| bottom-link"> | | | | appear in the surface of the stone. The number |
| Marble is a kind of limestone that has undergone a | | | | of impurities possible and the nature of their form, |
| proces which has made the structure of the rock | | | | means that each piece of marble is one of a kind. |
| more solid, making it able to withstand a high | | | | The ancient Greeks and Romans both used |
| polish. It is generally formed when limestone is | | | | marble expansively. The Greeks built many of |
| faced with extremes of pressure or temperature | | | | their famous architectural masterpieces using |
| that cause it to undergo a process known as | | | | Pentelic marble, and they carved many of the |
| metamorphism. When this occurs the structure of | | | | most famous statues in history from other Greek |
| the limestone becomes crystal in nature, taking | | | | marbles. When the Roman Empire rose it |
| the shape of calcite or dolomite. These two | | | | conquered the Greek quarries, as well as many |
| substances are the main materials in marble. The | | | | others. Marble is often heavily associated with the |
| result is a stronger, highly publishable stone, with | | | | Hellenic and roman classical age of history. |
| unique colored characteristics. These colors are | | | | Today marble is used in stone home furnishings, |
| often copied in book binding in a technique known | | | | floors, counters, clocks, hot plates, tables, pillars, |
| as marbling. | | | | structural resurfacing, even bathroom applications. |
| The different colors that marble can have occur | | | | It can be found in millions of places in millions of |
| when impurities get caught in the structure of the | | | | applications around the world. Its style and |
| marble during formation. These impurities such as | | | | versatility make it one of the ideal choices for |
| carbon, or iron, or oxides, cause streaks to | | | | building materials and structural supply. |