I don't have any ideas for you, but your kitchen is looking just lovely. If you don't get many answers here, you might try posting over on the Kitchens forum, if you haven't already. Those people know their stones and could probably give you lots of specific granite names and/or pictures with slate tiles.

My opinion would be to not use the golden river and for the reason that it's got such visual activity that it will compete with the floor rather than enhance it. You may want to find a countertop that is more uniform in design and has the color of the main color of the floor. It shouldn't be too hard. I hate stepping on your idea but it's only my opinion. Others might have better ideas. Good luck.

I have multicolor slate floors and cherry cabinets, too. I was originally thinking of green granite, then Uba Tuba, then black galaxy. My husband nixed all those, so we compromised on Black Impala. I like the way it looks with the floors, cabinets, and walls (cedar logs). It's a very even "pattern" that doesn't fight with the movement in the slate.

So I would try to guide you toward a granite with less movement, but that's my own preference more than decorating advice. :-)

Photos of my kitchen are linked below and through my member page.

I'll be away all weekend, so bump this thread up on Sunday or Monday if you have other questions for me.

Here is a link that might be useful: finished kitchen

Looking at Uxorial's kitchen ( beautiful, btw), and mentally transposing the busy granite you are looking at, it definitely is a jarring combo, very busy ;
the movement is very pronounced.

Your original choices, vb or ut, even uxorial's nero impala,
are all wonderful picks. I've had ubatuba in a bathroom and nero impala in a former kitchen and both were bullet proof, imo.

I dunno -- I think the colors in the Golden River go really well with the colors in the slate and with your cabinets (at least in your pictures). Uba Tuba or Verde Butterfly seem like they would be awfully dark.

I have uba tuba in my kitchen, and chose wood plank flooring in a non-competing color to let the granite shine. Your floors are gorgeous, if it were me, I would chose something more neutral for the counters; however, that being said I am located in the Northeast and am aware of the style of flooring and granite that many in the West combine together for that natural look. I don't want my traditional tendencies to affect your choice if that is the case.

I wasn't sure until I saw Uxorial's beautiful kitchen. Now I agree with everyone. Let the floors be the pattern and find something that won't compete.