Calacatta Marble: An Overview of a Few of the Different Types

Marble is usually named after the region where it’s extracted from. For example, Carrara marble comes from the legendary quarries of a Tuscan city where millions of years of volcanic activity have resulted in a creamy white natural stone with very attractive blue and gray veining. Marmara marble comes from Marmara Island in Turkey. Swedish green marble, as you can guess, is mostly quarried in Sweden. Calacatta marble defies the usual naming convention for this type of natural stone because it’s quarried in Carrara. Italian stonemasons named this exotic stone in honor of the city of Calcutta in India. Calacatta is one of the three major types of marble quarried in Tuscany, and it’s one of the most traditional in the region. Whereas Carrara marble is the most popular in American homes, Calacatta is more prominent in Tuscany. Here is an overview of some of the different types of Calacatta marble. Calacatta Oro Calacatta Oro is an excellent choice for fans of the Tuscan style of residential architecture. Though this type of marble isn’t rare, it hasn’t been as popular as Carrara marble in North America, thus making it a bit hard to find. Calacatta Oro has a natural shine and gold veining. Calacatta Gold The name of this marble is a bit confusing since it lacks gold veining or coloring. Calacatta Gold tends to be pricy because it’s not as abundant as other types of marble, but the intricate veining pattern makes it an ideal choice for designer kitchens and bathrooms. Since you can expect to pay more for Calacatta Gold, you should get into a habit of cleaning it regularly with a marble and granite countertop cleaner. Calacatta Michelangelo Calacatta Michelangelo is the type of marble that the legendary Italian artist would have chosen for his intricate sculptures. The dazzling white color and fine veining with touches of blue and gray makes this stone as popular as Carrara and Marmara marble. Calacatta Extra The veining of Calacatta Extra tends to appear in large and random patterns that often resemble paisley designs or tiger stripes. If you a have a kitchen island, this is the type of material you’ll want to install as a countertop. Calcatta Extra slabs look better with a highly polished look. To maintain the attractive shine, you can apply a marble and granite polish as needed and buff the surface with a dry paper towel or lint-free cloth. Calacatta Borghini Calacatta Borghini is one of the most colorful kinds of white marble, and it’s suitable for both flooring and countertop installations. The veining tends to be uniform and features touches of blue and gold. Calacatta Borghini tiles are often installed at upscale hotels and luxurious boutiques in Rome, and this type of stone looks great with a brushed or polished finish. Marble needs to be sealed regularly to protect against damage to the stone. If you’d like to learn how to seal natural stone such as marble, granite, travertine, or slate, contact the Stone Care Experts at Granite Gold® today at 1-800-475-STONE (7866).