marble

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish

used for sculpture and as building material a small ball of glass that is used in various games a sculpture carved from marble paint or stain like marble

"marble paper"

''This page is about the metamorphic rock. For the game with little glass spheres - see marbles.''Marble is metamorphismmetamorphosed limestone, composed of fairly pure calcite (a crystalline form of calcium carbonate, calciumCacarbonCoxygenO₃). It is extensively used for sculpture, as a architecturebuilding material, and in many other applications.Faux marble or faux marbling is a wall painting technique that imitates the color patterns of real marble (not to be confused with paper marbling). Marble dust can be combined with cement or synthetic resins to make ''reconstituted'' or ''cultured marble''.Places named after the stone include Marble Hill, Manhattan, New York, the Sea of Marmara, India's Marble Rocks and the towns of Marble, Minnesota and Marble, Colorado. The Elgin Marbles are marble sculptures taken from the Parthenon to United KingdomBritain by the Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of ElginEarl of Elgin.

Origins - Marble is a metamorphic rock resulting from regional or at times contact metamorphism of sedimentary rocksedimentary carbonate rocks, either limestone or dolostone. This metamorphic process causes a complete recrystallization of the original rock into an interlocking mosaic of calcite and/or dolomite crystals. The temperatures and pressures necessary to form marble usually destroy any fossils and sedimentary textures present in the original rock.Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of very pure limestones. The characteristic swirls and veins of many colored marble varieties 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. Green coloration is often due to serpentine resulting from originally high magnesium limestone or dolostone with silica impurities. These various impurities have been mobilized and recrystallized by the intense pressure and heat of the metamorphism.

Kinds of marble - Some historically important kinds of marble, named after the locations of their quarryquarries, include:

Parian marbleParos (Greece)

Penteli (Greece)

Carrara (Italy)

Proconnesus (Turkey)

Macael (Spain)White marbles, like Carrara, have been prized for marble sculpturesculpture since classical times. This preference has to do with the softness and relative isotropy and homogeneity, and a relative resistance to shattering. Also, the low index of refraction of calcite allows light to penetrate several millimeters into the stone before being scattered out, resulting in the characteristic "waxy" look which gives "life" to marble sculptures of the human body.

Construction marble - In the construction trade, the term "marble" is used for any massive, crystalline calcitic rock (and some non-calcitic rocks) useful as building stone. For example, Tennessee Marble is really a massive, highly fossiliferous gray to pink to maroon Ordovician dolostone, known as the Holston Formation by geologygeologists.

Etymology - The word "marble" derives from the Greek languageGreek ''marmaros'', "shining stone" (Oxford English DictionaryOED). This stem is also the basis for the English word "marmoreal" meaning "marble-like". ).]]

Cultural associations - As the favorite medium for GreeceGreek and Roman EmpireRoman sculptors and architects, marble has become a cultural symbol of tradition and refined taste. Its extremely varied and colorful patterns make it a favorite decorative material, and are often imitated — e.g. in background patterns for computer displays.In folklore, marble is associated with the astrological sign of Gemini. Pure white marble is an emblem of purity. It is also an emblem of immortality, and an ensurer of success in education.

See also -

list of minerals

building material

limestone

travertine

alabaster

granite

sandstone

marble sculpture

marquetry — inlaying with marble and other stones.

faux marbling — painting surfaces to look like marble.

scagliola — imitating marble with plasterwork.

cultured marble — marble powder with a binder.

paper marbling

External links -

graniteland.com - Searchable picture database of marbles

science.uwaterloo.ca - Calcite, Limestone and Marble by Kelly Snyder and Peter Russel.

marble-institute.com - Marble Institute of America, a trade organization.

ancientroute.com - Geology, types, and history

graphics.stanford.edu - Learning to carve by Marc Levoy.Category:Art !materialsCategory:StoneCategor y:Metamorphic? !rocksCategory:MarblesCategory: Rocksbg:Мраморca:Marbred e:Marmoret:Marmorel:Μάρμα ροes:Mármoleo:Marmorofr:Mar brehu:Márványid:Marmerit:Mar monl:Marmerja:大理石pl:Marm urpt:Mármoresl:Marmorsv:Marmo rzh:大理石

Locatelli Meccanica
Locatelli Meccanica is an industrial company which produces in Italy terrazzo tiles plants, hydraulic presses and dry ice machines.
http://www.locatellimeccanica.com/

Atcan Industries Ltd.
Atcan Industries is a distinctive manufacture of premium quality kitchen and bathroom cabinets. To complement this we also manufacture polymer marble under our own brand name Caroma. Both products are used in residential and commercial applications backed with unequaled levels of excellence in customer support and service.
http://www.atcanind.com/

Firesharp Design
Firesharp Design is a multidisciplinary visual arts company run by artist Nick Norris. Firesharp Design specialises in three areas of art and design - web development, fine art painting and stone sculpture.
http://www.nicknorris.com/

Quilt Expressions
Quality quilt fabric, kits, books, notions and free patterns!
http://www.quiltexpressions.com/

The Edwardian Fireplace Company
A WORLD OF TRADITIONAL, PERIOD & CONTEMPORARY FIREPLACES. Visit our Showroom with our Fireplaces beautifully set over 3 floors with our expert team on hand to assist. We offer Original & reproduction Wood, Stone, Marble & Cast Iron Fireplaces suitable for Gas, Solid Fuel & Electric use as well as all accessories. Expert installation service also available.
http://www.edwardianfires.com/

D.L.QUALITY FLOORING CORP.
SALES AND INSTALATION LAMINATE FLOOR, WOOD FLOOR, MARBLE, TILE,REFINISH, REPAIR, CROWN MOLDING,KITCHEN CABINETS,REMODELING BATHROOM AND KITCHENS.
http://www.marblewoodfloors.com/

Big Rock Sculpting & Cast
Stone sculptures & water feature. Bronzes casting, Gardening art & more.
http://www.bigrockbc.com/

Osquare
Marble Inlay Table Tops, Handicrafts, Statues, Medallions, Wall Panels
http://www.oswalonline.com/

Production and export of White Carrara Marble in slabs and tiles
Carraramarble web site, production in tiles, slabs, projects
http://www.carraramarble.it/

MEDALLIONS AND BORDERS
We are manufacturers of all kinds of medallions and borders in our own factory in Florida, USA We can make all kinds of medallions designs between 24 to 60 as regular orders at the same price by sq/ft inside the same category (letters A, B, C or D www.medallionusa.com) bigger sizes upon request. We can make all the designs in round, square, rectangular or oval and we can use other materials like granite, ceramic, slate, glass upon request or we can make your own design or use your own materials.
http://www.medallionusa.com

Michael Barnes - Stoneworks / Germany
unique stonework for bathrooms, kitchen, house and garden
http://www.littmann-barnes.de/

Terestone Countertops, Shower & Tub Walls, & Consoles
Vanity tops for your bathroom. Shower and tub walls along with corner moldings, consoles with metal legs. Counter tops come with an integrated sink and backsplash. Sidesplashes are available.
http://www.terestone.com/

Color Tile & Carpet Outlet
Carpet,Ceramic,Hardwood,Laminate,Marble,Granite for Less!
http://www.colortile.us/

Fusari peintre decorateur fresques
Fusari peintre décorateur réalise peintures et patines décoratives, reproduction bois et marbres, fresques, trompe-l'oeil, décors, meubles peints, dorure, restauration, tableaux.
http://www.fusari-art.com

New Home Builder Contractor
One of Arkansas' premier builders of new homes. Custom home contractor.
http://www.americantrendsetters.com/

Marble Institute of America
Promote the use of natural stone and provide a source of information on the standards of workmanship and practice and suitable application of stone products.
http://www.marble-institute.com/

Blue Marble Geographics
Offer freeware program for viewing DGN, DWG, DXF, TAB, and MIF files.
http://www.bluemarblegeo.com/

NASA Earth Observatory
Explore the causes and effects of climatic and environmental change through the use of real satellite data.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/

Marbleandmore.com
Portale dedicato al marmo. Nel sito documentazioni, news, fiere, informazioni sui marmi di varie parti del mondo.
http://www.marbleandmore.com

Antique Marble Museum
An antique marble collectors and museum resource site.
http://www.marblemuseum.org/