Etymology
The word Marble is derived from the Greek word
Marmaros which means "shining stone" This is probably a reference to
the translucent property of pure white marble which seams to make it
glow when light is shone upon it.
Formation
Marble is a type of metamorphic rock.
Marble starts off as either a Limestone or
Dolostone, with a lot of the mineral Calcite in it. When this is
exposed to the right amount of heat and pressure, the material changes
into marble.
This heat or pressure causes a process known as
recrystallization. That is where the tiny individual grains that make
up the original stone are changed, in this case into larger grains.
The result is that the original stone is transformed, into marble.
Art
Marble has a long tradition of being used in sculpture. This is because of several reasons.
Marble is a relatively soft natural stone, making it easy to carve.
Marble formed from pure calcite can sometimes be
translucent, and light can penetrate the stone slightly. This makes
sculptures seam to glow when illumination is shone on them.
Unlike some stones, whose minerals form in layers,
marble s inherent grains do not tend to arrange themselves in straight
lines. When a stone which is formed in layers is chiseled, large chunks
tend to break off at random, making it difficult to control what the
final statue will look like. The individual grains in marble however do
not form in lines and therefore you can chisel off as much or as little
as you like.
Architecture
Marble is a very popular building material used in architecture and design.
Marble can be obtained in almost any shape, giant blocks, slabs, or raw chunks.
The most popular shape for marble is in tile form.
Tiles can range from 4-24 square, although larger tiles tend to be less stable and more apt to crack.
Other Uses.
Ground up into a fine powder, marble is a
component material used in some glues and mortars, as well as
toothpaste and various plastics.
Meaning
Marble tends to be considered an elegant material.
It is also tied closely to the classical Greek and Roman periods. A
relatively expensive, and difficult to maintain stone, it is most often
used in delicate and upscale applications.
Care and Maintenance
Marble has tiny pores in its surface, which are
too small to see with the bear eye, but which are large enough to soak
up moisture. Sometimes liquid, especially colorful liquids such as
fruit juices can soak into the pores in the marble, permanently
discoloring it.
To prevent this a below surface sealer can be
applied which will clog the pores making it impossible for moisture to
penetrate it.
A chemical barrier can also be applied to marble which will form an invisible layer over its surface, protecting it further.
(cn-stonenet.com)
