I‘ve been trying to get ideas in the net on learning if your marble furniture is pure or fake. they say that real marble is really cold even when the temperature is hot. Does that also apply to furniture i.e. marble top dining table? How do I know if I have a fake one or a real one?
Real marble is mainly calcium carbonate. Marble is limestone or dolomite that has been metamorphosed with heat and pressure. Pure calcite marble is white, but impurities produce a wide variety of colouring and patterns. The marble can not withstand sudden changes in temperature (it's colder than the environment), humidity, presence sulphurous gas in the atmosphere. To test if it's a real marble do a test in a small, hidden area: apply one drop of weak acid with eyedropper. Acid will fizz on contact with real marble. CaCO2 HCl CaCl2 H2O CO2 The test produces the characteristic fizz from the release of carbon dioxide only on calcium based stone, i.e., marble. The acid will not fizz on quartz or silicate-base (granite) stone, nor on synthetic material. Cultured marble is a mixture of resin and ground marble. It is less expensive alternative to natural marble. Fake marble or faux marble is a painting technique, it means the painting of painting surfaces so as to imitate the appearance of polished marble. It is typically used in buildings where the cost or weight of genuine marble would be prohibitive. Scagliola is a technique for producing plasterwork columns, sculptures, and other architectural elements that resemble marble. Artificial marble contains a polymer / monomer, mica flakes, glass flakes, resin and other components, it is used for kitchen worktops because it is heat and scratch proof and chemically resistive. Marbelite is a synthetic, mouldable, artificial marble. Marbelite is made by heating potassium alum in water then added 10% heavy spar and marble dust. Synthetic materials may have lower initial costs but lose their gloss quickly and must be restored with waxes or finishes which give an artificial look. In the construction trade, the term marble is used for any massive, crystalline calcitic or non-calcitic rock useful as building stone.
