Difference Between Marble and Granite
Marble and granite are the types of stones that are used for flooring and making kitchen countertops across the world. The results are eye-catching and stylish. While commonly used for same purpose, there are differences between marble and granite. The difference is in their creation thousands of years ago beneath the surface of the earth’s crust. With different looks and significant difference in structural properties these are suitable for use in different environments. This article intends to highlight the differences between the two for someone who needs either one of them and wants to make a choice.
Granite
Granite is an igneous rock which implies that it was formed with the molten magma that cooled slowly after a long the duration of time. It is composed of different minerals such as quartz, mica and feldspar etc. Along with cooling down, the magma is also bears heavy pressure for thousands of years resulting in a material that is extremely hard, scratch resistant and the very durable. This is called the granite stone. There is a variation in the percentage of minerals in the different types of granite giving the different colors. This is why the granite is found in the black but also available in the type of grained variants with the presence of other colors.
Marble
The conditions of heat and pressure also work in case of marble, which is formed over thousands of years and is metamorphic rock. Instead of liquid molten magma which forms granite, limestone metamorphosises into marble. Because of the extreme pressure for long period, the limestone structure undergoes a change and transformation and this process is called recrystallization. The marble gets its color due to different impurities that are added during the formation of marble. A unique feature of marble is the presence of veins.
The difference between the marble and granite
Now that you know the basic difference between the two rocks, let us look at their other differences.
- Granite is more durable of the two and is also scratch and stain resistant.
- Marble loses its luster in environments where floor cleaning machines are used that contain chemicals.
- Many foods and drinks leave stains on flooring that looks bad if made of marble. But the granite, being scratch and stain resistant as new stays for a while longer.
This simply means that food and drink spills should be cleaned up quickly if you have marble flooring.
- It is possible to seal the granite flooring and make it completely water resistant.
- Granite is costlier than marble.
Marble is very attractive and in fact it seems more chic when used in bathrooms where its veins add to the beauty. The only precaution to be taken in case of marble floors is that while cleaning the stains acidic materials should not be used.