THE INTERESTING WORLD OF CREMA MARFIL MARBLE

Crema Marfil is the world’s best-known beige-toned marble. Crema Marfil became the best-selling and most valued marble due to its unique characteristics and patterns. Would you join us to learn more about this captivating material?

The quarry of Crema Marfil is located in the west of the province of Alicante, more specifically saying, in Monte Coto between Pinoso and La Algueña. The mountains that currently yield Crema Marfil blocks started forming over 60 million years ago and have grown to become one of the largest open-air natural stone quarries. Even though the Crema Marfil marble is processed and produced in communities near the quarry, however, The material rapidly spread worldwide and nowadays can be found in more than 100 countries across the Globe.

It is no surprise that this marble is highly popular, as its cream color can be easily paired and combined with any other color or material. Moreover, it is often chosen for the luminosity and spaciousness it brings to a room. Undoubtedly, it is a favored choice in interior design due to the vast array of possibilities it offers.

You probably have seen Crema Marfil marble on floors of shopping malls, airports, big public buildings, and hotels… But, the truth is that you can also have it in your own house due to its elegant appearance and affordability

In this aspect, it is worth classifying the qualities the material has, since depending on the quality price changes as well. The classification of Crema Marfil is quite controversial. Each trading company classifies this material differently. And, there are no commonly accepted standards of classification. That is why, depending on the distributor, we can find very different denominations. However, what we all agree on is that the presence of more veins on the surface of the material indicates the lower quality of Crema Marfil.

We are going to provide you with three different classifications: by qualities, by varieties, and by finishes.

Cream Marfil Qualities

Check out the pyramid quality classification, which indicates different qualities from the lowest to the best, from the bottom to the top respectively. As much we go down on the pyramid of qualities, the surface of Crema Marfil will appear in a greater homogeneity due to more marked veins, different shades of beige, etc.

In these images you can appreciate a high quality Crema Marfil next to a commercial quality.

There is one interesting fact to consider, while the above-mentioned qualities have a significant effect on the aesthetics and appearance of the stone, however technical performance and physical characteristics will be the same even if the quality is lower. We will also discuss these important aspects later.

Varieties of Crema Marfil

This detail is the one in which, perhaps, there is more debate. From our point of view, these would be the basic varieties:

Crema Marfil Rice Grain

As the name itself indicates this type of Cream Ivory draws on its surface some small shapes reminiscent of rice grains. The color of these shapes is grayish, as if transparent. These shapes are nothing more than fossils in the stone. It is considered one of the most compact Cream Ivory and therefore more resistant. Another detail is that it is usually combined with the pinta type as you can see in the following images.

Crema Marfil Pintas

This marfil has off-white rounded shapes distributed over the surface.

Crema Marfil Aguas

In this variety, the Cream Ivory results in what looks like sea waves drawn along the slab. In the same way, this aspect is due to the position of the fossils over time. In the water variety, we find light and dark waters.

Finishes for Cream Marfil marble

Polished: Definitely one of the most popular finishes. Crema Marfil is a very shiny and luminous marble, resulting in a unique mirror effect.
Honed: The opposite of polished, honed gives a matte finish. Crema Marfil tolerates this finish very well and is one of the best honing materials on the market.
Bushhammered: It tries to give the stone a rough texture. It is a finish that is usually used for exteriors.
Antique: This finish gives the material a very original three-dimensional texture. It stimulates the pass of time and the erosion of the stone.

However, we can affirm that the Cream Marble is an excellent choice for any finish you can imagine, as well as for any size of cut you want.
After knowing all the classifications of Crema Marfil you should know its physical characteristics, because after all, although aesthetics is very important, knowing the composition of the material you buy is essential to know the results it will give you.

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

Composition …………………………………………………….. Calcite, Dolomite and fossils
Specific gravity ………………………………………………….. 2.70 g/cm3
Apparent porosity ……………………………………………… 2.70 g/cm3
Compressive strength ………………………………………… 986 Kg/cm2
Flexural strength ……………………………………………….. 198 Kg/cm2
Friction wear test ………………………………………………. 0.35 mm
Impact test ……………………………………………………….. 30 cm
Absorption coefficient ……………………………………….. 0.16%
Microhardness ………………………………………………….. 147 Kg/cm2
Microhardness ………………………………………………….. 147 Kg/mm2
Flexural strength ……………………………………………….. 14.8 – 19.8 Mpa
Modulus of fracture:
Dry ………………………………………………………………… 10.3 MPa
Wet ……………………………………………………………….. 10.2 MPa

Many of the specifications may seem complex to you, but general terms, they imply that Crema Marfil is a resistant material. The Marble institute of America classifies it as a high-quality material that, with optimal treatment, performs well in interiors. One of its outstanding physical characteristics is its high resistance to ultraviolet radiation. This means that its colors will last over time.
If you are looking for a versatile, resistant and timeless material, Crema Marfil is a very good selection. If you still have questions, do not hesitate to contact us we will be pleased to solve them with you. If you have already opted for Crema Marfil, you can visit us or ask for a sample of the material without obligation.
In the meanwhile, you can visit our online stock and see all the Crema Marfil blocks we have available.