About White Marble

Discover the history of how white marble is formed within the earth.

Discovered and used prior to the first century in Italy, white marble has added to the beautification of households around the world. Mined in the Apuane Mountains, the Italians used white marble for art as well as in architecture. White marble found its way to the United States prior to 1900 and began finding its way into American kitchens and bathrooms as well as national monuments, such as the Lincoln Memorial.

Formation

White marble forms from pure limestone exposed to pressure and heat in the Earth's crust. This exposure causes the limestone to re-crystallize into calcite, the purest form of which is white marble. While called white marble, its composition often contains lines or swirls from other minerals. Sand, clay, slit and iron oxide deposits can form in white marble during the metamorphosis, giving it grayish streaks throughout.

Art and Architecture

The Taj Mahal was constructed of white marble and took approximately 20 years to build. Taj Mahal image by Jono026 from Fotolia.com

Due to its durability and luster, white marble makes up many famous statues and structures around the world. Michelangelo often worked with white marble from a quarry in the Italian town Carrara, creating many of his masterpieces, such as the statue of David. Starting in 1632, construction of the Taj Mahal out of white marble began in India and took 20 years to complete. In the United States, many state government buildings as well as monuments in Washington, D.C. are composed of white marble.

Household Uses

Over time, white marble has found its way into many homes because of its aesthetic value. Italians first used white marble for their countertops and the countertops now occupy the kitchens in homes across America. Homeowners enjoy white marble countertops because they are elegant and durable. White marble tiles have become popular with bathroom and kitchen floors and will last a long time with proper care. White marble rocks placed in flower beds or around walkways also add to the beauty of the landscaping.

Crushed Marble

White marble is even crushed and used in toothpaste to create an abrasive. brush image by CraterValley Photo from Fotolia.com

White marble crushed into a fine powder can combine with other elements to form many useful products. In the construction industry, road pavement and roofing materials contain white powder in their mixtures. Common household products such as toothpaste, paper, paint and soap have white marble powder in their composition as well.

Care and Maintenance

While pleasing to the eye, white marble requires proper care to maintain its luster. When installed, a stone sealing agent should be applied to the marble and reapplied every six months. With the sealer protecting the marble, most spills can be removed with warm water and a damp cloth. Acid-based cleaners are not recommended, as they can dull or yellow the marble.

References

• Natural Marble & Granite Ltd.: Marble -- The Science Bit
• Mineral Zone: Marble
• Arizona Tile: Beauty and History of White Marble

Resources

• Select Marble: Types of Marble