The high shine observed on stone is the result of smoothing it with fine abrasives. Most craftsmen will use diamond abrasives to hone the stone, then switch to a powdered abrasive to achieve the final polish.
The abrasive powder is worked into the stone with a floor machine using water and cloth or polyester fiber pads. The powder is worked into a slurry until a polish is achieved. The craftsman removes the slurry with a wet-vac or mop and rinses the floor to remove excess powder. It is a relatively simple procedure, but requires a great deal of practice.
