Drool over Natural Stone Packages from Limestone and Marble family
Posted on Oct 9, 2015
The modern homes have begun to distance themselves from the woody surfaces. More home designs now sport natural stones from the family of granites, limestone and marble. In fact, Indian marble suppliers are the largest set of dealers in the segment enjoying a king-size share of more than 57 percent. Every year, 200,000 tons of marble blocks are used across the world. Indian limestone slabs are second most popular natural building materials after marble. Do you know the basic differences between the two popular natural stones?
Let us do a smart study on the two.
– Where are they extracted from?
The first thing you must know about the Indian limestone slabs is its age and origin. After granite, Indian limestone slabs are actually one of the oldest set of rocks. These sedimentary rocks are formed from the shells and bony structures of aquatic animals. The process is similar to the fossilization and calcification of corals. In fact, Indian limestone slabs are the older versions of the coral reefs found all over the world.
Marble on the other hand are relatively new members in the family of natural stones. These are considered as ‘young’ rocks owing to their geological formation and distribution over the earth’s surface. They are derived from the solidification and re-crystallization of the Indian limestone. The process makes marble denser and stronger than the original set of limestone slabs.
– Aesthetic appeal
Marble is called the ‘art studio’ stone while limestone is the stone of the artisans. Both stones have their own importance. Limestone slabs found in India boast of earthly colours like tan, brown, gray and bluish white. Marble has more clear and pristine appearance. White marble suppliers contribute immensely to the market with products ranging from beige, brown, black to striking reds, greens and even blue marbles. While Indian limestone slabs have striations on their surface due to the fossil remains, marbles have light veins and streaks that appear due to the oxides of minerals.
– Hardness Issues
Compared to granite, limestone and marble both fair as average on Moh’s scale. Indian limestone slabs have a hardness degree of 3 on the Mohs scale while marble ranks just higher than that below 4. Compare this to granite’s 8.7 and diamond’s 10. This means that Indian limestone slabs and marble tile can be scratched by materials that have a hardness quotient higher than 4 on Mohs scale.
Marble is more compact and resistant to strain than limestone due to solidified crystalline structure when compared to limestone slabs quarried from India.
– Kitchen applications
Indian marble suppliers recommend that limestone and marbles should be used in places where they would be fully valued. Since both these stones are susceptible to etching and scratching, kitchen should be the last place where they should be installed. Granite is the preferred option. If you are using it for kitchen, ensure that the Limestone slabs and marble tiles are honed and sealed with high-quality scratch-resistant coatings. Bathroom floors, wall panels, claddings and even fireplace channels.