Facts & Maintenance

Facts

ALABASTER:
A fine-grained and translucent variety of gypsum, generally white in color.
CALCITE:
A crystalline variety of limestone containing not more than 5% magnesium carbonate.
CORAL:
Originated from rocky formations of fossilized submarine and plant life. Emerging from the sea during a continental shift, coral is not a mineral but a hard calcareous substance consisting of the continuous skeleton secreted by many tribes of marine coelenterate polyps, like a growing plant on the sea bottom. It is becoming increasingly rare. It is generally white, beige or red.
DOLOMITE:
A crystalline variety of limestone containing in excess of 40% magnesium carbonate as the dolomite molecule.
GRANITE:
A very hard, crystalline, igneous rock formed from magma.  Composed of  fieldspar,  quartz, and lesser amounts of dark  ferromagnesium  materials.
GREENSTONE:
A metamorphic rock, typically with poorly defined granularity, ranging in color from medium-green or yellowish-green to black.
IGNEOUS:
Any of the various volcanic rocks,  solidified after the molten state,  such as granite.
LIMESTONE:
A sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcite or dolomite.  Limestone is used as dimension stone and is well consolidated and exhibits a minimum of graining or bedding direction.
MARBLE:
A metamorphic crystalline rock composed predominantly of crystalline grains of calcite (a form of calcium carbonate), dolomite or serpentine and is capable of taking a polish.
METAMORPHIC ROCK:
Rock altered in appearance, density, crystalline structure, and in some cases, mineral composition, by high temperature or intense pressure, or both.  Includes slate derived from shale, quartz based stone from quartzite sand, and true marble and limestone.
ONYX:
A translucent, generally layered, cryptocrystalline calcite form of quartz.  Onyx is classified in the marble group.
QUARTZ:
A silicon dioxide mineral that occurs in colorless  and transparent  or colored hexagonal crystals or in crystalline masses.  One of the hardest minerals that compose stones such as sandstone, granite and quartzite.
QUARTZ-BASED STONE:
A stone that may be either sedimentary in formation,  as in sandstone, or metamorphic, as in quartzite.
QUARTZITE:
A metamorphic quartz based stone formed in exceedingly hard layers.  In some deposits, intrusion of minerals during formation process create unusual coloration.
SANDSTONE:
See quartz-based stone.
SEDIMENTARY:
Rocks formed of sediments laid down in successive strata or layers.  The materials of which they are formed are derived from preexisting rocks or the skeletal remains of sea creatures.
SERPENTINE:
A hydrous magnesium silicate material, generally dark green with markings of white, light green, or black. Serpentine is classified in the marble group.
SHELL:
Like coral, shell stone is created from rocky formations of submarine life. It is produced by shell dust and is embedded with ancient coral, crustaceans and shells. It is generally white, beige or red. It is naturally cool to the touch, making it an ideal material for exteriors.
SOAPSTONE:
 A metamorphic rock which is mainly composed by the mineral Talc.  A massive talc with “soapy”  feel,  used in chemical resistant laboratory tops.  It is known for its stain resistant characteristics.  It is classified as part of the greenstone group.
TRAVERTINE:
A variety of limestone that is a precipitate from hot springs.  Some varieties of travertine take polish and are known as marble.  Travertine is classified in both the limestone and marble groupings.

Maintenance

BELMARMI IS A DEALER FOR:

***** BELMARMI USES STAIN-PROOF 15yr SEALER ON ALL OUR  FABRICATED SLAB !
***** BELMARMI has a CARE & CLEANING of NATURAL STONE SURFACES brochure available free to all our customers!
*****Please contact the Marble Institute Of America for all of your maintenance questions  at www.marble-institute.com and click on Consumer  Resources
*****You may also contact Dry-Treat at www.dry-treat.com for additional information
*****You may also contact Stone Care International at www.stonecare.com for additional information

MARBLE INSTITUTE of  America  Dos and Don’ts:
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DO Vacuum and dust mop floors frequently
DO Clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap
DO Thoroughly rinse and dry surface after washing
DO Protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and counter tops surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats
DON’T Use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble,  limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces
DON’T Use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaner
DON’T Use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers
DON’T Mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas
DON’T Ever mix chemicals together unless directions specifically instruct you to do so