Marble and granite

Uses of Marble and granite in interior design

1. MARBLE

2. What is Marble? Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals , most commonly calcite and dolomite . The word marble is derived from the Greek word marmaron which means crystalline rock or shinning stone.  The marble rock is typically composed of an interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals .  Marble  is a type of metamorphic rock that has rich veining and is available in a variety of colors. Marble is more porous than granite and is not recommended for kitchen flooring unless honed and then sealed on a regular basis.

3. What is Marble? Marble is a crystalline , compact variety of metamorphosed limestone , consisting primarily of calcite and dolomite or a combination of both minerals.

4. HISTORY The use of marble in architecture dates back thousands of years to ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures. Capable of bearing immense weight, marble was ideally suited for monolithic columns and supporting structures in public, private, and religious buildings.  Marble, a long lasting and beautiful stone, was used from early times by the ancient Greeks , who were masters of the worlds finest architecture, stone-cutting and sculpturing. They created exquisitely detailed statues and buildings which have lasted through the ages. For example, The Parthenon, built in 441-437 BC of solid Pentelicon marble, is a well known symbol of ancient Greek civilization.

5. HOW ARE MARBLE ROCKS FORMED? Marble is formed when limestone is exposed to high temperatures and pressures.  During metamorphism the calcite limestone recrystallizes, forming the interlocking  calcite crystals that make up the marble. Marbles formed from pure calcite lime stones are white, with a sugary texture, and they effervesce when tested with dilute (~10%) hydrochloric acid. Impurities in the limestone may lead to the formation of new minerals, giving the marble a variety of colors. 

6. CHARACTERISTICS Texture  - granular. Grain size  - medium grained; can see interlocking calcite crystals with the naked eye. Hardness  - hard, although component mineral is soft (calcite is 3 on Moh's scale of hardness). Colour  - variable - pure marble is white but marble exists in a wide variety of colours all the way through to black . Mineralogy  - calcite. Other features  - generally gritty to touch. Uses  - building stone; dimension stone for building facings, paving etc; cut into blocks and cut for monuments, headstones etc (wears over time due to softness of calcite, prone to acid rain damage [calcite is soluble in acid]); whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper.

7. Production Where is Marble found in the world? Marble is a metamorphic rock found in the mountainous regions of most countries of the world. Marble quarried in  India , China ,  Italy , and  Spain represents the majority of marble, in terms of volume, that is utilized worldwide. The growth of marble was just 12% annually in the period of 2000-2006. Marble production is dominated by 4 countries that occupy half of world production of marble and decorative stone. ITALY is the world leader in marble production, with 20% share in global marble production. CHINA with 16% of world production.  INDIA is third ranking with 10% of world production, followed by SPAIN  in fourth ranking position with 6% of world production.

8. Uses Bathrooms , Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens and Stair Treads, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling, Laboratory bench tops, Paper Industry, Tombstones, Whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper, Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture and Small Figurines. As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings and Paving Stone

9. ADVANTAGES Design and patterns Cheaper Soft, easy to cut Can not be duplicated Beauty, aesthetic extremely durable, it can withstand any sort of external pressure, and any sudden change of weight can easily be handled by this material. Marbles have an everlasting appeal. It does not get older very easily Marble floors are scratch free The cool and hard rock, marble is considered as a sign of luxury and aristocracy durability and beauty  bright look Marble is stainless and scratch free. The freshness of marble surface can be retained for years.  does not allow germs and allergens to survive on the surface.  if maintained properly, then marble can last for an entire lifetime. Because the flooring is resistant to moisture, cleaning up spills on marble is a simple task.

10. DISADVANTAGES There is enormous amount of waste generated in cutting the marble tiles. Inserting marbles in floors is very much time consuming, and it would require only skilled technicians and laborers, which is something that requires a lot of money. Marble floors are known to be extremely heavy. Marble is a heavy stone. Someone who wants to install marble floor should prepare the floor accordingly so that it can bear the weight of marble tiles.  marble is not stain-proof; any spills should be dealt with as quickly as possible. High maintenance is neede . Marble is a very cold material, making it uncomfortable to stand on during colder times. No fragile material that falls on marble will survive, so marble is not ideal for kitchens where glass might be dropped. Marble is weak to acidic products, such as tomatoes, vinegar and lemon. Acidic materials will most certainly stain marble.

11. CONSTRUCTION MARBLE Marble used for constructing buildings in which construction marble is a stone which is composed of calcite, dolomite and serpentine capable of taking polish. Countertops and flooring

12. Marble Structures It is used in buildings, masjids and homes. It is also used in statues and monuments. It create large number of jobs. Taj Mahal Parthenon in greece Model of Temple of Artemis in Istanbul, Turkey Washington monument Supreme court Building Washington

13. Differences MARBLE Marble has a look that is possibly more elegant. Marble is simply calcium carbonate, just like chalk, but in a compressed and crystallized form. Marble has extremely fine crystals, which create a snowy or satiny look and the colors and patterns can be quite dramatic. GARNITE  Granite is a much harder, stronger stone than marble. It resists impacts and scratches better. Granite comes in a range of colors and patterns, that range is probably narrower than for marble.

14. Granite Granite a very hard, granular, crystalline, igneous rock consisting mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar and often used as a building stone. Word Granite comes from the Latin word “ Granum ” a grain in reference to grainy . The word Granite maybe used for any rock with interlocking crystals that are large enough to be seen with unaided eye. Granite  is a type of igneous rock that is very dense and hard. Its distinctive appearance is due to speckled minerals found within the rock, its unique veining, and the thousands of available colors.

15. HOW ARE GRANITE ROCKS FORMED? Granite is an igneous rock, normally found deep in the earth’s crust and made of crystals formed from the cooling of molten magma. It is sometimes exposed at the surface (extrusive) where the sedimentary rock, such as sandstone, has been eroded away. However, it can be formed by magma cooling underground after being intruded into other rocks before reaching the surface.

16. Formation Granite is formed when magma, with a certain silica content,  migrates into an environment where it cools slowly ( by geologic time standards) solidifying and forming interlocking crystals. The general rule is that the slower the granite cools the larger the individual crystals, the faster it cools the smaller the crystals. The predominate (common) minerals are Quartz, Feldspars and Mica Granite is formed within the crust of the Earth when  Felsic  magma, that is magma that is rich in  Silica , cools down without reaching the surface. Because it remains beneath the surface as it is cooling it forms large crystals ( ie , you can see the individual crystals without need of a microscope or hand-lens). It has a minimum of 20%  Quartz  with up to 65% of the rock being  Feldspar . Other minerals such as  Mica  or  Amphibole  are usually present and can make up to 25% of the total volume.

17. Origin Granite is an igneous rock and is formed from magma. Granitic magma has many potential origins but it must intrude other rocks. Most granite intrusions are emplaced at depth within the crust, usually greater than 1.5 kilometers and up to 50 km depth within thick continental crust. The origin of granite is contentious and has led to varied schemes of classification. Classification schemes are regional and include French, British, and American systems.

18. Granite features There are two main features found in granite landscapes 1. Tor 2. Batholiths A large outcrop of granite, usually seen as a number of round boulders A very large body of an igneous rock, usually granite, that has been exposed by erosion of the overlying rock

19. Stone Mountain, Georgia;  Yosemite Valley , California, Mount Rushmore, South Dakota; Pike's Peak, Colorado; and White Mountains, New Hampshire. 

20. Where is granite found in the world? Much of the  earth's  continental crust is made of granite and it forms the cores of the continents. In North America, the landscape surrounding Canada's Hudson Bay and extending south to Minnesota consists of granite bedrock. Those rocks are part of the Canadian Shield, the oldest rocks on the continent.

21. Advantages of Granite Granite is an attractive and beautiful material that appears to the user, when it is used by them for countertop or any other application.

22. advantages of granite The most common use for granite today is in building and remodeling projects such as vanity and kitchen countertops.

23. Importance and Use of granite The Statue of Liberty stands on is made from granite.

24. Granite structures The Red Pyramid, third largest Egyptian pyramids, of Ancient Egypt (c. 26th century BC) was made by granite.  The Gread Pyramid of Giza (c. 2580 BC)

25. Granite as a construction material Building material Tiles Backsplash Countertop Paving stone Facing stone Monuments Vanity tops Sink and basin Fireplace mantles Granite is one of the most popular building material. It has been used for thousands of years in both interior and exterior applications. Rough-cut and polished granite is used in buildings, bridges, paving, monuments and many other exterior projects. Indoors, polished granite slabs and tiles are used in countertops, tile floors, stair treads and many other practical and decorative features. 

26. In the Interior Polished Granite slabs and tiles are also used as countertops , floors , stair treads and many other design elements. Granite is hard and tough that is why it has gained wide spread use in human history. There are many uses for Granite within both functional and aesthetic design attributes. Granite is a tough material with a visual impact including Cladding, Worktops, Flooring, Vanity Units, Tables, Kitchen Surfaces, and Flooring Tiles. Granite can be used in many applications including Granite Bar tops, Granite Cladding, Granite Counters, Granite Flooring, Granite Kitchen Surfaces, Granite Kitchen Tops, Granite Sills, Granite Skirting, Granite Splash backs, Granite Surfaces, Granite Tiles, Granite Tops, Granite Vanity Tops, Granite Window Sills, Granite Work surfaces, Granite Worktops Use of Granite in Interior

27. Granite is available in thousands of colours . Granite is nearly impervious and, once it is polished, resists scratching. It is an excellent choice for flooring in kitchens and high-traffic areas. Every slab is unique and cannot be duplicated. • Granite requires very little maintenance -- just routine cleaning. • By its nature, granite is extremely dense and excellent for repelling stains. • Granite is heat resistant unlike many man-made materials. very dense and hard. In fact, granite is second only to diamonds in its hardness. it is resistant to blistering, scratching, cracking and scorching ADVANTAGES

28.  Polished granite, with its high gloss, reflects light beautifully, adding elegance to any room or space. The high gloss finish will never wear off. Granite is easy to clean with just warm water and soft cloth. Sanitary  (Non-Porous) Minimal absorption Durable It has allergen-resistant properties. Almost scratch proof The colour of your granite countertop will never fade Hard, cannot be broken easily

29. DISADVANTAGES Hard Cold in winter Hard underfoot Heavy Polished Granite Slippery when wet Slippery with socks • It should be cleaned on a regular basis. • Should be installed by professionals

30. Mountains Granite Mountain (Arizona) Granite Mountain Washington Granite Mountain Utah

31. Market Survey Pakistan Granite Tiles: The most popular granite tiles are available in absolute black (pure black stone, minus any other colours ). They add an element of elegance wherever they are placed, and generally require very less maintenance. Size: 12 x 24 ", 24 x 24“ Cost : Rs 70 to Rs 1500 / sq ft