Here's the pic they sent me:

Any fissure injected with epoxy will be stronger than the surrounding stone without the fissure. You could even add steel rodding if it's on an overhang or other stressed spot. If you like the stone, don't worry about a fissure that's properly handled by a skilled fabricator.

OTOH, if it etches, then how is it better for you than marble?

He mentioned the steel rods.

Ugh I don't know what to do - we have had these slabs on hold forever and the island slab is gorgeous.

They want to install the perimeter tomorrow and the island on Saturday - well what if there's some other issue that comes up with the island?

Would it look really stupid to have super white perimeters and a Carerra island? It would right?

Ugh I don't know what to do - I was already wary after we discovered it etched with lemon. Now I'm really unsure.

Is it the same lot as mine? Not sure what you decided.

My stone is etching. I think I have discovered the main source....hard water! The area under my faucet is totally etched. I assume this would have happened to me regardless if I used marble or sw.

I just thought I'd pass that along. Of course I am pretty sure I am the only looking at my stone with the sun behind it and my head tilted. But I have rings from either glasses or cans and maybe one from a bowl, as the ring is a bit larger.

Our plans did not include a water softener for house. And we really are out of $1,000 bills, so I will continue to dry the counter constantly, and I'm giving out coasters to everyone who gets a drink. Crystal coasters, of course.

"Also I finally got a small sample of our slab on Saturday and it etches with lemon."

Then it is not granite, but some other type of stone.

I would not let the fissure deter me if I were you if the fabricator is OK with it. He's the one at risk for considerable $ if it breaks. If it's rodded and not on an overhang it's not a significant risk.

you have a stone you like and a fabricator that is OK with it. YOu should be fine. If the fabricator thought it would break he would be trying to talk you out of it.

full disclosure: I am a fabricator and have dealt with similar issues many many times.

It's a quartzite.

We had Mother of Pearl (Monte Carlo) quartzite in our last kitchen and it was bullet proof.

Bee - it's from IMG near the airport. It's not sealed, but I tried the lemon on it and it definitely etches. Even less impressed to hear that yours is etchig just with water. : (

I think they think I'm being difficult for not accepting a slab from a different lot which they say looks the same. But I SUPER fussy when it comes to the island slab - we looked at tons and I really only loved this one slab. The others all had areas I didn't like. To me the other lot looks completely different. Maybe 9 out of 10 people wouldn't care, but I see a (big!!) difference in both color and movement. We can't even use our perimeter slab as the island because it's already been cut.

We're going to have to go and look at it again which is super frustrating as the baby has acd reflux and gets really bad attacks where she is in a ton of pain. I can't go by myself in case she has an attack on the highway. If I'd only known this morning my mother in law ws here and we could have gone together. UGH!!!!

Thanks for the reassurance. I am convinced that the strenth wouldn't be an issue..... but what about the look? Am I the onlyone who thinks it looks like a big crack and is a different color to all the other graining?

Or am I being way over picky?

Overpicky ... If you need to have consistency, use one of the manufactured solid materials, not a natural stone.

It sounds like you're going to have the same problem with this lot of SW as you would with Carrera, so if that's what you wanted originally, why don't you get it? So sorry you're having these problems - good luck with baby - that's no fun at all.

Honestly the fissure just adds to the idea that this beautiful rock was created naturally....it looks like fissures in rocks we pick up at the beach in the winter.

Re the hard water etching...our fabricator just mentioned that "they're finding that super white granites etch with hard water." I didn't ask about it further but I have to talk to them tomorrow and can ask then if it helps.

The bottom line- go with your gut. If you loved this slab then maybe it's ok to continue to love it even if it has a fault or two. Good luck with whatever you decide. Sorry the baby has been sick!!

I hate to say this....but it looks like a crack, not a vein. Perfect for a vintage styled kitchen. Bad for a modern one.

I don't remember what yours is.

I must admit I didn't follow exactly everything you said but after looking at both Super White and Carrera marble for my kitchen I would not mix the two in one kitchen, regardlessof a fissure or whatever. They are both pretty, just pick one and commit. Also, my sample of polished super white etched after having a lemon slice on it briefly too. But that didnt bother me - I went with honed carrara and presumably it will etch also, no biggie. Sorry to hear about your baby....supposedly my first child had that too but I just kept nursing him and he got over those symptoms quickly. If he gets fussy during your car ride just factor in some extra time to pull over and snuggle him and you'll both do fine!