A HARD CRYSTALLINE METAMORPHIC FORM OF LIMESTONE, TYPICALLY WHITE WITH COLORED MOTTLINGS OR STREAKS, WHICH CAN BE POLISHED AND USED IN SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
By AFINISHES
"I saw the Angel in the marble and carved until I set him free". - Michelangelo
A HARD CRYSTALLINE METAMORPHIC FORM OF LIMESTONE, TYPICALLY WHITE WITH COLORED MOTTLINGS OR STREAKS, WHICH CAN BE POLISHED AND USED IN SCULPTURE AND ARCHITECTURE
GRANITE IS AN IGNEOUS ROCK MADE UP OF PRIMARILY QUARTZ, FELDSPAR, MICAS, AMPHIBOLES, AND A MIXTURE OF ADDITIONAL TRACE MINERALS. THESE MINERALS AND THEIR VARIATION IN ABUNDANCE AND ALTERATION GIVE GRANITE THE NUMEROUS COLORS AND TEXTURES.
TRAVERTINE IS A FORM OF LIMESTONE DEPOSITED BY MINERAL SPRINGS, ESPECIALLY HOT SPRINGS. TRAVERTINE OFTEN HAS A FIBROUS OR CONCENTRIC APPEARANCE AND EXISTS IN WHITE, TAN, CREAM-COLORED, AND EVEN RUSTY VARIETIES.
LIME STONE IS A HARD SEDIMENTARY ROCK, COMPOSED MAINLY OF CALCIUM CARBONATE OR DOLOMITE, USED AS BUILDING MATERIAL AND IN THE MAKING OF CEMENT.
BASALT IS A DARK FINE-GRAINED VOLCANIC ROCK THAT SOMETIMES DISPLAYS A COLUMNAR STRUCTURE, TYPICALLY COMPOSED LARGELY OF PLAGIOCLASE WITH PYROXENE AND OLIVINE.
SANDSTONE IS A SEDIMENTARY ROCK COMPOSED OF SAND-SIZE GRAINS OF MINERAL, ROCK, OR ORGANIC MATERIAL. IT ALSO CONTAINS A CEMENTING MATERIAL THAT BINDS THE SAND GRAINS TOGETHER AND MAY CONTAIN A MATRIX OF SILT- OR CLAY-SIZE PARTICLES THAT OCCUPY THE SPACES BETWEEN THE SAND GRAINS.