Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting mostly of calcite and dolomite. Marble is actually formed by the metamorphism of limestone, over time and temperature changes. When most people think of marble, they imagine a hard stone that is white with gray markings. In reality, it can also have irregularly colored marks due to the presence of impurities such as silica and clay.
Another factor for color is whether or not it had water introduced to it while forming.
If water was present at that time, serpentine, talc, and certain other hydrous minerals may have been produced. The presence of iron, alumina, and silica may result in the formation of hematite and magnetite. The minerals that result from these impurities give marble a wide variety of colors. The purest form of calcite marble is white in color; marbles containing hematite are reddish in color; marble that has limonite are yellow, and marble with serpentine is green.
Marble has a wide array of uses, from forming sculptures to a building material. The ancient Iranians and Greeks used marble for its beauty, and resistance to fire and erosion. The famous Italian artist Michelangelo used Carrara marble from Italy to create many famously known statues, such as “David” and “Dying Slave.” Builders in the U.S.A. used marble from Alabama, Colorado, and Georgia to build the “Lincoln Memorial” in Washington, D.C.
How Can I Use Marble In My Home?
Marble is a luxurious material that works well in many homes and commercial properties. Nothing surpasses its rich beauty and worldly allure. Commonly it is used for flooring, countertops, walls, showers, tub-surrounds, and columns. It is cut into large slabs for countertop and wall surfaces, cut into tiles as small as 1” mosaics and as large as 36” tiles, as well as irregular shapes and sizes depending on one’s design.
Will Marble Require Professional Maintenance?
Since marble is a calcite-based stone it will etch very easily and appear to have dull spots as a result of most spills. These marks will typically arise if the stone is used in a “wet” or “product heavy” area, such as a kitchen or bathroom. An etch-mark is an abrasion on the surface that will appear dull and may sometimes be slightly rough to-the-touch. Don’t worry though… Classic Marble Restoration, Inc. can restore the original sheen through one of our many processes; sometimes only polishing will suffice.
We will also help to educate you on proper daily cleaning methods and products, as well as spill cleanup solutions.
Eventually your marble will also start to lose its sheen and may even discolor. Foot-traffic and constant abrasion in your common areas will contribute to this. At this time professional refinishing (restoration) will be necessary. This is another task for the professional to take on, usually with a wet and dust-free process call Diamond Grinding or Diamond Honing.
Sealing your marble is also very helpful in the fight against stains. A stain is an acute discoloration left behind after a product or liquid penetrated the surface. They are stubborn and at times impossible to get out. Classic Marble Restoration, Inc. will offer you solutions for stain-removal.
