This local shale stone first became accessible to builders in the early Carmel settlement era. The stone masons found it to be very workable as compared to other stones such as river rock and granite, requiring less sophisticated stone tools and time to lay. In the early part of the 20th century, local builders began referring to it as chalk rock. Now understood by all as Carmel Stone, it has become the local theme stone of choice by which to capture and express the charming atmosphere of the area in all architectural design. Its multi-colored facing and ability to be shaped and formed to the individual' s preference makes Carmel Stone the preference of choice by designer, builder, and owner alike and thus has increased in demand both near and far.  Carmel Stone is a multi-Layered stone consisting of diatoms, billions upon billions of microscopic prehistoric sea creatures, "minute planktonic unicellular or colonial algae with silicified skeletons" that die in mass like skin cells and pile up over the eons. Encased in Carmel Stone made up of ocean life, every home and structure is made from the sea. Carmel Stone defines Carmel, but its multi-color and installment friendly qualities enables its user' s unlimited personal expression in building design everywhere.  Carmel Stone is excavated by Carmel Stone Mining Company which is owned and operated by a father and son, fourth and fifth generation stone masonry family in this country, with a lineage of generations behind them in Sicily. The stone is mined with a new technique to provide quality in both size and shape while eliminating waste from breakage and undesirable selection. Every stone is hand selected enabling custom orders relating to scale in size as well as color preference.  Carmel's rocky coast is described as the greatest meeting of sea and land in the world. Truly we are blessed with this "rock of the ages" originating in the sea and extending Eastward to form our mountain range and valley. The Carmel Stone Mining Company considers their role to represent the Carmel Stone as a great honor with an even greater responsibility. They extract the stone with an attitude of honor for the mountain and within the strictest and most current rules and compliances of both the county and state and are overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.