Belgian marble is the name given to

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

extracted in

Wallonia Wallonia (; french: Wallonie ), or ; nl, Wallonië ; wa, Waloneye or officially the Walloon Region (french: link=no, Région wallonne),; nl, link=no, Waals gewest; wa, link=no, Redjon walone is one of the three regions of Belgium—alo ...

, southern

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. It is quarried around the cities of Namur, Dinant, Tournai, Basecles, Theux, and Mazy/Golzinne. Noirbelge.com: Belgian Marble − history
/ref>

Description

The rock is actually not a true

marble Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated (layered), although there are exceptions. In geology, the term ''marble'' refers to metamorphose ...

metamorphic Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock to new types of rock in a process called metamorphism. The original rock (protolith) is subjected to temperatures greater than and, often, elevated pressure of or more, causi ...

rock), but a type of

(a calcareous

sedimentary rock Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of mineral or organic particles at Earth's surface, followed by cementation. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause these particles ...

). Belgian marbles are available in solid dark greys or blacks; and in polychromes of red, grey, and/or pink. Graniteland.com: Types of stone from Belgium
/ref> After polishing slabs with several colors exhibit natural decorative patterns.

Named selections

Named Belgian marbles include: *

Rouge Belge "Rouge Belge" is a collective noun designating diverse Devonian red limestone varieties found in Wallonia (Belgium). Some names refer more specifically to the quarry were the material was found like the renowned "Rouge de Rance". Also Rouge Royal ...

: including

Rouge de Rance {{Short description, Red limestone from Rance, Belgium Rouge de Rance (Red of Rance) is a Devonian red reef limestone from the town of Rance in the province of Hainaut (Wallonia, Belgium). The red "marble" of Rance in the Belgian province of ...

, Rouge Royal. * Noir Belge: including Noir de Golzinne, Noir de Mazy.

History

Belgian marble has been quarried, cut, and finished as a

building stone Building material is material used for construction. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, rocks, sand, wood, and even twigs and leaves, have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-ma ...

stone cladding In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks form the Earth's o ...

, and

stone veneer Stone veneer is a thin layer of any stone used as decorative facing material that is not meant to be load bearing. Stone cladding is a stone veneer, or simulated stone, applied to a building or other structure made of a material other than stone. ...

since the Ancient Roman era, in

Roman Gaul Roman Gaul refers to GaulThe territory of Gaul roughly corresponds to modern-day France, Belgium and Luxembourg, and adjacient parts of the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. under provincial rule in the Roman Empire from the 1st century ...

and Rome, such as in the

Basilica of Junius Bassus The Basilica of Junius Bassus (''basilica Iunii Bassi'') was a civil basilica on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, on a site now occupied by the Seminario Pontificio di Studi Orientali, in via Napoleone III, 3. It is best known for its examples of ''o ...

. It has been used in important European religious and secular buildings since the

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...

, including the

Palazzo Pitti The Palazzo Pitti (), in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. The core of the present ...

and Palace of Versailles.

References

Limestone Building stone Geology of Belgium Wallonia {{geology-stub

Description

Named selections

History

See also

References