Italian Black Slate natural is a softer, more flexible material, whereas Brazilian slate is so much harder. Similar to a leather writing desk, the surface is smooth with no discernible grain. Slate is easy to maintain, as well as the black colour is perfect for this application. The flat natural, riven finish has a 'wood grain' appearance that runs the length of the slab. It is recommended for areas where the hearth is going to receive lot of traffic because it hides scratches.