Kadappa Black and Chittor Black Limestone: Export Specification Guide

Black limestone occupies an unusual position in the market. It looks like a premium contemporary material and costs a fraction of black granite, which makes it one of the better value propositions in natural stone — provided it is specified for the right application.

Kadappa and Chittor are the two principal Indian black limestones. They are frequently confused, sometimes deliberately, and they are not identical.

Kadappa Black limestone

Kadappa Black is quarried around Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh. It is a fine-grained, dense limestone, dark grey to near-black, often with a faint bluish cast and occasional subtle lighter veining or mottling.

It has been used in Indian construction for generations for flooring, staircases, sills and cladding. It is dense and hard-wearing, and it splits and cuts cleanly.

The colour is not a true jet black. Under natural light it reads as a very dark grey with depth rather than as a flat black, which is what distinguishes it visually from black granite.

Chittor Black limestone

Chittor Black comes from the Chittoor region of Andhra Pradesh. It is generally darker and more uniform than Kadappa — closer to a true black, with less visible veining and a more consistent surface.

Chittor is usually the better choice where uniformity matters and where the design wants a genuinely black surface rather than a very dark grey. Kadappa has more natural character and often better value.

Both are limestones. Neither should be sold or specified as granite, and a buyer offered “black granite” at a limestone price should ask what the material actually is.

Finishes

Honed — smooth matte. The most specified finish for both, and the one that shows their fine grain best.

Polished — takes a satin sheen rather than a mirror gloss. Interior use only.

Flamed — the surface texture changes considerably and the apparent colour lightens noticeably. For external paving and slip-resistant areas. View a sample rather than assuming the appearance.

Brushed / leather — textured, contemporary, hides marks well. Growing in specification for residential work.

Sandblasted — even matte texture with good grip, for external areas.

Natural split — rough textured face, for cladding and rustic paving.

For any wet or external area, use a textured finish. Polished black limestone outdoors is both slippery and will not stay looking polished.

The etching question — be clear with the client

These are limestones. They etch under acids — citrus, vinegar, wine, some cleaning products. On a dark honed surface, etching shows as lighter dull marks, and on black stone it is more visible than on lighter stone, not less.

This means:

  • Not suitable for kitchen worktops. Specify granite or quartzite there.
  • Fine for flooring, cladding, stair treads and areas without acid exposure
  • Clean with pH-neutral products only. Acidic bathroom cleaners will damage the surface, and this is a common failure caused by cleaning staff using the wrong product
  • Include cleaning guidance in the handover documentation

Being explicit about this at specification stage prevents a complaint later. A client who understands the material before installation is a satisfied client; one who discovers it afterwards is not.

Applications

  • Interior flooring, residential and commercial
  • Stair treads and risers
  • Wall cladding, internal and external
  • External paving in a textured finish
  • Window sills, copings and thresholds
  • Feature walls
  • Skirtings and border detailing against lighter stone

Black limestone works particularly well as a contrast material — dark borders against a pale floor, dark risers with light treads, dark skirting against light walls. The cost advantage over black granite makes this an economical way to introduce contrast.

Technical properties

Typical published ranges. Substitute your batch test data where available.

  • Water absorption: low for a limestone, typically under 1%
  • Good abrasion resistance and compressive strength
  • Frost resistant in most climates; for hard freeze-thaw regions confirm absorption for the specific batch
  • Etches under acids, as all limestones do

Sizes and thickness

Standard tile formats: 60×60, 60×30, 40×40 and 30×30 cm, with cut-to-size available.

Thickness typically 20 to 30 mm for flooring, heavier for external paving and steps. Specify calibrated material — the installation saving over uncalibrated is substantial.

Export details

Limestone ships under HS code 2521.00 from Nhava Sheva or Kandla. Minimum order 20 metric tonnes, approximately one 20ft container.

Processing 15 to 25 working days from order confirmation. Sea transit: 10 to 14 days to the Gulf, 18 to 24 days to UK and Europe, 21 to 30 days to the USA and Canada, 16 to 22 days to Australia.

Material ships in export-grade wooden crates or on strapped pallets with edge protection, all timber ISPM15 heat-treated and marked.

A note on edges: black limestone shows edge chipping more visibly than lighter stone, because the fresh break is a different colour from the finished face. Packing quality matters more here than with pale material.

Send your finish, format and quantity — quote within 24 hours, quarry-direct from India. Request a quote

FAQ's

frequently asked questions

Q What natural stones does Nirvan Exports supply?
A Nirvan Exports supplies five categories of natural stone: marble, granite, sandstone, slate, and limestone. Our marble range includes over 20 varieties such as Makrana White, Rainforest Green, Katni Beige, Fantasy Brown, and Spider Green. Our granite range includes Black Galaxy, Absolute Black, Colonial White, and 15+ additional varieties. We also supply Rajasthan sandstone in Buff, Pink, Teak, and Kandla Grey; natural slate tiles and slate veneer sheets; and limestone including Kota Stone, Fossil, Yellow, and Beige varieties.
A Our minimum order quantity (MOQ) for export is typically 20 metric tonnes per stone type, which equates to approximately one 20-foot container. However, we can accommodate smaller trial orders for new buyers — please contact us to discuss your specific requirements. For large projects requiring multiple containers or regular supply contracts, we offer priority processing and volume pricing.
A Nirvan Exports exports natural stone to over 40 countries worldwide. Our primary markets include the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, and countries across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. We are experienced in the import regulations, documentation requirements, and logistics of all our major export markets.
A Lead time from order confirmation to shipment is typically 15 to 25 working days, depending on the stone type, finish, and order volume. Once shipped from Nhava Sheva port (Mumbai), standard transit times are 18 to 25 days to European ports, 21 to 30 days to USA and Canada, and 12 to 18 days to the UAE and Middle East. We provide tracking information for all shipments.
A Yes. All Nirvan Exports orders can be customised to your project specifications. We supply stone in standard slab sizes (typically 240 x 120 cm), standard tile formats (60 x 60 cm, 60 x 30 cm, 30 x 30 cm), or fully bespoke dimensions cut to your requirements. Available finishes include polished, honed, brushed, sandblasted, flamed, leather, and natural split. Please provide your specifications when requesting a quote.
A Yes. We strongly encourage new buyers to request samples before placing a bulk order. Sample pieces (typically 10 x 10 cm or 20 x 20 cm) are available for most stone varieties in our range. Sample charges and shipping costs apply, which are refundable against your first order. To request samples, contact us with the stone variety, finish, and your delivery address.
A All Nirvan Exports shipments use export-grade wooden crates with foam padding, waterproof wrapping, and heavy-duty strapping. Marble slabs are packed back-to-back with foam separators to prevent surface damage in transit. Slate veneer sheets and fragile stone products receive individual protective wrapping. Our packaging complies with international maritime freight standards and is designed to withstand multi-port transshipment.
A Nirvan Exports is a natural stone supplier and exporter — not a stone manufacturer. Natural stone is quarried from the earth, not manufactured. We own and operate quarry partnerships in Udaipur, Rajasthan and work with established quarry owners across India’s major stone regions. We handle the full supply chain from quarry sourcing through to stone processing, quality control, packaging, and international export.
A Nirvan Exports provides a full set of export documentation with every shipment, including: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate (where required), and quality inspection report. We are experienced with documentation requirements for all our major export markets including the USA, UK, EU countries, Australia, and the Middle East.
A To receive a quotation, contact Nirvan Exports with the following details: stone type and variety, quantity required (in metric tonnes or square metres), finish required, slab or tile format and size, and your delivery port or country. We respond to all enquiries within 48 hours with a detailed price quotation and, where relevant, availability of samples.
What is the difference between Kadappa and Chittor black limestone?

Both come from the same stone family. Fantasy Brown generally runs warmer with more brown and taupe; Toronto Fantasy Brown generally runs cooler and greyer with higher-contrast banding. These are commercial trade names, so usage varies between suppliers — specify tone and contrast rather than relying on the name.

For light-use surfaces such as serving islands, yes. For a heavily used worktop with regular acid exposure from citrus, vinegar and tomato, specify quartzite or granite instead — Fantasy Brown is a carbonate stone and will etch.

For light-use surfaces such as serving islands, yes. For a heavily used worktop with regular acid exposure from citrus, vinegar and tomato, specify quartzite or granite instead — Fantasy Brown is a carbonate stone and will etch.

Yes, and it is one of the better stones for it given the strong directional banding. Specify bookmatching at order stage so slabs are selected, cut, numbered and packed in sequence.

Yes, noticeably. It resists scratching better than most marbles and holds its finish well. It still etches under acids as all carbonate stones do.

Request full-slab photographs of the material allocated to your order. Sample tiles cannot represent a stone whose pattern operates at slab scale.