Foods with acidity will cause acid etching on some natural stones, more specifically, on Marble, Dolomite and Limestone. When acidic foods like wine, tomatoes, lemons and ketchup come in contact with these stones, the top layer of the stone will acid etch, or dull it, changing the look of the stone’s surface finish. This is because Marble, Dolomite and Limestone are calcium carbonate based stones.
Consider using these calcium carbonate based stones in areas like bathrooms and closets that are less prone to contact with acidic substances. But if you are considering a calcium carbonate based stone in a high-traffic kitchen, you might want to consider a honed and leathered surface. Honed and leathered surfaces, also known as matte surfaces, can hide acid etching more than polished surfaces because they are less glossy. If you want to avoid these acid etching problems entirely, choose an acid-resistant stone like Granite, Quartzite, or Soapstone.