Luserna stone: origin, uses, characteristics and finishes

Pietra di Luserna is a “Gneiss”, a lamellar metamorphic rock formed by a set of overlapping layers, extracted between Val Pellice and Valle Po, in central-western Piedmont, in the Cottian Alps.
Its formation seems to date back to the transformations of an alpine rock of volcanic origin which took place between 130 and 65 million years ago.
It is mainly made up of white mica, feldspar, quartz and green mica: depending on the percentages of these components, the stone takes on different colors ranging from mixed grey, i.e. a more or less dark gray with golden veins, to selected grey, i.e. a gray softer and more compact without veins, always blue-green on a greyish base.
The gray base is due to the feldspar which is present in greater quantities than the other components and gives the stone this colour.

The use of Luserna stone

The use of Luserna stone is ancient and dates back to the mid-17th century: we find it in the external floors of the royal palaces of Turin, Venaria Reale and Racconigi but also in the roof of the Mole Antonelliana in Turin.
In the period between the 1st and 2nd World War, 90% of stairs and sidewalks in Turin are in Luserna stone.
Starting then from the end of the 60s, the introduction of notable innovations in the production process and an excellent availability of large blocks have meant that the scope of use of the Luserna has expanded considerably, going beyond the regional borders first in several Italian cities such as Milan to then expand further to reach European and non-European countries, among which we can mention the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia, where important projects have been carried out.

Apart from the gray color with green or golden hues that we have already mentioned, what are the physical characteristics of this material?
It is a stone with exceptional mechanical characteristics: it is very hard, has a very low absorption index, is antifreeze, durable over time and is extremely resistant even in the case of reduced thicknesses.

The finishes of the Luserna stone

It is a brilliant material that can have different finishes on the top:

Natural surface: widely used for outdoor environments to which it gives a rustic appearance as well as being non-slip. Luserna slabs are frequently used to produce opus incertum, the so-called “quadrettoni” (square floor slabs with hand-hammered edges), but also cubes, blocks and binders, elements widely used for squares, balconies, gardens, courtyards, swimming pools.
Flamed surface: rustic, non-slip, also very suitable for outdoor environments;
Brushed surface: ideal for indoor environments as it is easier to clean and smooth to the touch;
Glossy surface: also used indoors to obtain kitchen tops, stairs and window sills for indoors.

Pietra di Luserna is therefore an excellent choice if you plan to build or renovate a house or simply renovate outdoor environments as it gives excellent guarantees of durability.

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