Marble & Sage
Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of carbonate minerals (most commonly calcite (CaCO3) or dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) that have recrystallized under the influence of heat and pressure. It has a crystalline texture, and is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions.
In geology, the term marble refers to metamorphosed limestone, but its use in stonemasonry more broadly encompasses unmetamorphosed limestone.
Pure white marble arises from very clean limestone or rock also called dolomite. However, its signature veins and swirls result from impurities like clay, sand, iron oxides, or chert originally present in the protolith—magnesium-rich varieties may show green tones due to serpentine. These impurities are redistributed and recrystallized during metamorphism.
Due to its hardness, durability and resistance to temperature, marble is often used in sculpture and construction. In sculpture, marble is ideal for fine detail due to its uniform grain, moderate hardness, and ability to scatter light beneath the surface (subsurface scattering), lending the sculpture a lifelike, waxy appearance. In architecture marble is valued for its polishable surface, hardness, and wear resistance. In stonemasonry, "marble" may broadly include similar crystalline rocks, even if not true geological marble.
The extraction of marble is performed by quarrying. Marble production is dominated by four countries: China, Italy, India and Spain, which account for almost half of world production of marble and decorative stone.
Cloisters
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Stone & Leaf
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Quiet Stacks
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Sepia
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