Marble is a metamorphic rock, which is a rock that has been physically and chemically transformed over time due to intense heat and pressure. Marble begins life as limestone, which is a soft stone made primarily of calcite. Marble can be found in many areas around the world, but the most famous varieties come from Italy and Greece, where it is often purest in colour. Probably the most famous white marble comes from Carrara in Italy. Both Bianco Carrara and Statuario were used by Michelangelo, Da Vinci and others for their masterpiece sculptures.
Granite is formed from liquid magma (molten rock which originates from the core of our planet) which has cooled down slowly to form a substance approaching the hardness and durability of a diamond. One of the earth’s oldest building materials, granite is composed mostly of natural quartz, feldspar, and mica as well as a plethora of other minerals and crystals. Granite slabs tend to have both speckles and chunks of beautiful iridescent minerals with a myriad of patterns and forms.
Quartzite is a metamorphic rock made almost entirely of the mineral quartz. Quartzite begins its geologic life as grains of sand found on beaches, desert dunes or riverbeds. Over time the sand grains become compressed and stuck together to form sandstone which then turns into a durable rock due to heat and pressure. The process is similar to individual snowflakes merging into solid, glacial ice. Quartz is rated 7 on the Mohs hardness scale which means it’s harder than glass and harder than a knife blade. Pure quartzite is usually white to grey, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink, red, yellow, green, blue and orange due to other minerals.
Limestone is a sedentary rock primarily composed of calcium carbonate, often in the form of calcite, and frequently contains fossils and other marine debris. Limestone is typically grey in colour but can also be white, yellow or brown depending on the presence of other minerals. Although softer than other natural stones, limestone has nevertheless been widely used in construction and various architectural applications over the centuries.
The images provided are intended to illustrate the natural colour and veining variations found in marble. Misunderstandings can arise due to the following factors:
– Natural Stone colour tones and veining can vary significantly from one batch to another.
– Samples show only a small portion of a full slab and may not reflect the overall variation.
– Whenever possible, we strongly recommend viewing the actual slab in person to ensure it meets your expectations.
– Slab and sample images are for reference only. Lighting conditions can affect how Natural Stone appears in photographs compared to real life.
– Colour representation may vary across different screens and devices, including smartphones, tablets, and computer monitors.