Throughout history, everyone has loved the look of marble. In fact, marble has been prized for centuries. You can find marble in its pure white form or streaked with colorful veins. No matter the appearance, marble is an exceptional work of art that can lend a unique touch to your bathrooms or kitchens.
You can enjoy all the luxury that this natural stone has to offer when you use it in your home. Before you add this stone to your space, you need to decide if it is the right choice for your next project.
What Is Marble?
This natural stone is a metamorphic rock. With that, the rock has been chemically and physically transformed over a period of time. Marble’s transformation is often due to pressure and heat. In all cases, marble starts its life as limestone, which is a stone made of calcite. As the pressure and heat from the magma build, the tectonic plates push on the limestone. The limestone crystallizes, and the texture of the rock begins to transform. At this stage, the calcite crystals start to grow and interlock with each other. The finished result is marble stone.
You can find marble throughout the world, including right here in the United States in Vermont. However, the most famous marble varieties can be found in Greece or Italy. When you think of those pure white marble pieces, it has probably originated from those countries. The Grecian and Italian marble have the purest of colors.
What Is Purity?
When you think of purity, it often refers to the lack of any color variation in the stone. While many people do prefer some colored veining, the purest marble only has a shade of white or very light color with no veining.
Those veins are created by mineral deposits that can originate from the limestone or are caused by the transformation process. As all those minerals are settled into layers, it will generate the coloring known as veining.
All that veining depends on the number of minerals in the stone. Your marble could have thin, delicate lines or feature big, bold colors that make the stone appear to have a smoke-colored look.
What Creates Different Colors?
During the recrystallization process, different minerals can tint those marble pieces. In some marble, you can find grays, pinks, reds, and blues. However, yellow, purple, and green are also commonly found in the stone. Quartz, mica, and iron oxides can find their way into the marble crystallization process and cause gray and reddish tints. If you see a brown, pink, or red hue, that can be caused by iron oxides and hematite. Serpentine adds a green color to the marble. Limonite produces a yellow coloration.
Unique Qualities of Marble
No matter the coloration, marble has a few unique characteristics. This natural stone is translucent. What does that mean? You can see past the outer surface of the stone. However, that doesn’t mean it’s transparent. With most marble, you can only see about a few millimeters into the stone. This quality is one of the top reasons why artisans choose to work with the stone. Those translucent qualities provide more depth and give some real character to the opaque material.
Along with that, marble is also soft enough to carve. You may have noticed that some sculptures and buildings are made of this stone. Many of them have stood the test of time. However, if you look closely, temperature and weather have caused the stone to break down and erode.
Removing Marble from the Ground
Marble is also a hard stone to quarry. While those marble deposits can be massive, workers must use plenty of explosives to break up the stone. Machines are used to add grooves into the stone. With that, slits are added to the marble, and it is removed from the site.
Is Marble Still Used?
Marble can still be seen in many modern buildings. You can also observe examples of marble in historic buildings, city halls, and churches. Today, you are more than likely to find marble in a home.
Many homeowners love marble countertops for their stunning beauty. Those home bakers prize these countertops. Since the surface stays cool, it can prevent dough from turning to mush. If you are a chocolate lover, the temperature can keep it cool so that you can make bonbons, truffles, and other delicious goodies.
While marble is durable, you still need to treat it to prevent acid erosion and staining. Most installers will seal your countertops about once a year. You don’t want to skip sealing these countertops. Otherwise, your surface will look dull, which can take away from the elegance of the stone.
Kitchens are not the only place to use marble. You could consider using marble as the centerpiece of an entryway. This stunning stone will look great when used as a backsplash in the bathroom. If you want to add some “wow” to your home, think about using marble as a fireplace. With that stone, you will definitely add flair and drama to the space.
From kings to artists, marble has been beloved throughout the centuries. You can see why almost everyone loves this stone. It has a unique color palette, stunning veining, and a smooth surface. There is no shortage of places where you can add this beautiful stone to your home. Whether you want a new countertop or marble walkway, you can enjoy the beauty of marble in any place in your home.
Need Marble Countertops Near Me?
Yes, marble is a luxury that is available to everyone. If you want to add marble to your home or business, you can find plenty of options in the market. You can choose from a variety of color possibilities and veining patterns. There is a perfect piece waiting to be crafted to your needs.
Marble Concepts has the expertise to find the right stone selection for your home. You can create your own luxurious design with a bit of help from us. Please give us a call at 215-396-7393 to schedule a consultation.
