Best Stones of Italy and Popular White Marble Quarries

MAGAZINE

Marbles Formation

Marbles are stones of nature and it makes sense to call them natural stones. Science defines them as crystallised forms of limestones, found naturally in the crust of our earth. Enormous amounts of heat and pressure act on limestone and this results in the formation of Marbles. We also need to realise that not all marble is made equal. The qualities vary according to the natural conditions of the area it is located. Where the limestones get mixed up with lots of impurities, they end up becoming weak and brittle and when the natural conditions are good, their quality is of a class. Here is something interesting to know about what some people think of marbles. Their misconception is that marble is too weak and chips away too easily. The fact is that there are thousands of marble sculptures standing for many thousands of years outwitting natural calamities. We have many sites of heritage and monuments that reveal good marbles like stones of Italy that have survived to this day, being good students to the tests of time.

White Marble

Image depicts Leaning Tower of Pisa, constructed with White marble from Carrara, Italy

Best Stones of Italy

Understanding the origin of marbles has a close relation to their quality. This is where the lookout for Italian marble begins. Italy has one of the highest quality Marble deposits in the world. Simply, they are genuine pieces of stones.

When you travel towards the northernmost tip of modern-day Tuscany, Italy, you reach the city of Carrara in the province of Massacre and Lunigiana. The quarry here and the outcome is world-renowned.

The Carrara marbles have been used since the time of Ancient Rome and at that time, it was called the ‘Luni Marble’. The families named Cybo and Malaspina that ruled over Massacre and Carrara monitored the quarries and they created the “Office of Marble” in 1564. This regulated the Marble Mining  Industry. The Basilica of Massa was built entirely of Carrara Marbles and the Duel Palace of Massa showcases precious Italian stones.

Marble stones of Italy are for those who prefer to own the best of their kind. The common perception is that Italian stones are expensive because they are symbols of prestige. The underlying part of the prestige symbol is that they possess premium quality in their stone, texture and veins. That is why Italian marbles cost more than their counterparts. They are just one of the finest natural stones that money can buy.

Image depicts Sculptures of Italy

Best Italy Stones Quarries

Italy The Apuan Alps above Carrara show evidence of at least 650 quarry sites. The quarries have produced more marble than any other place on earth.

The prize yield from Carrara has been ‘Statuario’ pure white marble, throughout the millennia. The quarries continue to export up to a million tons of stones of Italy, on a yearly basis.

Bianco Carrara that are classified into variations, as well as Bianco Venetino and Statuarietto are, by far, the most common Stones of Italy with more exotic variations. Some of the most popular italian stones famous all over the world are mentioned below:

• Calacatta Gold

• • Calacatta Borgnine
  • Calacatta Macchiato Vecchia

• Calacatta Bettogli

• • Arabescato Cerraiole
  • Arabescato Vagli

• Pietra Grey Marble

• Rosso Levano Marble

• Carrara Niagra

• Carrara Viglio

• Bianco Venetino

There are hundreds of Stones of Italy that have become universally popular. Check out these bestsellers from the Work-tops collection.

The image depicts Carrara marble quarry at Carrara, Tuscany, Italy.

Italy Stones Working Heritage

They were the first to streamline and perfect quarrying methods that have been used till today. They have set very high standards of quality control and work with precision. Italians are still considered the most skilled cutters and Carvers in the stone world today.

A slab of Carrara Marble can cost up to $400 per square metre.

The market as a whole is worth over $1.1 billion. Marble extraction in Carrara is done with a 5 mm diamond wire or with big chainsaws. China, the U.S., and Germany are the top 3 buyers of marbles from Italy. Piet rasa ra is the City of Marbles that stands out among the Coastal towns of western Tuscany, Italy. This town has a continuous flow of artists for sculptural works. Nearly 200 tons of marble sculptures are made annually.

All these significances apart from the commercial side marble bring in rich appearance to house floors, walls, kitchens as kitchen worktops, rooms and bathrooms with its beautiful colour, special lustres and strains. Besides being highly durable, Italian Marble is known for its fine veins and its lustrous sheen. The Italian White, The Blue-Grey from Carrara, The Pearly shades of Botticino, The Creamy white Pavonazzetto, and The Red Verona varieties Cater to the expensive requirements. The plush impact of these marbles gives a posh look.

Why is the Cost High for an Authentic Italian Marble?

Newmarket research has reported that the marble market in 2020 is estimated at $13 billion and is projected to reach $16 billion by 2025.

Against this Italy’s own share is a whopping $4 billion every year. It exports to some 150 countries in the world. The success is due to “ Italian Know – How” in stone processing and manufacturing technologies. It is also at par with innovation and design. The main event for the marble world happens in Verona, Italy, the “MARMOMACC” international trade fair, an exhibition of marble blocks and slabs. 

Everything is still to be invented; marble offers incredible exploratory possibilities. The deeper you dig; the more you find- in every possible way.

NAVIN Member since September 22, 2022