Marble Veins, sinuous lines of color that cross stones.

Marble veins are long and sinuous lines of color that cross the natural stone and are one of the most sought after features by marble lovers because of the elegance they are able to give to the stone surface. Marble veining, in fact, represents perhaps the most requested pattern and it is the one that undoubtedly best represents the classic appearance of marble stone. Going deeper into the theme of marble veins, we discover that there are different types of marble veins: for example, one stone vein can be thinner and straighter while another may have a less regular and more pronounced appearance. Color can also be a factor that distinguishes the different marble veins. What is certain is that increasing one’s knowledge of marble veins can help distinguish the different varieties of veined marble types available and identify the most suitable one for the project to be carried out and the space in which the veined stone will be installed.

Where do marble veins come from?

From a geological point of view, marble veins are sheets of minerals crystallized within the rock. Generally, these minerals are deposited by water; subsequently, the water evaporates and leaves traces of minerals behind. Mineral deposits can vary the color of the stone vein from black to gray, up to red, green and purplish based on the elements present such as metals, mud, clay, iron oxides and other impurities. A similar process occurs for the spots and clouds sometimes present on the stone surface but the marble veins can also be characterized by long deposits of different widths or by more or less straight branches.
Finally, it must be said that there are different ways to visualize marble veining in a slab depending on how it is cut: vein cut or cross cut. If a stone is vein cut, marble veins will appear as long stripes running lengthwise through the veined stone (showing the stratifications of the geological process). If, on the other hand, a stone is cross cut, marble veins will have a less regular and more swirling pattern with the creation of unique drawings with a strong aesthetic impact.

Most important and famous marble veins

Now let’s see which are the most famous and appreciated veined marble varieties in the stone field. First of all, the quarrying area of Carrara is fortunate to have several varieties of marble among the finest and requested by all interior designers in the world. Among the veined marbles of the Apuan area we consider it appropriate to mention the white Calacatta marble characterized by delicate light marble veins and Statuario marble which, on the other hand, has darker marble veins that create a unique contrast with its bright white background.

If there is a combination of a white vein marble with dark veins, there is also a dark marble background with white marble veins. This is the case of the famous black Marquina marble and its elegant and evident white marble veins with a mainly diagonal pattern. Finally, among the best-known veined marbles we cannot fail to mention the Emperador marble, a brown marble with a dense mesh of fine beige marble veins.