The name marble derives from the Greek word “marmaros” and means “shining stone”. Marble comes out when chalk is put under high pressure or/and heat. Chalk-beds in soil usually consist of mussels or small shellfish. The necessary pressure arises i.e. when tectonic-plates are moving. An example for marble formed by heat is marble found near volcanoes – usually found around the hot core which itself is the even harder and worthier granite. The process itself is called metamorphosis by the geologists.
The different natural colours arise through vitiations of the white material with carbon, pyrite, chloride and other minerals. In principle marble is colourfast and frost resistant and that everlasting. However water and therefore other materials may intrude the porous stone which would colour the white marble. Furthermore marble is not acid-proof. After all marble is chalk and consists of carbon which solubilized by getting in touch with acids. Same effect when descaling a coffee maker.
We deliver our mosaics untreated. It´s up to you to work your stone up until it fits your idea (i.e. polishing the marble). To protect the stone you may use brick oil. No matter which method you may use to protect your stone you should take some care of it especially when not fixed within a house.
You should also know, that the colour blue is non-existing in nature which means it has to be made synthetically. A company in Italy has specialized on producing light- and dark blue marble - that way we are able to offer you even blue stones. Please note though, that blue stones are not light resistant on a durable basis. After a while the colour blue will change the color into purple. Dark blue marble is more affected than the light blue one, meaning that the blue stone will emerge into a purple colour within about 3 years - the light one within about 10 years. Therefore we recommend to install your mosaic only interior or at shadowy places if you wish to use your mosaic on a long-term basis.