Marble Flooring and More: The Different Uses of Marble

Marble is a very versatile material that has many uses. Marble flooring has been synonymous with opulence since time immemorial, but this rock actually has functions beyond construction.

While it is primarily used for art in terms of sculptures and as a building material in architecture, did you know that marble is also used in agriculture and pharmaceuticals? It is even used in cosmetics, paper, and paint. These are just some of the industries that capitalise on the flexibilities and unique properties of marble.

Let’s take a look at some of the more famous uses and/or structures that used marble.

• The Taj Mahal is infamous for its majestic façade. Built for a beloved wife of an emperor, the Taj Mahal extensively used marble in its construction, including its marble domes. The towers are made up of marble and the flooring featured geometric designs in contrasting tiles in tessellation patterns.
• The Washington Monument is an obelisk over 554 feet tall. This impressive structure is made up of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss. It has different shades of marble since the materials came from three contractors.
• The Bust of Artemis is a famous sculpture that showcases the beautiful properties of marble, particularly its remarkable sheen that produces a soft “glow.” Of course, the Bust of Artemis is not the only sculpture that is made of marble, as the material is clearly a popular choice among sculptors and artists.
• The agriculture industry considers marble as an essential as it is needed to create lime, an agricultural soil treatment that is used to reduce acidity in soil. Not only used for marble flooring, the material is heated to produce calcium oxide or lime. When harnessed properly, such as when combined with fertiliser, lime can increase the yield of the soil, which is important to those who live off the land.
• Next, let’s look at how marble can enhance even those who are vested in stationeries. Marble can produce a product referred to as “whiting,” a white powdery substance that is utilised as a brightener, filler, and pigment for paper, paint, and similar products. That means that the perfect white you see in these products are oftentimes the result of marble.
• Have you ever considered that your marble flooring is composed of materials that can neutralise acids? Marble contains calcium carbonate, a component that can neutralise acids. As such, popular antacids such as Alka-Seltzer and Tums contain marble that is crushed into powder. This is also an easier way of neutralising acidity levels in soil if it is more difficult to heat marble to produce lime than to crush marble.
• Then of course, there’s the fact that dairy cows and chicken can also ingest marble. We say “can” because marble is not necessarily a part of their diet — but powdered marble is used to produce supplements rich in calcium that are given to these animals. The same material as your marble flooring material is therefore being used by many to feed produce, as these supplements are softer than the animal’s teeth and a rich source of calcium.
• It can also be considered as ironic that marble is used as a scrubbing agent. In fact, it is a popular scrubbing agent as is evident by the many soft abrasive cleaning agents that are used on kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
• Finally, there is marble’s main function as a construction material, both for flooring and design. Marble flooring is very popular options among those who can afford it, and is very popular when it comes to prestigious architectural and interior designs. Marble can be used on an opulent staircase, as panels, and even as walls, among others.

These are just some of the more popular uses of marble. While marble is heavily utilised within different industries however, it is still very popular in the construction industry. If you want to use this material yourself, head over to Terrazzo Australian Marble for you’re flooring needs. You can use our materials to grace your floorings, create partitions, and even use our precast materials that will best compliment your desired space.

An expert in the terrazzo industry, we can provide you with in-situ services that guarantees that the products you need will be perfect for your property.