Marble is one of the most sophisticated of stones. It is generally smooth and polished, although it can come in a rough texture. Its use historically is very widespread in both art and architecture.
Formation
Marble is a kind of limestone that has undergone a process which has made the structure of the rock more solid. This process allows the stone to take a high polish. This stone is generally formed when limestone is faced with extremes of pressure or temperature that cause it to undergo a process known as metamorphism. When Metamorphism occurs the structure of the limestone becomes crystal in nature, transforming into calcite or dolomite. These two substances are the main materials in marble. The crystal is a very strong molecular form and the result of this is a stronger, highly polish-able stone, with unique coloring characteristics often known as Marbling.
Coloring
The many colors of marble are induced when impurities get caught in the structure of the marble during formation. Impurities such as carbon, iron, and various oxides cause streaks and shapes to appear in the surface of the stone. There are an enormous variety of impurities that can become trapped in the marble. The result is that marble comes in a very wide range of colors. Further, the way the impurities become trapped form randomized shapes in the marble which ensure that any piece of the stone is one of a kind. It is this feature that inspired many artists to work with marble as a medium.
History
The ancient Greeks and Romans both used marble expansively. The Greeks built many of their famous architectural masterpieces using Pentelic marble. They carved many of the most famous statues in history from other Greek marbles. When the Roman Empire rose it conquered the Greek quarries, as well as many others quarries in various countries and used marble in many of their architectural and artistic endeavors as well. Marble is often associated with the Hellenic and Classical time period for these reasons.
Today
Today marble is used in stone home furnishings, floors, counters, clocks, hot plates, tables, pillars, structural resurfacing, even bathroom applications. It can be found in almost every country in the world. Its style and versatility make it one of the ideal choices for building materials and structural supply.
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» left by james from quebec (3 years 172 days ago.)
james Orlando from canada Quebec
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It was sort of helpful, I guess, but what is the colour of the streak?
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