No one is unfamiliar with the luxurious and unique shades and patterns of marble stone. You may have heard that this elegance of marble is subjected to marble being a metamorphic rock. But, is that the case? Is marble a metamorphic rock? And more importantly, what is a metamorphic rock? In this article, we have tried to address all these issues.
What is a metamorphic rock?
There are three main divisions of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Metamorphic rocks form in a process called metamorphism. In this process, which happens deep within the Earth or where tectonic plates meet, the original rock is subjected to a temperature higher than 150 C and more than 100 megapascal pressures. The high pressure and the excellent heat force some profound physical and chemical changes on the original rock and the result of these changes is called a metamorphic rock. In other words, metamorphic rocks used to be some other types of rock, but have been substantially changed from their original form, because they have been subjected to high heat and high pressure. Also, because of their texture, color, and increased durability, metamorphic rocks have been used in construction since ancient times.
Is marble a metamorphic rock?
Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when some other rocks especially limestone and dolomite are affected by harsh conditions such as high pressure and heat. Although most people know marble to be white or black, surprisingly enough, marble comes in different colors. These various colors are the result of the metamorphism of different minerals. For example, the purest white marble is the result of the metamorphism of a very pure (silicate-poor) limestone or dolomite protolith. Unique colors and shades of veins of many colored marble rocks are usually due to various mineral impurities such as clay, silt, sand, iron oxides, or chert which were originally present as grains or layers in the limestone.
The green color in marble is often due to serpentine resulting from originally magnesium-rich limestone or dolomite with silica impurities. These various impurities have been mobilized and recrystallized by the powerful pressure and heat of the process of metamorphism. All these colors make marble a perfect candidate for fitting in different designs and styles.
Why do people use marble?
Since ancient times marble has been used in construction. There are several mesmerizing architectural and construction masterpieces such as the Taj Mahal, Tower of Pizza, Sheik Zayed Mosque, and even the Supreme Court Building in the USA. They are for different eras yet are indicators of the charm and beauty of different types of marble. However, beauty is not the only reason for using marble in construction. Alongside its style and elegance, marble is highly durable, making it a good material for floors and the building itself. Also, marble is timeless; in other words, it never goes out of style. The other plus of marble is that it is easy to clean and can be cleaned easily only by mopping. All these make marble a perfect material for use in buildings.
What is marble used for?
As was mentioned, marble is used in construction. In buildings, marble is used for floorings including indoor flooring, outdoor flooring, pool flooring, and entryway flooring. It can also be used for wall claddings inside and outside of buildings. Marble stairs are very popular too as they are to wear and tear and last for a long time. In kitchens and bathrooms, marble is used for countertops, tabletops, and sinks. Even indoor ornamental elements like arches, moldings, columns, and pillars and outdoor ornamental elements like garden sculptures and fountains are normally made using marble. Since marble comes in different colors such as white, black, grey, brown, cream, yellow, and even blue and red, it can match any design and style whether it is modern or classic.
Where to buy marble stone and other stones?
If you search the internet, you will see that it is possible to buy marble stones from different places all over the world. Marbles from different parts of the world have different characteristics as they were formed under different conditions and contain different minerals. However, we strongly recommend you buy from Aby Stone. ABYstone offers the best decorative stones on the market, from marble to travertine in different colors and patterns, from different places of the world, from the middle east to other parts of the globe.
The proof of ABYStone’s reliability and quality is cooperation with more than 70 prestigious architectural groups and 120 significant stone traders in the middle east alone. We, in Aby Stone, are looking forward to seeing you in our 2000-meter square in the area of Seeb near the city of Musqat. More importantly, our state-of-the-art production line is available to manage overseas orders, with a capacity of an 11000-meter square of the final product in a month, with 120 different models of Travertine, Marble, and Onyx with a thickness of 5 up to 100 mm. should you need more information you shall need, contact us via email or WhatsApp.
