The slab we fell in love with (after FIVE granite yards), and adored, was refused by our fabricator. It had a "fissure" in it, according to him (not sure if a fissure is the same as a crack). We couldn't see the fissure at all, but our fabricator refused to accept it; he didn't want the risk on his shop. So, we were back to the drawing board. It turns out we found another gorgeous slab, with similar coloration, at yet another yard. It passed inspection by our fabricator, and is now installed. We love it. It sounds like your fabricator and mine have different approaches, or I should say, different tolerances for risk. Since in the end it worked out, I am glad I avoided any kind of nail-biter suspense that I would have had while a slab with a fissure was being fabricated, then transported, and then installed.

As to your point about cutting around the part with the crack, I have to wonder if the cracks are like runs in a stocking, and once started, spread. Ya know, granite is so expensive, and if anything happens due to the crack, you may have a drawn-out argument with your fabricator over who pays for the ruined slab. Kitchen re-do's are tough enough. I would take the safer road, and find another slab. There are so many beautiful ones out there.

Oh Boy, this is hard. What to do?? I guess if it were me,
I would go with your KD and get the other slab. I know, I
know you love the cracked peice. And I bet your installer
could do an excellent job. Especially if he/she says they
can work around it. I just have this fear that maybe..
maybe.. it will be a mess.

But this is ME. This is my motto when it comes to Kitchen
Renos
"If it were not for bad luck, I (boxerpups) wouldn't have any luck at all."

So with that said, I guess I would NOT go with the cracked
slab. For fear of making my luck worse. I am not a granite
expert, I am hoping Kevin or James pops in to say
something with far better advice. You might take a photo
of the slab if you can and post it up on GW. There are
many granite gurus who could at least tell you what they
think.

And lastly here is a link on cracked granites or fissures
in granite. Maybe this knowledge can help you on your choice.

~boxerpups

Cracks and Fissures non GW
http://www.adifferentperspective.com/materialSelection.aspx

Grantie Forum not GW but a place that talks about counters.
http://forums.findstone.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1281

Here is a link that might be useful: Stone Girl's primer from GW

Rain Forest is usually loaded with fissures, and this sounds par for the course.

As long as you don't cut the slab in question, you can exchange it for another one that does not have the same fissure that's opened up on you - you'll be able to do the layout like your Fabricator suggested. Take a look at his layout, then decide.

You may be able to use the slab if the fissure is in an area that you can work around- otherwise, you may need to swap a slab.....

hth

kevin

Hey Kevin,
I knew you would have the knowledge.
God Bless you!!!
~boxerpups

Thanks so much. I'm headed to his fab facility today and will see how the template falls. I really appreciate your feedback!

Smbh - please report back on what you decide. We will be very interested to hear, and it will be helpful to others who may encounter the same thing.

Went to the fabrication facility today. It turns out that the crack isn't a crack at all, but a very deep vein (deeper than the others that are all over RFG), which made the slab feel unstable to the fab guys. The good news is that (1) the deep vein isn't in our favorite slab (the one we are using for the island) but one of the slabs being chopped up for the perimeter counters, which will have more support, and (2) the template can be placed in such a way that it only has a small portion of this vein in it. The fabricator said he'd rather go this route than get an alternate slab (which would't bookmark properly, so the seams wouldn't line up well). He is confident it will work, so here's hoping.... I also asked whether this indicates a weakness in the slab as a whole -- he said no -- the issue is really one for the fabrication process. If the slab survives that, it will be fine once installed. Here are pics of the slabs --
Island:

Thanks all for your great feedback and advice. They start cutting the stone today, so keep your fingers crossed for me for the next couple of days!