The difference between marble and granite
2010-04-14

Architectural decoration, decorative finishes of marble and granite stone mainly. Marble is mainly used for indoor, granite used outdoors, are advanced decorative materials. Marble and granite for interior and exterior finishes decorative effect, durable, but high cost, which are used for decoration of public buildings and high-level requirements engineering. But in recent years, with the improvement of living standards, people's living environment of their own aesthetic concepts are constantly updated, marble and granite are also increasingly appear in the home decoration.

Man-made and natural stone is divided into two categories, here introduces the natural marble and natural granite.

Natural marble is the crustal rocks through the crust in the Central Plains and some high temperature and pressure of metamorphic rock formed. Belongs to the hard stone, mainly composed of calcite, limestone, serpentine and dolomite composition. The main ingredient in calcium carbonate and account for about 50%. Others include magnesium carbonate, calcium oxide, manganese oxide and silicon dioxide and so on. As the marble is generally contain impurities, and calcium carbonate by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, carbon, water vapor in the role, but also easier to weathering and erosion, Er Shi surface quickly lose their luster. So a few, such as marble, such as quality of pure Ai Ye Qing, less stable impurity species can be used for outdoor durability, and other varieties should not be used outdoors, it is generally used for interior surfaces.

Can be made of natural marble veneer senior decoration works for the hotel, exhibition hall, theaters, shopping malls, libraries, airports, stations, and other public works within the interior walls, to the surface, railings, floors, window board, service Taiwan, lift Menlian of finishes, are ideal for indoor decoration materials, advanced. In addition, for the production of marble, murals, arts and crafts, daily necessities.

Natural Granite is igneous rock, also known as acid crystals Plutonic is the most widely distributed in igneous rocks of a rock, is a hard stone, from feldspar, quartz and mica, whose composition with silica and account for about 65% ~ 75%. Rock hard dense, according to the size of crystalline particles can be divided into "pegmatite", "coarse grain" and "fine grain" of three.

Determined by the quality of granite mineral composition and structure. High quality granite, fine and uniform crystalline particles, mica and quartz little more content, and does not contain pyrite. Hard granite weathering deterioration, the appearance of color can be maintained for more than a century, so much for the wall base and wall finishes. As the granite hardness, wear resistance, it is also commonly used in high-level architectural decoration, for example, the lobby floor.

Granite and marble texture as compared to more rigid and acid, thus more suitable for home decoration in the outdoor terrace, garden, dining room, floor and windowsill. The marble can be used in bar, dining sets, buffet in the table.

1, granite materials: granite stone is no color stripes, most only color spots, there is a solid color. And mineral particles finer the better, indicating strong compact structure.

2, marble: marble material mineral composition is simple, easy process, the majority of fine texture, glossy is better. The drawback is the soft texture of granite, was hit hard when heavy objects vulnerable to damage, light-colored stone susceptible to pollution. Marble floor as the menu color, select the table when the striped fabric is better decorated. Other selection methods can refer to the selection method of granite.

Stone type

The most common used stone types are divided into four categories: sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous and artificial stone.

1, sedimentary rocks

Sedimentary rocks from the glaciers, rivers, wind, plants and other organisms in the oceans and debris from out of the formation of sedimentary rock deposits, and high temperature and pressure over millions of years of consolidation is made.

1. Limestone:

The main minerals calcite. Rare mineral particles and the crystal structure, surface smooth, showing small granules. Hardness varies, some dense limestone can be polished. Colors are black, gray, white, yellow and brown. The formation of limestone with lime water, hence the name.

2. Sandstone:

By the quartz particles (sand) to form stable structure, usually pale brown or red, mainly silicon, calcium, clay and iron oxide.

3. Saponite:

Formed by a variety of talc, very soft. It is resistant mineral dense and difficult to produce stains.

4. Fossils:

With marine shellfish, plant natural fossils, is considered limestone.

5. Travertine (Ulva):

Generally cream or pale red, made by the spring of calcite deposition. Due to water formed from the stones pass through many small holes, these holes commonly used synthetic resin or cement to fill, or need a lot of conservation work. Are limestone and marble.

Second, metamorphic rocks

Temperature and high pressure metamorphic rocks and minerals in the mixed effect of natural deterioration by a stone into another stone. Qualitative change may be re-crystallization, texture change or color change.

1. Marble

Is the recrystallization of the limestone softened at high temperature and pressure, and minerals contained in a change in the re-crystallization of marble. Main components are calcium and dolomite, many colors, usually with distinct patterns, a lot of mineral grains. Mohs hardness between 2.5 to 5.

Marble is divided into three categories:

Dolomite: magnesite (magnesium carbonate) content above 40%

Forsterite: magnesite (magnesium carbonate) content of 5% to 40%.

Calcite: magnesite (magnesium carbonate) content of less than 5%

2. Slate:

By the clay rock, sedimentary shale (sometimes by a quartz stone) of metamorphic rock, mineral particles fine, thin and fragile, usually black, gray or green.

3. Serpentine

Like snake skin pattern is named after its most common color is green and brown. Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 4. With a lot of magnesium, derived from igneous rock. Recrystallization and diamond polishing is sometimes poor.

Third, igneous

Igneous rock formed mainly by volcanic materials, such as magma. Subsurface liquid magma cooled, solidified. Gas and liquid into the rock minerals to form new crystals and various colors.

Granite:

Mainly by quartz (35%), feldspar (45%) and potassium form, usually dark color. Even with very little calcite. Texture is very hard, easier maintenance than marble, but there are still holes, and produce stains. In accordance with quartz, mica and feldspar in the mixture of different columns, divided into different types of granite. Black granite that is anorthite, contains quartz, feldspar, rare, its composition is different from the real granite.

4, artificial stone

Artificial stone is made of non-natural mixture, such as resin, adhesive cement and Crushed Stone.

Terrazzo:

Marble and granite fragments embedded in cement mixtures.

Stone or stone aggregate cohesion:

Colored marble fragments embedded in the resin mixture.

Stone or imitation stone culture

Resin mixture on the paint or mixed with paint, looks like marble.