I still haven't settled on a company to supply and fabricate, but I was wondering how they'd feel about me doing the test on the slab I choose. I guess if they have nothing to hide they shouldn't mind. But in my research I've read some of this is happening before it enters the country, so some fabricators may not even know they are victims of it.

I currently have absolute black granite tiles in my kitchen..not slab (that will change in renovation). Although AB shows dust and smudges, I do not know of any place that it is etched. It has NOT been treated gently either. Our home was a vacation house for us for 5 years. During that time, we loaned it to friends and family, and for 1.5 years of that time, our daughter lived here while finishing college. All of that to say, this granite was not babied. I am perfectly happy with AB and would use it again if I wanted a black countertop. HTH

I'm linking you to my finished kitchen. I put leathered absolute black on our perimeter with white macaubus on our island....same concept light patterned island (though my pattern is more linear) and solid perimeter. The absolute black reads as a solid even though there is some interest to it. It's really pretty installed. Here is a link that might be useful: babs711 finished kitchen

I know this has been asked and answered But I still need some help. After an extensive search for a slate counter top I settled for honed black granite. The owner of the quarry guaranteed me he would seal it before delivery and it would not leave any discolorations. That did not happen, the installers just wiped it down with a sealer and when epoxy was used for the sink glue residue & finger prints set in as well as every splash of water after the faucet was connected. I called the dealer?quarry the next day and he said he would take care of it. 1 week later everything was leaving stains even if I wiped it immediately, splatter from the stove just spread with each wipe. I called again and told him he needed to send someone over to remove the stains and reseal it properly. His response was well it's stone it's going to do that?????? but he would sell me a sealing kit!!!!I responded what good is that if it's stained. he said use bleach, didn't work either. Help! this guy lied to me and now I'm stuck with a top that is getting worse by the day, is there something wrong with this stone? What can I use to remove the glue stains & food splatter, water marked do come up if I repeated scrub them but that's all day every day???????