| Marble Furniture |
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Marble is a metamorphic rock resulting from the metamorphism of
limestone composed mostly of calcite (a crystalline form). True
geological marble is limestone that has been subjected to
great pressure and heat,
which has changed its structure to a crystalline, sugary texture. It is
extensively used for sculpture, as a building material, and in many
other applications. It is generally white or whitish, sometimes
translucent, with some veining or color provided by other minerals
present at its formation. |
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The word 'marble' is colloquially used to refer to many other stones
that are capable of taking a high polish.Colorless marbles are a very
pure source of calcium carbonate, which is used in a wide variety of
industries. Finely ground marble powder is a component in paints,
toothpaste, plastics, and used in many other trades. |
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Although both are stones and both are quarried from the earth, granite
and marble (and marble’s relatives – limestone, onyx and travertine) are
very different from each other. The term "granite" is used to cover a
group of related stones, all of which have their origin deep in the
earth’s molten mantle. |
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The marble family – limestone, travertine, marble,
onyx – starts out as sediment – animal skeletons and shells, plant
matter, silt – at the bottom of bodies of water.
Granite is very hard
stone that’s formed at very high temperatures deep in the earth, its
polish is not subject to etching by household acids, or scratching by
knives and pots and pans. It’s unaffected by typical kitchen heat such
as hot pans, or spilled liquid. Granite is formed deep in the earth’s
mantle at extremely high temperatures, and is a very hard, resistant
stone made of crystallized minerals. |
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Granite and other granite-like stones are formed of
hard minerals such as quarts, feldspar and mica, which are fused
together into a very hard stone ideal for kitchen counters. Granite is
the most popular; it resists stains and is extremely durable. To
maintain its luster, granite must be sealed and polished regularly. |
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When fabricated properly, natural stone
lies drop-dead flat. The downside to natural stone is that if you do
break it, chip it, or crack it, it's nearly impossible to repair without
replacing. If you think the world of kitchen cabinetry is confusing and
cloudy, just wait until you shop for granite. Or perhaps in your part of
the country, marble is the "in" countertop. |
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The advantage to marble is that you will likely have a unique,
expressive countertop. |
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Marble dust can be combined with cement or synthetic resins to make
reconstituted or cultured marble. The least common is
soapstone, which doesn't
generally stain and resists heat well, but must be sealed periodically
with mineral oil. The downside is that it is very soft, so it's prone to
scratches and chips. It's also a rather uniform look, which means you
might as well opt for synthetics or laminates |
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05/06/08 |
