6–7 on the Mohs hardness scale with a density of 2.85–3.0 g/cm³ — among the highest values of any natural stone available for architectural use. This translates to outstanding resistance to scratching, surface wear, and impact damage across decades of sustained use in the most demanding residential and commercial environments.
Compressive Strength Exceeding 28,000 PSI Greater structural strength than virtually any other natural stone used in flooring or paving. Citadel basalt handles vehicular loads, heavy commercial foot traffic, and structural demands that would damage or destroy softer stone alternatives — making it equally appropriate for a domestic kitchen floor and a commercial plaza surface.
Near-Zero Water Absorption (<0.9%) One of the least porous natural stones available. This near-zero absorption rate delivers outstanding resistance to moisture penetration, staining, freeze-thaw cycling, and long-term weathering — making Black Basalt Honed Stone as credible in an outdoor winter driveway as in an indoor spa bathroom, without sealing requirement in most applications.
Total Chemical Resistance Unlike limestone or marble, basalt resists acid etching entirely — safe for kitchen environments, outdoor surfaces exposed to rain and organic matter, pool surrounds subject to chemical treatment, and commercial food-service settings where other natural stones would degrade over time.
Freeze-Thaw Proven Near-zero porosity means moisture cannot penetrate the stone’s surface and expand during freeze cycles. Citadel basalt confidently passes 300+ freeze-thaw cycles per ASTM C666 — one of the very few natural stones that can be specified without reservation for outdoor use in cold-climate environments.
Underfloor Heating Compatible Excellent thermal conductivity makes honed basalt fully compatible with underfloor heating systems, distributing warmth evenly and efficiently throughout the slab — a significant practical advantage for interior floor applications in residential settings.
Consistent Deep Black Palette Citadel basalt’s deep charcoal-to-jet-black colouration is exceptionally uniform between pieces, ensuring consistent, predictable results across large-format installations without the colour-matching challenges that affect more variable natural stones. The honed matte surface intensifies this colour depth without surface glare.
| Property | Test Standard | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Density | ASTM C97 | 2.85–3.0 g/cm³ |
| Water Absorption | ASTM C97 | <0.9% |
| Compressive Strength | ASTM C170 | >28,000 PSI |
| Hardness | Mohs Scale | 6–7 |
| Featured Finish | — | Honed (satin-matte) |
| Edge Profile | — | Rectified / Standard |
| Colour Range | — | Deep charcoal to jet black |
| Slip Resistance | — | Suitable residential & light commercial (honed) |
| Freeze-Thaw Durability | ASTM C666 | Passes 300+ cycles |
| Underfloor Heating | — | Compatible |
| Origin | — | Citadel volcanic deposits, Middle East |
| Format | Size (Imperial) | Size (Metric) | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Square | 6″ × 6″ | 15 × 15 cm | Borders, accents, mosaic details |
| Subway / Strip | 6″ × 12″ | 15 × 30 cm | Herringbone patterns, splashbacks |
| Classic Square | 12″ × 12″ | 30 × 30 cm | Bathrooms, utility areas, traditional grid |
| Medium Square | 16″ × 16″ | 40 × 40 cm | Kitchens, hallways, commercial floors |
| Standard Rectangle | 12″ × 24″ | 30 × 60 cm | Living rooms, patios, running bond layouts |
| Large Rectangle | 18″ × 36″ | 45 × 90 cm | Commercial spaces, open-plan interiors |
| Large Square | 24″ × 24″ | 60 × 60 cm | Contemporary open-plan floors, terraces |
| Jumbo Plank | 24″ × 48″ | 60 × 120 cm | Hotel lobbies, minimalist large-format interiors |
| Custom | Any dimension | Any dimension | All bespoke projects — contact Citadel Stone |
| Thickness | Imperial | Recommended Application |
|---|---|---|
| 10mm | 3/8″ | Standard interior flooring and wall cladding |
| 12mm | 1/2″ | Heavy commercial interiors, high-traffic floors |
| 20mm | 3/4″ | Standard outdoor surfaces — patios, terraces, pool surrounds |
| 30mm | 1.18″ | Heavy outdoor surfaces, driveway applications, commercial plaza paving |
| 40–60mm | 1.57″–2.36″ | Heavy-duty driveways, commercial vehicular areas |
| 70–100mm | 2.76″–3.94″ | Ultra-heavy load applications, structural paving |
| Custom | Any | Bespoke projects — manufactured to exact specification |
Black Basalt Honed Stone is the featured listing for the honed finish. All other surface treatments are available across Citadel Stone’s full basalt range — contact us for pricing and lead times.
| Finish | Surface Character | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| Honed ★ | Precision-ground, smooth, satin-matte — balanced slip resistance, refined appearance, low maintenance | Interior floors, walls, bathrooms, commercial lobbies, light outdoor use |
| Polished | Mirror-high gloss — maximises deep black colour, dramatic light reflection | Hotel lobbies, luxury interiors, statement feature walls |
| Bush-Hammered | Deeply textured, mechanically pitted — maximum anti-slip performance | Pool decks, driveways, outdoor stairs, high-risk wet areas |
| Natural / Sawn | Flat, unpolished, raw quarried character — minimal surface processing | Driveways, patios, rustic outdoor surfaces, high-traffic commercial paving |
| Split-Face | Rough, naturally split surface — dramatic, sculptural texture | Feature walls, retaining walls, architectural facades (vertical use) |
| Sandblasted | Uniform anti-slip matte produced by fine abrasive blasting | Commercial walkways, outdoor steps, plaza paving |
| Tumbled / Antique | Aged, weathered appearance with softened edges | Mediterranean courtyards, traditional gardens, period exteriors |
★ This listing features the Honed Finish. All other finishes are available — contact Citadel Stone for specifications and availability.
Driveways In 30mm through to 100mm thicknesses, Black Basalt Honed Stone delivers the structural capacity for residential driveways and heavy commercial vehicular surfaces with compressive strength exceeding 28,000 PSI — a figure that significantly surpasses standard concrete and most other natural stone alternatives. The honed surface provides reliable traction underfoot at the driveway approach, while basalt’s total chemical resistance ensures de-icing salts, oil, and environmental exposure cause no surface or structural deterioration over time. The consistent deep black palette creates a bold, high-contrast entrance that complements rendered facades, dark-stained timber gates, and contemporary architectural settings. No sealing is required in exterior driveway applications, and maintenance is limited to periodic sweeping and hosing.
Patios & Terraces On outdoor terrace and patio surfaces, Black Basalt Honed Stone creates a refined, contemporary surface of genuine material authority. In a large-format layout — 24″ × 24″ or 24″ × 48″ — the honed matte surface delivers a seamless, expansive quality that reads as architecturally resolved rather than assembled. The stone’s colour depth is maximised in open outdoor conditions, providing a dramatic counterpoint to light-coloured render, timber screening, or planted borders. The honed finish’s inherent traction is appropriate for outdoor entertaining surfaces in most conditions, and basalt’s total freeze-thaw resistance and chemical inertness ensure the material performs without maintenance across all seasonal weather extremes.
Pool Surrounds & Coping Black basalt is a benchmark natural stone for pool environments, and the honed finish extends its appropriateness further into refined residential and hospitality settings where the more aggressively textured bush-hammered finish would feel out of register with the design intent. The honed surface provides adequate traction for pool surrounds in low to moderate risk wet-zone areas, while the stone’s near-zero water absorption and complete resistance to chlorine, bromine, and salt systems ensures no degradation, discoloration, or surface deterioration over time. The deep charcoal-to-jet-black palette creates a dramatic, resort-quality contrast with pool water that lighter stones cannot replicate. For highest-risk pool edge zones where maximum slip resistance is the priority, Citadel Stone recommends specifying the bush-hammered finish — our team can advise on finish zoning within a single pool project to achieve the optimal balance of safety and aesthetics. Custom coping profiles and shaped edge pieces are available through our fabrication service.
Garden Paths Black Basalt Honed Stone brings a clean, contemporary quality to garden path design that distinguishes it from the more rustic character of sawn or tumbled finishes. The honed surface’s smooth, low-sheen character integrates well with modern landscape settings — contemporary formal gardens, courtyard spaces, and minimalist outdoor rooms — where precision and material refinement are the design priorities. The stone’s deep black tone provides strong definition against lighter gravel mulches, planting, and pale rendered walls, while its hardness ensures garden surfaces remain structurally intact and visually consistent across years of pedestrian use and seasonal weather change. No sealing or ongoing treatment is required.
Wall Cladding As a wall cladding material — on exterior facades, interior feature walls, bathroom elevations, fireplace surrounds, and kitchen splashbacks — Black Basalt Honed Stone performs with quiet authority. The honed matte surface creates a deep, light-absorbing quality on vertical surfaces that polished cladding cannot replicate — visually complex and materially rich without the glare or visual busyness that a reflective finish would introduce. On interior feature walls and fireplace surrounds, the consistent deep black palette and smooth tactile surface create a finish of restrained, contemporary luxury. Externally, on facade panels, entrance columns, and boundary walls, the material weathers without deterioration — basalt’s chemical inertness means UV exposure, rain, and atmospheric pollution have no measurable effect on its surface quality or colour over time. The split-face finish is also available from the same Citadel basalt source for specifically textured vertical applications — contact Citadel Stone for guidance.
Interior Floors Black Basalt Honed Stone is one of the most compelling interior floor materials available for contemporary residential and commercial settings. The honed matte surface delivers the deep, consistent black colour of volcanic basalt without surface glare — a quality that works across changing light conditions throughout the day, maintaining visual depth and sophistication in both natural and artificial light. In large-format layouts across open-plan living areas, hotel lobbies, restaurant floors, and commercial reception spaces, the minimal joint lines and consistent dark palette create an impression of expansive, uninterrupted materiality. The stone’s abrasion resistance, hardness, and density make it structurally appropriate for the most heavily trafficked residential and commercial interior surfaces, and its ability to conceal minor footfall marks and light soiling between maintenance intervals reduces the practical burden of keeping dark stone floors looking their best. Underfloor heating compatibility makes it a genuinely practical as well as visually distinctive interior floor specification.
| Black Basalt Honed Stone | Granite | Marble | Limestone | Porcelain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardness (Mohs) | ✅ 6–7 | ✅ 6–7 | ❌ 3–4 | ❌ 3–4 | ⚠️ 7 (artificial) |
| Water Absorption | ✅ <0.9% | ✅ 0.1–0.5% | ⚠️ 0.1–1% | ❌ 1–6%+ | ✅ <0.5% |
| Compressive Strength | ✅ >28,000 PSI | ⚠️ 18–25,000 PSI | ❌ 8–15,000 PSI | ❌ 4–12,000 PSI | ⚠️ Varies |
| Acid Resistance | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good | ❌ Poor | ❌ Poor | ✅ Excellent |
| Freeze-Thaw Performance | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good | ⚠️ Fair | ❌ Poor–Fair | ✅ Good |
| Natural Stone Authenticity | ✅ 100% Natural | ✅ 100% Natural | ✅ 100% Natural | ✅ 100% Natural | ❌ Manufactured |
| Aesthetic Uniqueness | ✅ Natural variation | ✅ Natural variation | ✅ Natural variation | ✅ Natural variation | ❌ Printed repeat |
| Maintenance Required | ✅ Very Low | ⚠️ Low–Medium | ❌ High | ⚠️ Medium | ✅ Very Low |
| Lifespan | ✅ 100+ years | ✅ 75–100+ years | ⚠️ 50–75 years | ⚠️ 30–60 years | ⚠️ 30–50 years |
Black Basalt Honed Stone installs using standard natural stone installation techniques. Following these guidelines ensures a professional, long-lasting result.
Substrate Preparation — Ensure a stable, flat, clean substrate — concrete slab, cementitious backerboard, or mortar bed. The surface must be level within 1/4″ over 10 feet. Any substrate movement or deflection will telegraph through rigid natural stone and must be addressed before installation begins.
Adhesive — Use a modified thin-set mortar formulated for natural stone with a non-staining formula. For large-format pieces 24″ and above, use a medium-bed or large-and-heavy-stone mortar with back-buttering to ensure full coverage and eliminate hollow spots.
Pre-Installation Sealing — Apply a penetrating natural stone sealer 24–48 hours before grouting. This step prevents grout haze from absorbing into the honed surface during installation — particularly important given the matte, slightly open character of the honed surface.
Grout Selection — Use sanded grout for joints 1/8″ or wider. Charcoal, dark grey, or jet black grout creates a seamless, high-contrast appearance that maximises the stone’s visual impact. A contrasting lighter grout tone can be used to deliberately emphasise the grid pattern in more graphic design schemes.
Post-Installation Sealing — After grout has fully cured (minimum 72 hours), clean thoroughly and apply a final penetrating sealer. This step is essential for protecting the honed surface and simplifying long-term maintenance in both interior and exterior applications.
Movement Joints — Install expansion and movement joints per TCNA (Tile Council of North America) guidelines — particularly important for large-format layouts, heated floor applications, and all exterior installations where thermal movement is a factor.
Professional installation is strongly recommended for large-format layouts, commercial projects, and installations requiring precision alignment or complex pattern work.
Sealing A penetrating natural stone sealer is recommended for all honed basalt applications, applied before installation and again after grouting has cured. While basalt’s near-zero water absorption provides inherent protection against moisture and most staining agents, a penetrating sealer provides additional defence against oil-based staining in kitchen and commercial food-service settings. Reseal every two to three years for residential applications and annually for high-traffic commercial installations. Test sealer effectiveness by placing a water droplet on the surface — if absorbed within five to ten minutes rather than beading, it is time to reseal.
Routine Cleaning Sweep or dust-mop regularly to remove abrasive grit — the primary cause of surface micro-scratching on any honed stone floor. Damp-mop weekly with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner. Never use vinegar, bleach, citrus-based products, or abrasive scrubbing pads on any basalt surface finish. For exterior surfaces, a periodic hose-down and gentle soft-brush scrub removes surface organic accumulation without disturbing the honed finish character.
Stain Removal Address oil, wine, and food spills immediately on sealed surfaces to prevent staining. For oil-based staining, apply a poultice-based stone degreaser. Most surface marks are manageable with a pH-neutral cleaner applied before the substance penetrates fully. The dark surface colour of black basalt conceals minor soiling between maintenance intervals more effectively than lighter-coloured stones.
Protection & Furniture Use felt pads under furniture legs on interior floors to prevent point-load marking of the honed surface. Place entrance mats in high-traffic indoor zones to reduce abrasive grit tracking onto the stone surface. For outdoor settings, use rubber or felt feet on metal furniture to prevent surface marking.
What is the difference between honed and polished basalt? Polished basalt is ground and buffed to a mirror-high gloss surface that maximises colour depth and light reflection — the most visually striking finish, best suited to interior feature walls and luxury lobby floors. Honed basalt is precision-ground to a smooth, satin-matte surface that delivers refined aesthetics without glare, better conceals everyday wear and water marks, and provides superior traction. The honed finish is the more versatile and widely specified of the two — appropriate across a broader range of interior and exterior applications.
Is honed basalt suitable for outdoor use? Yes. Black Basalt Honed Stone in appropriate exterior thicknesses — 20mm and above — performs reliably across all outdoor applications including patios, terraces, pool surrounds, garden paths, and driveways. Its near-zero water absorption rate and freeze-thaw resistance make it one of the most capable natural stones available for cold-climate outdoor specification. No sealing is required for outdoor applications in standard conditions.
Does it require sealing? Sealing is recommended but not strictly required given basalt’s near-zero porosity. A penetrating sealer provides additional protection against oil-based staining in kitchen and commercial settings, and simplifies long-term maintenance. No surface-film or topical sealer should be used — penetrating impregnating sealers only.
Can it be used with underfloor heating? Yes. Black basalt’s excellent thermal conductivity makes it fully compatible with underfloor heating systems — it distributes heat evenly and efficiently throughout the slab, and its dimensional stability under thermal cycling means no risk of surface cracking or joint movement associated with some other natural stone types.
Why Citadel basalt specifically? Citadel basalt’s volcanic formation produces a finer-grained, more densely compacted crystalline structure than basalt from China, Vietnam, Egypt, or India. Independent testing consistently demonstrates higher compressive strength, lower water absorption, and greater long-term durability. Citadel Stone sources exclusively from its own quarries because the technical performance difference is measurable and significant — not a marketing distinction.
What finishes are available in the same Citadel basalt material? Seven distinct surface treatments are available across Citadel Stone’s full basalt range: Honed, Polished, Bush-Hammered, Natural/Sawn, Split-Face, Sandblasted, and Tumbled/Antique. Each finish is suitable for different applications and design contexts. Contact our team for guidance on finish selection for your specific project.
Exclusive Citadel Source — Citadel Stone sources exclusively from its own volcanic basalt deposits in the Middle East — the world’s highest-performing basalt, outperforming all alternative origins in compressive strength, water absorption, and long-term durability.
Direct Quarry Supply — We quarry, precision-finish, and ship direct — no middlemen, no inflated distribution margins. Premium Citadel basalt at competitive wholesale pricing.
Hand-Selected Quality — Every block is personally inspected for colour consistency, density, and structural integrity before processing. Only material meeting our standards proceeds to finishing and despatch.
All Finishes Available — Honed, Polished, Bush-Hammered, Natural/Sawn, Split-Face, Sandblasted, and Tumbled — the complete Citadel Stone basalt range in a single source, whatever your project demands.
Fully Custom — Any size, any thickness, any finish. We manufacture to exact project specifications — from small-format accent details to large 24″ × 48″ commercial slabs and bespoke shaped pieces.
Expert Consultation — Decades of natural stone expertise inform every material recommendation, quantity calculation, installation guideline, and project quote we provide.
Nationwide Delivery — Reliable shipping across all 50 states and internationally, with careful specialist packaging protecting every piece of honed stone in transit.
Free Samples Available — See and feel the quality, colour depth, and honed surface character of Citadel basalt before committing to your project. Contact Citadel Stone to arrange your complimentary sample today.
Specify the world’s toughest natural stone — refined with a satin-matte honed finish — for your next project.
Request a Free Consultation — Our experienced team provides material guidance, finish recommendations, size selection, thickness specifications, quantity calculations, installation best practices, and detailed project quotes for residential and commercial applications at any scale.
Trade & Professional Support — Architects, interior designers, landscape contractors, and developers receive dedicated account support, competitive trade pricing, full technical data sheets, and coordinated project delivery.
Request a Free Sample — Assess the deep black colour, satin-matte surface character, and material quality of Black Basalt Honed Stone before committing to your project. Contact Citadel Stone to arrange your complimentary sample.
Citadel Stone — Premium Natural Stone for Spaces That Endure
Product specifications and pricing are subject to change. Contact Citadel Stone for current stock availability, lead times, and project-specific recommendations.
Black Basalt Honed Stone — forged by volcanic fire and perfected by 50 years of Citadel Stone craftsmanship. Our premium basalt is the world’s toughest natural stone: three times harder than granite, with near-zero water absorption and a compressive strength that outperforms every competing material on the market. The satin-smooth honed surface brings deep jet-black sophistication to any floor or wall, indoors or out — without compromise.
Price: $2.07 per sq. ft.
Total: $2.07