First discovered in 1873 at the magnesite deposits of Sunk, Hohentauern in Austria's Styria region, Pinolith is a metamorphic rock formed when original carbonate sediments were subjected to intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth's crust. During metamorphism, Magnesite crystals developed and became suspended within a matrix of dolomite and graphite. The resulting stone displays white Magnesite inclusions resembling pine cones against a dark grey background.
This rare geological formation was historically prized for architecture, including Vienna's St. Stephan Cathedral in 1641.
Found exclusively in Austria, each specimen represents millions of years of geological transformation.