Natural stones are rock formations
formed by nature. These stones are formed naturally by enormous pressure under
the earth. Natural stones were used in decorating and sculpturing right from
the moment civilization was born. These natural stones are time tested for
their natural beauty. Ancient buildings and monuments made of natural stones
during early civilizations still stand erect narrating the beauty and
durability of natural stones.
Modern people want to make their home
stand out of the rest and they used natural stones for their floors and walls
to bring about eternal beauty.
Granite and marble are two main natural
stones widely used in the stone industry. These stones are used in
constructions as well as in monumental sculpture. Commercially, these stones
are mined for use as architectural stones for flooring, cladding, curbing,
counter tops and much more to be used at home.
Granite is a widely occurring igneous
rock. The texture of granite is generally medium to coarse grains. Porphyritic
texture is very common in granite rocks. Various colors of granite stones are
widely available and most of the times, Granite Annapolis MD
is available as a massive rock. The beauty of granite is attributed to the
deposits like quartz, feldspar, and mica. Consistent granite has same pattern
throughout the stone. Variegated granite has various veins forming different
patterns that are not easy to match.
It was the ancient Egyptians who
quarried granite exclusively for use in various constructions. Most of their
monuments were built using granite and limestone. The only remaining ancient
wonder, The Great Pyramid of Cheops was built using limestone. The famous
Pharaoh which is a symbol of outstanding Egyptian civilization was built with
granite blocks. The Egyptians had marvelous sculpting skills and the granite
blocks of Pharaoh were sewn in a perfect manner that you can't slide even a
piece of paper between the rocks.
Pure white marble is a metamorphic rock
of very pure limestone. Marble is found extensively in various countries like
Belgium, France, Great Britain, Greece, India, Spain and Italy. From classical
times, pure white marble was considered as the best of its kind. In the
beginning, only white marble was considered worthy and colored marble was
considered impure. However, this belief was just short-lived because very soon,
ancient civilizations appreciated colored marbles too and used colored marbles
in various monuments and sculptures even though pure white marble Annapolis
MD is always regarded high. Freshly quarried marble is easy to
sculpture and the stone hardens as it ages.
Ancient Greeks were very much advanced
in civilization and they were really fascinated about marble. Finest
architecture and sculpting are specialties of Greek architecture and marble has
been used in various Greek buildings. Exquisite statues with detailed carvings
were made out of marble. Buildings built using Marble lasted for several ages.
The Parthenon which was built in 441-437 BC is considered as a symbol of
ancient Greek civilization and this scintillating building was built using Pendelikon
marble.
The Greek empire extensively used
marbles in their constructions. Temple of Artemis is one of the ancient wonders
of the world and it consists of 127 marble columns each of which is 5 stories
tall. It was the first grand structure made using marble. The magnificent
construction was destroyed by various civilizations that took over Greece, but
you can still find foundation and a few columns of the wondrous marbles.
When natural stones were widely used in
constructing monuments and temples, it was the Greek empire that brought marble
to personal use. References to baths and pools lined with marble can be seen in
ancient literature. Thassos marble was widely used in bathrooms and this type
of marble is still quarried today for commercial uses. Building constructions
using marble was popular in India too and the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven
Wonders of the World was constructed using pure white marble stones.
After the Egyptian and Greek
civilizations made some wonders with natural stones of granite and marble, the
Roman Empire decided to try its hands on both granite and marble. Many of the
roads of the Roman Empire were built using granite. Public baths became popular
in Rome and these baths were made of granite. Pantheon in Rome used granite
stones for columns and you can see these columns standing tall even today.
Romans loved granite and marble for
different reasons. They used granite extensively for constructions because the
stone is highly durable and strong. Marble was mainly used for aesthetic
reasons because Romans believed marble to be the most beautiful stone.
Construction pattern of Egyptians and Greek was different from Romans. While
the former civilizations used massive granite and marble stones to build
constructions, Romans used bricks and mortar for buildings and then, lined them
with marble and granite slabs. It is because of this reason that Romans were
able to build marble cities in a short duration.
The renaissance period is a golden
period for all types of artwork. Artists and sculptors were interested in using
natural stones for their artwork. Quarrying methods were improved by the time
and technical use was invented. Innovative and novel users of natural stones
increased during the renaissance period. Famous Michelangelo made several
beautiful sculptures out of marble. Ornate decorations made using marble and
granite were used in decorating churches, temples and other buildings of
magnificent nature. Meanwhile, natural stones were carved into decorative
pieces for use at home.
It was only during modern times that
natural stones were brought close to mankind. Quarrying techniques were
improved greatly and there was no need for men to die in quarries dealing with
dynamites. Innovative technologies were used in mining natural stones. Also,
the world started thinking about ecofriendly materials to be used to construct
homes. Architects and designers were overly enthusiastic about natural stones
that were used in building monuments. In the last decade, people preferred to
use more durable, yet stylish materials for constructing homes.
Marble and granite are available in
various patterns and colors and it was not easy to find the same pattern of
stones. This uniqueness of natural stones made people want for more use of
natural stones. In the ancient periods, marble and granite were used for lining
and decoration. People trusted durable stones and lay flooring using granite
and marble. Apart from their baths, living room, bed room and other rooms in
the home had natural stone flooring.
Even though natural stones add
exquisite beauty to the home, they are highly porous in nature. Harsh
substances can easily damage these natural stones. However, thanks to latest
technologies, that it is possible to add more strength to the stones and seal
the porous nature so that these stones can be used extensively at homes. It was
only during the last few years that countertops made of marble and granite
became popular.
Natural and exquisite stones which were
only used by kings and emperors are now available for a common man because
floor tiles made of natural stones are much more affordable now. Consumers must
be very cautious while buying floor tiles and countertops made of marble and
granite because natural stones are now made synthetically too. If you prefer
aesthetic beauty for your stylish family, always ensure that you buy natural
stones that were widely preferred by aristocrats of the past.
