Marble is a metamorphic stone found in mountainous regions of North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. It’s created by the physical or chemical alteration of sediment into a denser form through heat and pressure. The resulting rock has a crystalline nature and veins of mineral deposits that pattern it where no two slabs exactly alike.

Marble is one of the more porous of the metamorphic stones, which is why it’s prone to staining. While not as hard as its metamorphic cousin granite (which comes from deeper in the earth marble exudes natural beauty which has been used for centuries in all forms of architecture and design. It generally has a low abrasion rating, meaning it scratches quite easily. The stone’s makeup makes it particularly sensitive to acidic solutions, which can result in etching on the surface. On the plus side, marble is heat resistant, and generally doesn’t chip or dent.