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When you see a monument or a headstone that’s been around for centuries, chances are, it’s made out of granite. Granite has been the stone of choice for so long that even the Ancient Egyptians used it thousands of years ago. And their impressive granite structures are still standing today.
It is no surprise that we want to use high-quality granite for a monument as important as a memorial for our loved ones. Whether you’re trying to create a headstone, mausoleum, statue, or another monument, you want the best granite stone you can find.
For most of us, using the same granite the Ancient Egyptians used is out of the question. But we can import from places like China, where it’s still cost-effective and top-quality stone. In fact, Chinese granite is a highly competitive industry in the United States.
The key is to find the best Chinese granite monument manufacturer and choose your stone from them. Not sure how to find one and how to know you’re getting the best material for your granite monument? Use these tips to get the job done well.
Quality and color often go hand-in-hand when it comes to choosing granite for a headstone or other monument. As we learned thousands of years ago, you can almost pinpoint the quarry where your granite came from based on the mineral composition of the stone. You want this composition to be durable, so it should come from a reputable rock quarry.
For instance, some of the pyramids still standing today are comprised of stone dug from local rock quarries, mud bricks, sand, and gravel. Many of the casings are a mix of white limestone and red granite sourced from the prestigious quarries of Upper Egypt.
Then, there are the monuments that made Rome famous. The still-standing, centuries-old statues and buildings, like the Rome Monument, were often granite-based. The Rock of Ages granite used to make this monument is high in minerals like quartz and feldspar. With the solid composition of these minerals, you know your monument will last because it’s more durable than granite sourced from other areas.
So what colors are best?
Granite is intrusive igneous rock. This means it’s composed of large minerals, called ‘grains,’ that can be seen just by looking at them with your eye.
These types of rock tend to be pink, white, grey, and black, or a variation of those shades. The factor that makes them granite rather than another type of stone is that all granite is made of at least 20% quartz.
In addition to quartz, granite has materials such as mica, potassium feldspar, amphiboles, and other minerals. The various composition of these minerals determines how durable the overall stone should be and the color you see.
In general, to be strong enough to use for monuments, granite should be somewhere between at least 20-60% quartz, a range of 10-65% feldspar, and a maximum of 5-15% micas. Mica tends to be the weakest stone, which is why granite is malleable, even when made of hard stone like quartz.
Common minerals in granite that determine the color are quartz, feldspar, potassium feldspar, biotite, muscovite, and amphibole. Quartz is usually milky-white in color, and feldspar is off-white. Potassium feldspar is a salmon pink shade. Biotite is black or dark brown, muscovite is metallic gold or yellow, and amphibole is black or dark green.
Granite made predominantly from potassium feldspar will be pink, while that made with amphibole (like quartz and feldspar) as the dominant mineral will be black and white. The color you choose depends on the reason for your monument, which is why many headstones are gray, while countertops are more of the black, gold, or white mix.
As we mentioned earlier, the granite's quarry plays a major role in how well it will hold up. Most granite works well for indoor monuments, but if yours will be exposed to the weather, you want it to be extra durable.
Granite in the form of countertops often comes from quarries in China, Italy, India, or Brazil. Each of these types of granite has its own distinctive characteristics. Brazil has a unique granite called Blue Fire, named for the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh. This granite isn’t found anywhere else in the world and is recognized because of its intense blue shade.
However, where you buy the granite doesn’t mean that’s where the retailer has sourced it from. For instance, you wouldn’t expect a retailer like Home Depot to have its own rock quarry. They buy from another manufacturer, who might be a third-party purchaser from someone else, and so on.
Find out where the manufacturer sources their granite from before you go to someone because of their price. It could make a big difference.
In addition to the retailer’s legitimacy and quarry location, be cautious about the “you get what you pay for” philosophy. Some retailers are less expensive because they have fewer people in the supply chain.
For example, if you buy your granite directly from China, and the manufacturer sourced their rock from a Chinese quarry (which is world-famous), you can get the supplies at a lower cost. However, if you buy from a retailer in your country who imported their supplies from a manufacturer in China, you’ll pay more because the second retailer needs to make a profit.
Look at the thickness when you’re comparing prices, too. Some retailers price their granite cheaper because they’re selling it at a 2 cm thickness instead of the 3 cm it’s typically sold at. You might be buying a plain granite stone thinking you’re getting one with detail, and then to get the edging, you must pay more.
Granite will also be more expensive if it includes extras, like clipped corners, a backsplash, overhangs, etc.
Finally, look at the grading. It should say “top grade,” which means the higher price tag is worth it. Lesser-grade stone slabs won’t withstand the environmental damage of being outside in the elements. These lower-grade granite stones often have pit holes, fissures, and other imperfections that absorb water.
Never buy granite at 3 cm thick if it has fiberglass mesh on the back. This means the granite originally had imperfections that were probably sealed with epoxy, then covered with mesh to hold the stone together.
With these three simple tests, you can easily find the best quality granite for the monument you’re planning.
There are so many thoughts put into a bathroom renovation. But now, all you have to think about is what natural stone look do you like? Choose that and your walls are out of the way.
What is the difference with MIKOLITE marble slabs and marble slabs at a warehouse? The traditional marble slabs you see are 2cm thick (20mm). Mikolite marble slabs is 2mm thick.
Not much is different, they are both beautiful natural stone slabs. The main difference is that MIKOLITE slabs are thinner, lighter and stronger. Therefore much easier to work with and to install. Many think that just because it's thinner and that it's marble, it should be fragile. Well technology has taken us a long ways since the pyramids have been built. If glass can be bulletproof, why can't marble be strong enough at 2mm thick?
Normally to install a marble shower wall, you would first need to tear down the existing wall to fit in a 2cm thick marble panel. After you tear down the wall, it takes time to clean all that mess up and dump it somewhere. And because of how the marble is traditionally processed, the marble is rarely strong enough to be installed as a large piece unless you have a really professional team. (Also means you will be charged handsomely for it 😉 ) So, the marble gets cut into tile sizes. The method to install stone tiles will require your design to have grout lines, which is another headache down the line in terms of maintenance if you don't mind the look.
With MIKOLITE thin marble slabs, you can have a newly renovated shower wall in 24 hours. Your contractor won't need to waste time grouting each piece of tile and waiting for it to dry. These thin marble panels can be fitted directly on top of existing walls at lightning speed.
From a design standpoint, it's a bit outdated. Right now the interior design trend is large and cleaner pieces. And from a practicality standpoint, tile grout is one of the most targeted areas for mould especially in bathrooms. The perfect mix of condensation and moisture in bathrooms provide the best breeding grounds for mould to take foot.
(Before using large panel slabs)
If your shower walls were singular pieces, all you need to do is wipe the walls to clean. There wouldn't be grout areas that you would need to scrub to keep the mould from growing.
Since MIKOLITE panels are cut from natural stones. All you need is a sponge, some regular soap, warm water and just wipe.
Yes! 100% natural stone! People often question whether or not it is real marble, and how it can be so thin or bend the way it does. The answer is quite simple! We use newer machine and better resin!
We been processing stone slabs the same way more or less the past 50 years. All we needed to do was change it up a little bit.
Normally how stone slabs are processed is through a machine called a gangsaw. A large natural stone block is put in place, and multiple rough blades cut through the stone cube into slabs which is generally 2cm. Stone companies have been able to adjust these blades to cut slabs into 1.3 ~ 1.6cm thick slabs. But because the vibration of this machine and the use of blades are so rough, any thinner, the stone would crumble.
The simple solution was to customize better machines and stone blades to process ultra thin marble slabs.
How would you cut really thin slices of meat? I would imagine if you took a saw to cut thin meat, it would come out a mess. But if you had an extremely sharp knife, you would have beautifully thin sliced meat for your sandwich.
The short answer to how thin marble and granite can be cut into is 0.3mm thickness. Many people in the natural stone industry may insist that 1cm tiles is the thinnest. And they are correct in terms of the application intended for the construction industry. Also the machinery commonly used to process natural stones can only cut them into 1cm thick tiles.
0.3mm Thick Marble Watch Face Cut outs
When we think about natural stones, most people think of furniture or construction industry related companies as stone experts. We often forget that jewelry makers are even more precise and specialized in natural stones than the construction industry. Take David Yurman for instance who has been producing luxury jewelry items since the 80’s and has a beautiful collection of designs incorporating natural stones into their products.
We have personally come across many “experts” who immediately dismiss the fact that 1mm thick stone is not possible or that it is not natural stone. The technology involved is actually not new, it’s just new to certain industries. We live in a world that posses the technology of robotics, machine automation, and artificial intelligences, is it really that hard to believe natural stones can be cut as thin as 0.3mm thick?
Then there is the next hurdle of thin marble education. Once people finally believe it really is natural stone, they think it must be very fragile.
We always use the example of glass and how fragile it is. It’s even more fragile than marble, yet most people can accept the technology to make bulletproof glass is possible.
It is possible to process natural stones very thin and reinforce its strength so that its application can become of a reality. What would be the purpose of cutting the stone so thin if you can't use it? 😊
So let’s dive in and show you the applications of thin marble stone products.
We hope a designer or someone with a beautiful imagination and creativity can take this thin stone technology to new heights and applications after reading this blog post.
The Nero marquina marble is an integral part of a classic collection which is why we chose to use it for our first minimalist timepiece. The slim timepiece goes perfectly with every occasion. With a flawlessly round and simple marble dial matched with a classy leather band and an elegant rose gold casing, you have a timepiece that proves that perfection in engineering. When you bring a dream into reality! The stone face used into this minimalist watch was only 0.3mm thick.
CASE SIZE 38 mm
CASE THICKNESS 6.75 mm
STRAP WIDTH 18 mm
MOVEMENTBattery Powered 2 Hand Miyota Quartz
GLASS Hardened mineral crystal
WATER RESISTANCE
Stainless steel
The dog tag necklace has a beautiful stainless steel surrounding with a laser cut marble insert of 0.5mm thickness. Dog tags necklaces have become a popular accessory. And adding a piece of stone unique to that individual adds even more character. Since it is natural stone, every piece will always ben different. And there is also the option to personalize a name or design onto the marble.
Although our company has been manufacturing stone for 50 years, the retail brand has only been around since 2015. The entire reason we chose a marble iPhone case to launch is because we can demonstrate that it is possible to produce marble that thin and durable for someone to carry and use everyday.
The marble wireless charger was the perfect compliment to the marble iPhone case. The round flat marble design acted as a perfect home decor item that also functioned as a tech accessory.
It wasn’t enough to create products made with real marble, as many people still had doubts if it is genuine marble or the durability of the stone being so thin. So that’s when we wanted to demonstrate our processing ability even further. We introduced the world’s first real marble business cards, poker cards and notebook journal. These lifestyle designed products are made entirely out of 1mm thick marble stone.
Although notebooks seem like something of the past, you would be surprised how many people still enjoying jotting down their notes in a notebook. On top of that, there is a significant amount of mental health benefits in writing. Lastly, there is some thought correlation between marble and weight. But when you cut natural stones so thin, it reduces the weight significantly. Metal is also a heavy object, and yes, there is some weight to metal credit cards. However, you don't really hear people complaining how heavy a metal credit card is? On the contrary, that little added weight compared to plastic credit cards gives it a "luxury touch" to it don't you think?
When we produced these marble lifestyle products, we knew there would be a lot of questions and doubts about fragility. Therefore, we really wanted people to test out the marble and see for themselves. In this case, seeing is believing.
Here is a video of Wuwulives demonstrating that these business cards can be dropped or tossed around without worrying of damaging the cards. Now if you take a hammer or forcefully bend it, that is a different story. Like anything in this world, there is a breaking point for most products. Paper business cards can be ripped apart, but you see people going around testing the quality of the paper business cards by ripping them up. Our point is that it is durable enough to carry around and use daily without the concern of damaging the product unintentionally.
The marble cigar bag was the founder's passion piece. It started off as something he wanted for himself. Being a cigar enthusiast, he wanted a bag that was different than what was available on the market. The design was made functional and versatile where the inside pockets can be moved around by magnets. You can overload the bag with cigars and accessories, or you can remove some of the pockets if you felt it to be too bulky. The zipper has a smell proof seal to keep your cigars safe from contamination.
For the exterior of the bag, having a signature hand selected marble piece will definitely be the only cigar organizer on the market. The purpose was to also demonstrate the ability of fusing leather and marble together, combining two amazing materials into a bag. Something that has never been done before!
At 1cm or 1.2cm large format tiles is very impressive in the natural stone industry. Many companies will promote 1cm as ultra thin compared to slabs at 2cm thick to be easier to handle, cost reduction, environmentally friendly building material, etc.
But we decided that is still too heavy and thick to work with. Even though we can produce ultra thin sheets. The perfect thickness is 2mm thick marble and granite slabs to work with. And we use MIKOLITE marble panels in several areas:
Applications
The beauty of natural stones such as granite, marble, limestone, travertine & onyx in lightweight applications is that you can turn any of these natural stones into MIKOLITE thin slabs. We have even done ultra thin terrazzo slabs and engineered marble. There are many finishes to choose from like you would with traditional stone slabs. There's polished, flamed, honed, sandblasted finish, mosaic designs, or laser engraving. Lighter and thinner means easier to work with, and faster to install. There are no new tools needed either to work with MIKOLITE thin slabs. Thin marble slab technology is here to make your life easier and less stressful to work with. Trust us, if you've ever worked with natural stones before or have done a renovation project, you will know how stressful it can be.
Hope this gives you answers your question of how thin marble can be cut as well as applied without concerns. And who knows how much further technology can bring us. Even in a traditional industry such as the natural stone & construction industry. We would appreciate any comments, suggestions and shares so more people know this is available. Mikolite ultra thin marble slabs will be the Zillow or Opendoor of natural stone like those companies did to the real estate brokerage market.
Marble has been one of the most sought-after materials for centuries as it's been a material associated with luxury and status. But because of the long history of marble use, this beautiful material has mostly thought of in a traditional sense. There have been so many new quarries discovered around the world in recent years. More and more methods of fabricating and finishing the stone are being developed. Yet, it's mostly associated with traditional building material use such as flooring, walls, countertops, and furniture.
Indeed, marble is undisputedly one of the most popular types of natural stone. But do we know enough about this spectacular material? Even people in the industry have yet to explore the boundaries and potential marble can bring us. We are going to open your minds and share with you some of the most exciting ideas about how you can use marble.
What do you think the uses of marble is? Most people immediately think kitchen countertops, flooring, sculptures, tables, or shower walls. Little do most people know, this material is quite versatile. There are so many applications with marble, especially with the technology we have today. For instance, did you know marble can be grounded up into a fine powder and be used for glue, toothpaste, and soap?
I first learned this visiting our friends at Teresa marble who owns several quarries in the Philippines. When they toured me around the plant, I was informed a percentage of their business is to supply to companies that make soap an toothpaste.
Other applications as you know are:
As you already know, marble kitchen countertops really bring out the luxury feel of a home. But did you know marble can be cut as thin as 1mm thick (the thickness of a credit card) and be used for ceilings and cabinets?
Traditionally this would be either too dangerous or too expensive to achieve. But with modern technology, we are able to help designers expand their design abilities, even in such a traditional industry such as natural stones.
Because marble is a natural material, the patterning of stone is always different. So when you use marble in your designs, no two slabs of the marble will ever have the same exact pattern as porcelain. It is perfect for those who want something unique. And with the thin stone technology, for appliances, we can go thinner to 0.3mm ~ 0.8mm depending on the applications.
Items that you didn't know utilized real marble in their designs:
This one is my favorite to tell and show people. Try sharing this image with natural stone industry people or "marble experts". You will get a high percentage of them telling you it's impossible or it can't be real marble, because they know marble and they have never seen marble bend.
The concept is not so far off from the same reason why wood can bend. If you take a piece of wood and bend it, it will snap in half right? But when you cut wood thin enough, it becomes flexible and allows it to bend. When you understand that concept, it really isn't that surprising.
And because the thin marble slabs can be curved, it is oftentimes asked to be used as a decorative piece as designer walls to be one fluid piece.
Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is exposed to high temperatures and pressures. Marble forms under such conditions because the calcite forming the limestone recrystallizes forming a denser rock consisting of roughly equigranular calcite crystals.
This is also one of the most recognized and attractive features of marble stone, due to its distinctive veining patterns. These patterns are created by small minerals that fill cracks and fissures in the original limestone. As the stone is subjected to pressure, the minerals crystalize, creating those reflective, glistening veins that you see throughout the slab.
If you want a cooler environment, marble works wonders because it doesn't retain heat. Whereas materials like wood and concrete absorb and hold heat.
If you are in hotter climates, having marble floors can naturally cool down your interior spaces.
Look at all the architectural wonders of the world that last till this day are mostly built with marble stone. Pantheon, Taj Mahal, leaning tower of Pisa, Washington Monument, and many more across the world. Several factors come into play, the density of the marble, how well it was built, and the timeless look of marble design.
Since marble is dense and has low porosity, it also makes the stone hypoallergenic in buildings. It's terrific for people who like to have a clean environment. Carpet collects dust and animal dander. Wood can mold and bow if not treated well.
In fact, the word marble originates from the Greek word “marmar” – a verb that means “to glisten.” Although you do find marble in different finishes, the polished look is still the most widely selected option.
Author Bio: Mikey Wu is the owner of WuWuLife in San Francisco, California. He enjoys writing about the latest industry trends, entrepreneurship and you can follow his travels through his Instagram WuWuLife. In his spare time, he focuses on fitness, mental health and happiness
Marble is a bold and awe-inspiring element of nature that carries a long history. This natural stone dates back thousands of years to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamian cultures, Romans, Greeks and to this day it still carries its popularity. It is traditionally used in art, architecture, and furniture. It modern times through the help of technology you can see marble in phone cases, notebooks, business cards and eventually car interiors.
Marble is a natural material as you know that carries incredible strength and durability as well as its alluring aesthetic features.
Many of today's top designers choose to utilize this incredible stone in a subtle way that brings a refined contemporary look of modernism without being overly opulent.
When you are designing your home, there is no need to overwhelm yourself or your home entirely with marble to feel grand. Start with choosing the areas that marble would complement the environment, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and entrance of your home.
Add a taste of Scandinavian chic to your dining table with marble serving trays and cutting boards, as well as bowls for spices. A serving tray with classic marble veining will elevate a table's essentials from merely functional to truly fashionable. Be selective in incorporating marble décor into your home design and apply it in small doses. Decorative accents, statement pieces, and understand where the human eye will automatically gravitate towards when they enter each room.
The minimalist interior design approach is to bring balance by reducing the amount of clutter in our homes. The objective is to promote spacious rooms, relaxed feeling, and comfort with a focus on natural materials.
Modern minimalism dances around geometric shapes, neutral colors, and natural textures that give the room warmth. Minimalism is also a philosophy, a way of living. Your walls and floors should be natural and easy to clean and maintain. This is why most minimalist homes have wooden or marble floors.
Why most designers recommend natural stones because it is more durable and resists better to the elements of wear and tear.
There are thousands of stones to choose from all over the world. The primary elements to consider when choosing a stone is the color, texture, and tonality. You want it to be simple, freeing and welcoming. Stones generally give off a cold feeling when it comes to design. That is why matching your designs with the right stones will ensure the warmth you need at home.
You must narrow down which colors fit the design of your room. The good thing about natural stones is that it has an array of options. There are features of black, grey, white, beige and many more. These colors are known to promote calm and serenity in the environment which makes them excellent choices for minimalist interior designs.
White marble has been quite popular for several years already because it makes the space feel clean and exquisite. There is actually a psychology personality about white that can help with designing spaces. White is often associated with a note of elegance, purity and difficult to obtain.
The Italian Carrara white has been an extremely popular option for thousands of years. It has a beautiful white background with rain splash veins that are stunning. This is your fall to stone if all else fails.
But if you choose to go with a dark color such as Nero Marquina from Spain, it will make for a fantastic background while highlighting the other nuances used. A black marble kitchen is perfect for a minimalist style setting matched with brass handles.
Black marble is also terrific in bathroom designs because of its sleek and mystery feel.
The basic principles of minimalism are clean, easy, and simple. Aside from the aesthetic views, maintenance and cleaning of your homes should be to minimal.
Natural stones have beautiful textures, you can choose to have a smooth marble touch with a perfect polish or a rugged beauty of travertine. But make sure the function of the material is suited for the environment. You would never want to have a travertine countertop, not only because of durability. But the holes could capture food particles and such which make it difficult to clean and maintain.
There is a plethora of lines, patterns, and veins depending on which natural stone you choose from.
Minimalist designs are all about these veins and patterns. A well-trained designer knows how to create a harmonious combination to fit nature's perfect art piece into your living space.
The artistic look of each marble piece can be "displayed" in countertops, backsplashes to floors and walls. They are often highlighted as the focal piece of your room.
After thousands of years, it doesn't seem like marble has lost its popularity.
There are several benefits to the minimalist approach which is why it as also grown in popularity. The philosophy allows you to declutter physically as well as mentally. It helps organize spaces so that it can invite productivity and focus in your house. Minimalism is to help you feel relaxed and balanced.
The minimalist approach is more and more popular these days, and that is due to its many benefits. Starting with a more organized space that invites to focus and productivity and ending with a house that helps you feel relaxed and balanced this trend can have a strong influence on our lives.
Widely known as a leader of natural stones when it comes to beauty and durability, marble is used pretty much everywhere around the world in order to enhance the design of a specific structure or monument.
One of the prized natural stones is the Carrara marble quarry which carries a rich history dating back to the Roman empire. It has been the prized luxurious material to use for palaces, museums, churches and so on.
The great artist Michelangelo's philosophy of the perfect artistic creation required him to use the best marble in the world for his sculptures. He believed that quarries in Carrara, Italy located in the northwest corner of Tuscany fit that description.
1. People today people know it as marble but back in the day, the Greeks have called it “Marmaros” which basically means something very shining and beautiful. When it is well polished and clean, marble has excellent reflective properties and that is why people love it so much.
2. Many people don’t know that marble can also be used for other purposes. For example, a fine powder of marble can be used in various glues, plastics and even in toothpaste!
3. A long period of service. Marble has been used successfully by the Romans, Greeks and other civilizations as well. It is estimated that it is utilized as a construction material for more than 2000 years.
4. List of famous buildings built with Carrara marble:
That is why our team at MIKOL decided to also use it as our prestigious luxury piece in our products.
The beautiful Carrara Marble iPhone 7 Case and notebook journals has been a hit on the market which is a big thanks to the beautiful appeal of this Carrara stone. The popularity of this fine marble hasn't died in 2000 years, I think it still has a little more time to go.
Wouldn't you say so?
It can be very difficult to differentiate the types of marble with the untrained eye. White marble alone has several options to choose from which range in Italian, Turkish, Chinese, Taiwanese, Middle Eastern and many more types to select from.
Natural marble stone is a wonderful investment piece. Anything stylish and luxurious deserves proper care and maintenance. Whether it's natural stones, leather, gold, silver, if you overlook the basic maintenance, you could risk damaging your beautiful product.
Marble is a very durable material that is made to last, but it is also not indestructible. There is science, chemistry to the natural stone that can enhance the natural material or harm it.
Gemstones, marble, granite, etc. represents a sense of balance of energy. It's has a hard structure yet requires soft delicacy to mend.
Our use of natural stones bring alive the ancient practices of jewelry marking. Each stone carrying a different story and connection to its rightful owner.
Many times, these type special stones were only worn by high priests and royalty.
Tiger's Eye has been a prized item for more than 5000 years. The ancient Egyptians believed it contains both the power of the Sun and the Earth. High priests used the gemstone to transmit the power of the Sun God Ra, to create material success.
Tiger’s Eye recharges its energy through sunlight. These special gemstones are terrific for visionaries who want to enhance their current abilities.
The brilliant green of these emerald green stones symbolizes rebirth, new growth, and prosperity.
Ancient Egyptians and pre-columbian empires overflowed their treasures with emerald green stones.
Laguna Blue is one of the most sought after stones in use since man's history began. The deep celestial blue has always symbolized gods and power, spirit and vision, royalty and honor. Think Superman! Its color is a universal symbol of wisdom and truth.
It is an excellent stone for executives, journalists, and psychologists, stimulating wisdom and good judgment in the practical world. It aids intellectual analysis in archeologists and historians,
It aids creativity for Inventors, artists, and creatives, clarity for problem-solving for lawyers, and helps engineers, historians, academics to process intellectual data.
Natural stones have always been an inspiration for MIKOL. The stones used, bear the imprint of nature and embody the significance of each of our collections.
Marble has brought elegance and class to homes, commercial building, castles and so on for centuries. In recent times, the love for marble has grew to furniture and now fashion accessories and clothing designs. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the product, there are many limitations to its usage which is why we have a mixture of faux marble. It can be difficult to tell if you are looking at authentic marble, faux marble or simple a print. Modern imitative materials can replicate the exact look and functionality of marble. Man-made marble has its own beauty and value -- but you may want to know when you're looking at the real thing. Learning the characteristics of marble will help you identify it on sight.
Marble is a metamorphic rock that is created when limestone is subjected to a considerable amount of heat and pressure within the earth's crust, making it a dense and durable material. It gets its unique coloring, textures and veins from the metamorphic change that the limestone undergoes regarding its marble effect and mineral composition. Basically, marble undergoes a re-crystallization process wherein fossil materials and other sundry elements and minerals are heated and pressurized, creating the stone.
Difference Between Fake And Real Marble Tiles
Once we understand how real marble is formed, we can get a better understanding why the patterns are so random, so different and never ever the same. This is one of the most unique part of marble and why we love it. Everyone wants to have their own identity and be different. Marble can provide the elegance and beauty, but at the same time not be the same as the person next to you.
The veins and swirls present in many marble pieces occur when various mineral impurities mix with the original limestone. From discrete cream veins in white Carrara marble to violet, red or blue veins in yellow Sienna marble, natural marble will show its impurities through long sinewy streaks. Manufactured materials can imitate a swirled, veined look, but will not show the depth and dimension that the naturally occurring veining in marble does.
The glossiness of a true marble is one of its most desirable attributes and distinguishable characteristics and can't be sustainably imitated.
Fake Marble
These days imitation marble does a great job at copying the beauty of marble and allowing it to be more affordable than the real thing. Whether it's engineered marble or high quality printing like the above photo.
But there are characteristics that our technology still can't copy.
To experienced and knowledgable marble lovers, it's the feel, the touch and the minor flaws that are inherent in each real marble that makes the difference between real marble and fake marble.
However, the simplest test to determine real marble and fake marble is it's appearance. As we know how marble is formed now, we understand the basic that each pattern is always different.
The problem with printed and or engineered marble is that it is machine and mass produced. So every pattern is exactly the same as attached above.
Both options are great! If you just want the beauty and look of marble without having to spend too much. Faux marble is a great option. If you want to spend a little more and have a product/design that will never be the same as another person, then real marble is probably worth your money.
Example: Look at the veining of these different marble accessories. They are similar, yet they vary in it's own way. Just like how we are all humans, but even twins have their differences.
Hope you enjoyed the article!
With the rise of Chinese factories swapping original Italian marble with China marble, it's maybe good to know how to identify real Italian Carrara Marble from Chinese Carrara Marble.
Here is another article on how to identify the origin of marble
