Thursday, March 10, 2011

White Carrara Marble: Steeped in Ancient History

The Pantheon, Michelangelo's David, and your bathroom vanity may all have one thing in common: Carrara Marble. Excavated in Italy, Carrara has been used since ancient times for it's beauty and style.

White Marble of Distinction

In the year 126 A.D., the ancient Romans completed the construction of the Pantheon, a vast temple dedicated to the gods of that era and built of stone, much of it Carrara marble. Later, in the year 1501 A.D., Michelangelo was commisioned to complete a statue of David by the Duomo of Italy, carving from a highly prized block of the same white stone. It has since remained a popular material for the carving and building trades.

Limestone Beginnings

Marble is the product of a metamorphic change that occurs when limestone is placed under conditions of intense heat and pressure within the earth. White marble, such as Carrera marble, was once limestone that began with relatively few impurities. Other colored marbles are the result of various minerals that have been mixed within the original limestone before the metamorphosis began.

Fun Fact

Marble is usually named after the town or region where it is mined. Hence, Carrara marble comes from the city of Carrera, Italy. Incidentally, the town of Carrera is known for its tradition of general anarchy.


Sources

Kinds of Marbles

Mineral Photos- Marble

Pantheon


To see what slabs Natural Stone Source is currently carrying, please visit us at www.nssgranite.com or come see us in person at 425 N. Frontage Rd. in Nipomo California, 93444.

No comments:

Post a Comment