Cantera café

toba volcánica stone that consist of minerals, glass and volcanic debris ejected one million
years ago during severe eruptions.

A rock formed by processes of extrusive igneous origin - that means, formed on the surface of the Earth, originated by a volcanic body. This rock, made up of various components of stone origin (rocks, minerals, gases and a large amount of amorphous material), due to its sudden cooling and solidification, shows kinematic traces of flow, deformation and empty vesicles that trapped gases (volatile elements). Now, it has become a material employed as dimensional rock. Toba volcánica stone, also known as Cantera cafe is mined exclusively in Mexico and Central America. It is rich in color, texture, durability and softness, allowing a very detailed carving and cutting. It can be found in several natural colors and tones. This authentic characteristic gives it a peculiar aesthetic and strong presence. A unique quality of this stone is that it absorbs air and humidity without suffering from expansion. This characteristic together with its extreme durability made it widely used in Mexico from colonial times in architecture, cathedrals and haciendas. Its color varies depending on the region where it is mined, the “cafe” type is found in Querétaro, a city known for its colonial architecture Its process starts when the deposit is drilled, and the pieces are taken out in a square or rectangular shape. They are then sent to different workshops, where the pieces are sculpted into several forms. It is a tradition widely worked in handcraft workshops with chisel and hammer, techniques being passed from generation to generation.