Marble is a compact metamorphic rock, formed from limestone rocks that have been subjected to high temperature and pressure, causing a high degree of crystallisation and consequently giving rise to different types of marble.
But what makes different types of marbles exist? The answer lies in their composition.
Marble is mainly composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) plus a minimum part, around 10%, of elements that determine both its colour and its physical characteristics.
If we stick to the colour of the marble, we can establish two classifications:
- Monocoloured marbles: Marble with a single colour (white, cream, red, pink, black, yellow, etc).
- Polychrome marbles: These are marbles made up of several colours. This diversity of colours is given by the veins or fragments that form part of the natural stone.
The typology of marbles shown below is based on colour criteria. Obviously, the palette of colours is very wide and varied, although in this case we have wanted to collect the most representative types of marbles, such as the following.
Types of white marble
The white marble Inspires purity and neatness, as well as providing light and spaciousness to any home or space, particularly when not combined with any other type of marble. For all the above reasons, white marble is ideal for use in confined spaces, as well as kitchens and bathrooms.
White is a colour that can fortunately be combined with any type of marble, so you can use any type of material depending on the environment that you are trying to create.
Blanco Ibiza marble
The Blanco Ibiza marble noted for its resistance and simple tones, as well as its grey streaks. Below are some of its applications as a building material:
- Indoors: Kitchens, bathrooms and stairs.
- Outdoors: Flooing.
Carrara marble
The Carrara marble has its origin in Italy, specifically in the Alps. Undoubtedly, the Blanco Carrara is a very appreciated marble all over the world, being synonymous of quality and distinction. The Blanco Carrara marble is a natural stone with fine grain and excellent whiteness, subtly interrupted by greyish coloured veins.
The main use of Carrara marble is in interiors, particularly in bathrooms, living rooms and kitchens.
Lilac marble
The Lilac marble is extracted from Turkey and it stands out for its white background and its violet veins that run uniformly across the surface. The possibilities of use offered by Lilac marble are varied, standing out mainly in interiors as flooring, cladding and countertops.
Volakas marble
Volakas marble is characterized by being a white natural stone and soft streaks of gray hue. The applications of Volakas marble are diverse, predominantly used in indoor areas.
Greece is the producing country of this white marble.
Thassos marble
From the Thassos marble we can highlight the luminosity and distinction that it brings to the environments. The reason is none other than the purity of its white tonality.
As for its applications, we can make use of the Thassos marble in flooring, cladding and countertops.
Luminus marble
The uniqueness of the Luminus white marble lies in its yellow veined lines, which are very eye-catching. These veins combine perfectly with the greyish and white tones of the surface.
Marmara marble
It is said that white Marmara marble is a timeless natural stone. In fact, it was already known to ancient civilisations, which used it in important constructions.
The background of the Blanco Marmara is characterised by its uniformity, which is interrupted by a light grey veining that extends over its entire surface.
Blanco Macael
The Blanco Macael a uniform, compact surface that may feature specific greyish blue streaks.
Of notable strength this type of marble may be used as a construction material for:
- Indoors: bathrooms, kitchens or living-rooms.
- Outdoors: facades, ventiladas, flooring, stairs.
Blanco Tranco
The Blanco Tranco marble featuring dark grey streaks, it is considered as a substitute for White Macael marble.
In this case, Blanco Tranco can be used for exterior cladding, as well as kitchen worktops.
Types of cream marble
Within the typology of marble, the cream marble is the one with the greatest number of varieties.
The cream shade combines perfectly with the wide range of existing natural colors, such as ivory and beige, providing a peaceful environment to any room of the house. This is why cream marble is one of the most used building materials by architects and decorators.
Crema Marfil marble
The Crema Marfil marble is a unique natural stone, characterised by its strong consistency that may be used in different finishes and spaces. It will undoubtedly provide an elegant display with a highly attractive look that combines perfectly with other materials..
For all the above reasons, Crema Marfil is currently the most renowned marble type worldwide used by architects and designers in all their indoors as well as outdoors works
Crema Cenia
This type of fine grained marble is well known for its cream and rose shade colour and uniform background. Although available in a wide range of finishes, flamed is perhaps the most common option. This marble is original from Tarragona.
Crema Valencia
The Crema Valencia is a cream tone marble with white and red colour streaks throughout that can be used both indoors as well as outdoors thanks to its features.
Types of black marble
Black is the colour most commonly associated to luxury and elegance. As a sombre colour, it is recommended only for use in well lit rooms and wide spaces, such as bathrooms and kitchens. On the other hand, black marble it can also be used in façades and for cladding without any issues.
In regards to types of marbles finishes, it is available as raw, brushed, bush hammered or polished.
Negro Marquina marble
The Negro Marquina marble is bursting with intensity and unique strength, it provides all the typical elegance features of any black colour marbles, particularly when polished. On the other hand, Negro Marquina marble can also feature irregular white streaks throughout its surface.
In regards to its applications, it can be found in bathrooms and kitchens, as well as cladding and pavements.
Negro Marquina marble is original from the Basque Country.
Calatorao marble
Black Calatorao marble stands out for being a resistant natural stone, making it ideal for outdoor flooring.
Calatorao marble is called the municipality of extraction, located in the province of Zaragoza (Spain).
Types of red marble
Red colour adds charm and sensuality to any home, in addition to light and elegance, depending on the tone used.
The red marble may be used in indoor flooring or as a decorative element. Although perhaps its most common application is outdoors, since it is an extremely resistant natural stone. In regards to combinations, we can find it in bathrooms and kitchens, as well as in interior pavements and coverings.
Rojo Alicante marble
The Rojo Alicante marble bursting with attractiveness, it can definitely draw attention. In addition to its red tone, it can also feature irregular white streaks throughout its surface. In regards to its applications, Rojo Alicante may be used in floorings and façades, providing a touch of distinction to any home area or space.
Rojo Coralito
The Rojo Coralito is featuring a lighter, less flashy tone than Rojo Alicante marble, it also features a higher amount of white streaks.
It offers great resistance and versatility, and can be used for façades and flooring.
Rojo Levante
The Rojo Levante is characterised by its three different tones of red, as well as white streaks. This marble is original from the Murcia (Spain).
Rojo Bilbao
Thanks to its origins, Rojo Bilbao marble may contain coral and shellfish fragments in a lighter red tone. This variety is the least quarried among red colour marbles.
Types of brown marble
From a decorative point of view, brown is one of the most versatile colours available, while inspiring safety and comfort. On the other hand, if you are looking to decorate a room with an ethnic look, brown marble is an excellent choice.
Since brown is a colour that can add charm to any room, it is highly recommended to use any brown coloured marble in highly frequented living areas, such as the living room or the kitchen. In order to make the most of its features, we recommend polishing, as well as using it in well lit areas to keep its vitality intact.
Dark emperador marble
El Dark Emperador o Marrón Emperador is a dark coloured marble characterised by its unbeatable beauty which can be perfectly combined with other colours adding elegance to any room. A quality that is highly appreciated by architects and interior designers alike, who use it extensively in their projects.
Light emperador marble
The Light emperador features a lighter tone, and can be used to create elegant, beautiful spaces.
Rain Forest Brown
The marked character of Rain Forest Brown marble gives it its own identity that differentiates it from other marbles. Rain Forest Brown is the marble for those who want to stand out or stand out from the rest. Its appearance is highlighted by the network of brown, grey and reddish veins that run along its entire surface.
When talking about advantages, the Rain Forest Brown stands out for its hardness and resistance.
Types of pink marble
Vintage fashion brings pink marble into our homes. Pink is the quintessential symbol of calm, delicacy and positivity. Pink marble can be put to a variety of uses, and is widely used in areas for resting in. On the other hand, it is ideal for spaces with little luminosity.
Sometimes, neutral colours, such as white or grey, can be the perfect complement to pink, creating soft and elegant ambiences. If we are looking for stronger options, green and brown can provide this original contrast.
Rosa Portugués marble
Rosa Portugués is possibly the best-known and most widely-used Pink Marble.
Nature offers us different shades, among which very subtle, orangey or greyish pinks stand out. The appearance of grey and brown streaks endows Rosa Portugués with a unique beauty. However, the material can be found without any streaks at all.
Rosa Zarci
Rosa Zarci marble is a soft, even understated, shade of pink. This natural stone may include gentle, blurry streaks, displaying a very uniform material. Rosa Zarci is perfect for matching with other marbles to produce mosaics, as well as staircases.
Rosa Levante
Rosa Levante is a subtle pink-coloured marble in which the appearance of fossils predominates. Rosa Levante is mainly sourced from Zarzilla de Ramos, in Lorca (Murcia – Spain).
This marble is also known as Crema Levante or Rosa Girona (Spain).
Types of yellow marble
Decorating with yellow is usually linked to joy and optimism. Despite of this, this is the least used type of marble. However, this marble type can still draw a lot of attention, resulting in a unique, attractive marble that can be combined with other types of marble or materials.
Spanish Gold marble
The Spanish Gold is a yellowish type of marble with reddish streaks. It is mainly recommended for indoor use, particularly in pavements, and can be subject to any type of finish.
Amarillo Triana
The Amarillo Triana is noted for its attractiveness, this is a fine grained marble with irregular streaks throughout the surface.
Types of green marble
To opt for green marble is to surround oneself with a world of sensations. The colour green is linked to nature, bringing at the same time serenity, harmony and elegance to ambiences.
Green marble presents in different shades. Intense green combined with a white marble conveys freshness to its setting, even managing to soften it. Whereas with dark green combined with creams or greys, we achieve more elegant ambiences.
Green marble is widely used in bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.
Verde Indio marble
Verde Indio marble is mainly sourced from mines in India. This marble is sometimes known by different commercial names, such as Verde Guatemala or Oasis Green.
The aesthetics of Verde Indio vary, and we can find marble with few streaks or with very pronounced white streaks. There also exist varieties with intermingled black pigmentations, all of which are very beautiful and original.
Verde Indio is a widely used material for floors or tiling bathrooms and kitchens, giving personality to the surrounding space.
Rain Forest Green
Rain Forest Green marble has the same characteristics as Rain Forest Brown, differing in color. In this case, Rain Forest Green has a green hue and the other is brown.
Types of grey marble
Grey marble stands out for transmitting calm and sophistication to the environments. Its neutral hue allows it to be combined with many different nuanced materials. There is a great diversity of grey marbles, including Pietra Grey and Marengo Grey, which we will see next.
Pietra Grey marble
Pieta Grey marble originates in Iran, specifically in Isfahan province.
His personality is defined by his uniform graphite grey tone, as well as by the thin white veins that run along the surface.
Marengo Grey marble
Unlike the previous marble, Marengo Grey is characterized by its dark hue of compact character. Given its natural properties, it can be used both in exterior pavements and in interior floors.
Gris Marengo marble is extracted in Alconera, Badajoz (Spain).
And you, What types of marbles do you like?
