A contradiction in terms, as stone is a naturally occuring earth materi al. This phrase is used to describe materials variously called art marble, artificial marble, cast stone, terazzo, patent stone, and reconstructed stone. A mixture of stone chips or fragments embedded in a matrix of cement or plaster with the surface ground, polished, molded, or otherwise treated to simulate stone.

Made from a mixture of sand, cement, aggregate and water, artificial stone was a cheap alternative to the real thing and was often used for both exteriors and interior walls. Stone substitutes have been available since the 18th century.

A gem material that is either a manmade imitation or a synthetic. (See synthetic).

A term covering a wide range of precast concrete products intended to imitate natural stone.

Artificial stone was a name for various kinds of synthetic stone products used from the 19th century to the early 20th century. They were used in building construction, civil engineering work, and industrial uses such as grindstones.