Marble is a type of decorative stone. These stones, which have been beautiful lavender, have a wide variety of designs and colors of white, gray, red, yellow, green, and so on. The crystalline structure of marble makes it possible to polish it well.

Marble is made up of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), which contains a wide range of other minerals such as clay, mica, quartz, pyrite (iron sulfide), iron oxides and graphite. Calcite material under temperature conditions and the high pressure crystallizes again, resulting in a mass of interconnected calcite crystals.

Physical properties and applications of marble

Marble can form in large areas of the earth up to hundreds of meters thick. As a result, millions of tons of marble are extracted annually on a large scale in the world's quarries. The extraction of this stone is done in two forms of crushed stone and large pieces.

Crushed rock mass is used to build highways, bed rails and building foundations, and other constructions. The second type is done by cutting marble and producing certain dimensions of these stones.

 These stones are often used for display in historical buildings, buildings, sculptures, paving stones, etc.

Here are some of the inherent characteristics of marble:

• Color

If the primary limestone contains a very small amount of impurities, the formed marble is usually found in a light color. Marble, which contains various impurities such as iron oxide, clay, bituminous, coal and other minerals, is formed in blue, gray, pink, yellow or black.

Pure marble is powdered and after removing impurities, it is used as a bleach and filler in the production of cosmetics, paper, plastic, etc.

• Reaction with acids

Calcium carbonate marble, in contact with many acids, neutralizes them. Therefore, marble crushed stone is used to neutralize acid in many rivers, lakes and soils. It is also a good option for neutralizing acid in the chemical industry.

• Hardship

The number 3 is measured for the hardness of marble on a mose hardness scale. Therefore, this stone is used for the production of decorative objects and sculptures.

• Polishing capability

Marble has the ability to polish and after this process, it has a good polish. Polished stones are used as floor tiles, facades, stair treads and columns.

Parameters that determine the importance of a marble quarry

Various factors affect the importance of marble quarries. The estimated age of the quarry, its availability, and the type of quarry are among the factors that determine the importance of a quarry. The type of stones extracted and in fact the value of these stones will also affect the value and importance of a quarry.

 The higher the hardness of the extracted marble, the more advanced the extraction equipment will be. Some quarries around the world are located on impassable heights and routes.

It is natural that access to these quarries is more difficult and costly. On the other hand, the volume of rock in a quarry is very important. Some quarries have infinite and valuable reserves of marble. These resources are more important.

The most important marble quarries in the world

There are quarries in different parts of the globe that meet human needs for all kinds of rocks and metals. Among all these quarries, we can mention the valuable marble quarries. The quarries, each with a different type of marble, are scattered across five continents. The following is a list of the 10 most important marble quarries and the reasons for their importance:

• Italian marble quarry in MONTE ALTISSIMO 

The quarries are located on the slopes of Mount Altissimo, one of the highest peaks of the Seravezza. They were discovered thanks to the efforts of Michelangelo when he was looking for the right stone to make his sculptures. The marbles extracted from these quarries are of the Karara marble type.

At present, various valuable historical monuments such as statues and many buildings in this land have been made with stones extracted from these quarries. Marble extracted from Italian quarries is known as the best marble in the world due to its high purity, durability and beauty.

• DANBY MARBLE quarry on DORSET Mountain

Danby quarry is known as the largest marble quarry in the world. Founded in the 1850s, it was the first marble quarry in the United States. One of the most famous marbles of this quarry is "Imperial Danby", which is identified by gray or gold streaks.

• Carrara quarry in Italy

The Karara quarries are located in the cities of Karara in the province of Massa and Tuscany in the Italian provinces. White stone with gray veins extracted from these quarries is known for its high quality and beauty and is used in the construction of many famous sculptures and the decoration and facade of buildings.

• Carrara marble quarry in Chile

Carrara marble, which is extracted from quarries around Lake Carrara, is one of the most famous types of marble. The lake is located on the border of Argentina and Chile. These quarries are more than 6,000 years old.

• Alanya quarry in Turkey

Turkey is known as one of the main exporters of marble to the world consumer market. The country has marble-rich quarries, and the Alanya quarries, known as the "Emperador Dark Marble", is one of the country's most valuable quarries. The dark color of this type of marble with light gray streaks is very attractive for use in the decoration and interior of buildings.

•CREMA MARFIL quarry in Alicante, Spain

One of the most famous marble quarries, Karma Marfil, is located in Alicante, Spain. In the quarries of this region, there is a wide variety of Crema Marfil marbles that have unique charm and beauty.

• PENTELIC MARBLE quarry in Greece

Located in the Pentelicus Mountains near Attica in the historic Athens area, the quarry is known as one of the most famous stone quarries in the world.

• Marble quarries in Iran

A significant part of the marble quarries are located in Iran. Among the various quarries in different cities, Lorestan, Markazi, Yazd and Kerman provinces have the most marble quarries, respectively. Other provinces, such as Khorasan, Hormozgan and Fars, also have a number of marble quarries.

·      Marathi Marble quarries in Greece

The island of Paros in Greece has one of the richest sources of marble dating back to the Roman Empire. Marathi quarries on the rocky island of white marble have attracted the attention of famous sculptors from all over the world.

• MAKRANA MARBLE Marble quarry

The Marmara Marble Marble quarry, which produces white marble, is another of the world's most famous marble quarries, located in the Nagur region of Rajasthan province in the western part of India.