Natural stone showcase: how is marble formed?

When it comes to natural stone, marble is a material which has been used for sculpture and architecture and interiors for centuries.

So how is marble formed and how can this beautiful natural stone be incorporated in your home or commercial space to add the luxe factor?

Natural stone: the science behind marble

Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to the intense heat and pressure of metamorphism. This natural stone is composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite, as well as other minerals such as clay, micas, quartz, iron oxides and graphite. The natural stone occurs in large deposits that can be hundreds of feet thick and geographically extensive.

What causes variations in this natural stone?

Marble can be found in a stunning array of colours – from black and grey through to brown, yellow, pink, green, red, cream and pure white.

Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of a very pure limestone or dolomite protolith.  When marble contains unique swirls and striations, or ‘veins’, it is usually due to the natural stone containing various impurities such as clay, silt, sand, iron oxides or chert.