Taishan Stone

This is a type of metamorphic rock in the Taishan area composed of plagioclase gneiss and biotite plagioclase amphibole gneiss. It gets its name because it is mined in the area around Mount Taishan in Shandong Province. It is mainly greyish black, cyan and greyish green with irregular white, brown or red patterns. This stone has numerous patterns, shapes, colours, qualities and sounds. Approximately 20 varieties have been found, such as Taishan egg stone, Taishan jade and turtle pattern stone. Taishan stone has a fine and hard texture with angular edges. It is so solid that it creates an impression of sturdiness and stability, so it is often used to carve Shigandang (evil prevention stone). Its patterns are mainly composed of light-coloured minerals (plagioclase, K-feldspar and quartz) that formed in a later stage in reticular, dendritic, banded and clump shapes, which then filled rock fissures and were exposed by long-term water erosion. As an ornamental rock with cultural...