Both natural and artificial stone is suitable for fabricating the kitchen island. Artificial stone surfaces are more convenient in the kitchen than natural, especially if the kitchen island has a sink. It is common that the material for the kitchen island is the same as that for the kitchen worktop. It is not a rule, as other materials can also be used. Convenience is key in the kitchen, so the surface of the island should be resistant to moisture, stains, heat, chipping, and it should be easy to maintain. It is not only important that the island is easy to clean, but also that it doesn't stain easily. If every spill and touch leaves stains on the island, it will take too much of your time and effort to keep your kitchen looking good and clean.
The desirable characteristics of the material for a kitchen island is its low low porosity. It is great if the surface of the island is resistant to high temperatures, too. Then you can leave hot pots on it, or at least you won't have to worry if someone else does it for a moment. The ideal kitchen island surface is non-scratch, so you can put cutlery and plates on it without fear, rub it with a cloth or slice a loaf of bread without using a cutting board. Another desirable feature of a kitchen island is that its surface must not be brittle, so that the edges are not accidentally chipped by knocking a pot, pan or any other utensil.
In all these respects, artificial stone worktops are particularly convenient in the kitchen. The hardest and most resistant worktops are sintered stone and engineered quartz. Porcelain and acrylic stone worktops have excellent characteristics too. Natural stone is a wonderful choice, but it will need too much special care if placed in the kitchen. You are likely to get tired of looking after it and impregnating it too often. The variety of patterns in artificial stone is practically endless, and you can experiment freely and create a unique kitchen interior with just an island.