Kinds of Marbles

Marble may be found in white, black and shades in between, and some marbles have hues of yellow, pink, red, green or a manila color. The colors exist due to impurities in the limestone from which the marble originated. These colors will appear quite beautiful after the stone is cut and polished.

Formation

Marble is formed from limestone under conditions of extreme heat and pressure. It has many variations in appearance, including interesting patterns and colors. The intense heat causes the limestone to crystallize as marble, which is quarried from excavations in the earth. Miners place holes around a block of marble and subsequently separate the block from the rock that surrounds it. This is accomplished by wedges placed into the holes. The blocks of marble are then cut with special saws to the desired sizes and shapes. Marble is found in various regions of the world, including Italy, Canada, Germany, India and China.

Names

Marble is generally named after the quarry where it is obtained. Some examples include Macael from Spain, Makrana from India and Boticena from Pakistan. The appearance of Macael Marble is white and smooth, which is very close to the appearance of Makrana Marble. Markana Marble was used in the building of the Taj Mahal in India. Boticena Marble is very versatile and available in many different colors and textures.

Colors

White marble is the result of pure limestone changing composition. The hues and various swirl patterns present in marble were produced by impurities. Examples of these impurities include iron oxides, silt, sand and clay that may have been present in layers in the original limestone. A green color may be due to serpentine, from limestone that had a high magnesium content.

Carrara Marble

Carrara marble was highly prized by the Greeks and Romans. The color is a pure white and is most often used in designing fountains and statues. The great artist Michelangelo used Carrera marble from Italy to create his famous statues. Many artists sculpt and create statues using marble. Marble also is used in the construction of buildings and in the manufacture of floor tiles and countertops.

Breccia

Breccia marble is known for its broken look and is used in adding texture and personality to a building's design. This type of marble is caused by cave-ins and landslides that are subsequently melded together.

References

• What is Marble?
• Types of Marble