Marble

STONECARE TECHNIQUES
RESTORATION v PRESERVATION

MARBLE

Marble is a beautiful and exciting material with its varieties of veining, patterns and its palette
of colors; this stone communicates permanence, integrity, quality and elegance.

*GROUP*	Metamorphic
COMMON ROCK-FORMING MINERAL GROUP	Calcareous
*COMPOSITION*	Calcite, dolomite or a combination of both and accessory minerals acting as coloring agents. Veining minerals range from calcite, quartz and a variety of other minerals.
*HARDNESS*	Soft to Hard...Generally Soft to Medium		MOHS' SCALE	3 - 5.5
POROSITY %	0.5 - 2.0	ABSORPTION %	0.2 - 0.6
WEATHERING CHARACTERISTICS	Moisture sensitive as a rule. All polished marble will lose their polish in exterior applications.
*TENDENCIES*	Absorbs oils and other liquids...Easily scratched...Acid sensitive.
*COLORS*	Every color is possible due to the variability of accessory minerals.
*FINISHES*	Honed...Polished
*NOTATIONS*	Some marbles are more moisture sensitive than others, Creme Marfil, Perlino Rosata, Bottiocins, Breccias some Perlatos and Rosa Veronas, and some are extremely moisture sensitive, as a rule the red, black and green marbles. This color group of marbles may present problems such as warping, blistering,and spalling when installed with setting materials containing water. It is strongly recommended that the use of a water free epoxy adhesive be used with black and green marbles. Marble used in the kitchen should be carefully evaluated due to its acid sensitivity. Treating marble with a water or oil repellent is highly recommended.

Marble is a metamorphic stone. It was at one time a limestone or dolomite that has been structurally altered by recrystallization. Pure marble is white. The abstract variety of colors, mottling, clouds, swirls, shadings, streaks and veining are derived from the accessory
minerals that were present in the limestone or dolomite.

Commercially "Marble" has become a trade term, which is used o classify a wide rage of
stones used for decorative purposes that are capable of taking a polish. Those stones that
are grouped into this commercial classification are geological marbles and limestone's
that can take a polish, also dolomites, travertine's, onyx and serpentines (green marbles).

Marble like any other building material has its strengths and limitations. It is important to
judge the performance characteristics of different stones individually and not assume that
all marbles are alike.
NEXT