Rather than simple colors, marble comes in slight shades that can range from white to black. When marble has no visual flaws or impurities it is a solid white hue. Integration with minerals, such as the layers in limestone, causes colorations, like yellow, green, gray, cream, blue, and pink.
Marble is usually a light-colored rock when it is formed from limestone with very few impurities. The marble that contains impurities such as clay minerals, iron oxides, or bituminous material can be bluish, gray, pink, yellow, or black in color.
Purity, of course, refers to the lack of color variation within a specific sample of stone. Although colored veining is, for many people, a very desired characteristic, the purest marbles are almost completely white or very light in color.
Identifying real marble from imitation marble or granite can be difficult. Any flaws in a slab of natural marble will show up as skinny, elongated lines. There are telltale evidence that a stone is genuine marble such as nicks, scratches, and other blemishes on its surface.
Marble has a smooth, soft appearance with scattered veining patterns ranging from subtle and delicate to bold and dramatic. While white is the predominant color in many varieties of marble, it comes in a variety of other hues as well.
Natural marble being carved out of earth undergoes immense heat and pressure, and hence they are more heat resistant. Artificial marble is an amalgamation of various elements glued together, and hence they are fragile (they can burn or melt) when they come into contact with high temperatures.
The White Statuario marble of Carrara is one of the most precious marbles in the world. Few materials, in fact, can compete with its transparent sheen and its incredibly compact structure.
Real marble does. The protective coating on cultured marble gives it a high shine. Marble may have a high shine, but it can also have a dull, matte finish, giving it a softer look.
Honed marble has a matte, unpolished finish. The surface does not reflect light and has a more natural look to it. Polished marble, as the name implies, has been smoothed and shined using abrasive materials so that it reflects light. This gives it a bright, polished appearance.
Polished marble's extremely smooth surface allows light to reflect. Honed marble has a dull finish and does not reflect light; it absorbs it. The process to create both honed and polished marble is similar.
This being said, there are 5 main kinds of marble that are widely used or regarded in the world. These five kinds are Carrara, Statuary, Calacatta, Emperador, and Crema Marfil. Some of these are rarer than others, and some are more widely used in homes and by contractors.
Real marble is a high-end, luxury natural stone quarried from the earth, and cultured marble isn't, but it is related. Cultured marble is man-made, blending pulverized natural marble with synthetic resins and dyes.
Carrara marble is off-white or blue-gray in color, with streaks (or “veins”) of light gray which are slightly darker than the core color.
Marble that has a pure white or light-colored base with minimal veining may be more expensive than those with color variations. Rare colors like blue or pink can also be particularly valuable and expensive. Blue Marble, for example, is highly sought after by designers and homeowners for its unique beauty.
Is Marble Expensive? Many homeowners and commercial property owners think marble is not a budget-conscious surface material; however, there is a wide price range. Marble countertop cost per square foot usually lands between $75 and $250, give or take.
Typically, Carrara is the most affordable marble. And although most Carrara is mined in Italy, the beautiful stone is found in China and other countries, too.
White Carrara Marble is the most popular marble with a medium white background and soft grey or black veins throughout the slab. Uses flooring surfaces, trends, and other surfaces.
Scratching - Marble can scratch easily, especially when touched for a long period of time by something acidic. A slice of lemon laid down on a polished countertop overnight can leave a mark in the shape of the lemon slice, duller than the surface around it.
If you're looking for countertops that look like marble, then quartz, quartzite, and granite provide excellent alternatives. They are more durable, potentially cheaper, and lower maintenance.
Price. Both granite and marble are considered higher cost countertop options. Granite is typically less expensive, running approximately three-fifths the price of the luxurious stone. On average, costs per square foot for granite range from $40 to $100, while costs per square foot for marble range from $50 to $150.