types of marble

[Don Dougan <dondougan@xxxxxxxx>]

Steven asked:
" Where can I find descriptions of the different types of marble?"

Steven, two sources I use for reference are below:

One of the more comprehensive collections of photo-reproductions of types
of marble is the two volume loose-leaf set of DIMENSION STONES OF THE
WORLD published by The Marble Institute of America, first published in
1990  [phone: (313) 476-5558].  It is not cheap to buy [if I remember
correctly it was $200 or so back when], but  it contains hundreds of 8½ x
8 inch actual-size high-quality color reproductions of current
commercially quarried marbles, stones, and granites with the basic
information on each example, including primary commercial name, other
names it is known by, where it is quarried,  geologic age, color-range
description, average size of block quarried, or slabs cut, technical
information on porosity, density, hardness, strength, etc.  
If you purchase it, you will receive additional newly printed pages when
examples are added at no extra cost.

The Italian Trade Commission [91801 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 700, Los
Angeles, California, 90067    phone: (213) 879-0950] also publishes a
free poster of marbles quarried in Italy, as well as a small spiral-bound
book MARMORA - ITALIAN DIMENSIONAL STONE.  The book was published in 1996
and it has 71 pages of  5½ x 7½  inch actual-size high-quality color
reproductions of best-selling current commercially quarried marbles,
stones, and granites from Italy (with similar info for each example as
MIA book), as well as text to accomapany some photos of Italian quarries
and buildings in America using Italian stone.  They also published a
larger and more comprehensive book (now out of print and unavailable) in
the late eighties with larger actual-size reproductions.  They are/were
generous in giving these materials out if your request is/was on a formal
commercial letterhead . . .

Good hunting!
Don Dougan