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.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Why Granite is Best in the Kitchen
Natural stone showrooms often carry stunning slabs of marble and travertine. While these natural stones are tempting, they don't hold up well in all parts of the kitchen. As flooring and backsplashes, marble and travertine can certainly add beauty, but when it comes to kitchen counter-tops, nothing beats the durability of granite.
Granite's Tough Composition
Granite is an igneous rock, formed of molten magma deep inside the earth's crust. At these depths and pressures, cooling magma crystallizes into the strong crystal formations that give granite strength and character.
Once a granite counter-top is installed into a home, it will be very impermeable to water, resist bacteria, and unlikely to scratch or etch
Marble and Travertine
Marble and travertine are hard natural stones that make great tiles, flooring, and bathroom vanities.
These stones are composed of materials such as calcite or calcium carbonate that undergo a chemical reaction in the presence of acids.
In a kitchen, acids are plentiful: lemons, oranges, vinegar, cola, etc. It can be quite a chore to keep these foods from coming in contact with a marble or travertine counter, and at Natural Stone Source, we often advise against it.
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.
Granite's Tough Composition
Granite is an igneous rock, formed of molten magma deep inside the earth's crust. At these depths and pressures, cooling magma crystallizes into the strong crystal formations that give granite strength and character.
Once a granite counter-top is installed into a home, it will be very impermeable to water, resist bacteria, and unlikely to scratch or etch
Marble and Travertine
Marble and travertine are hard natural stones that make great tiles, flooring, and bathroom vanities.
These stones are composed of materials such as calcite or calcium carbonate that undergo a chemical reaction in the presence of acids.
In a kitchen, acids are plentiful: lemons, oranges, vinegar, cola, etc. It can be quite a chore to keep these foods from coming in contact with a marble or travertine counter, and at Natural Stone Source, we often advise against it.
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.
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