The facts
What landscape Marble actually is
Mineralogically, landscape Marble is a fine-grained limestone or calcareous marl whose fracture network has been infiltrated by iron oxides, producing images of ruined cities and coastlines — Calcite CaCO3 with iron and manganese oxide staining along fractures, crystallising in the aggregate system.
The colour is caused by limonite, goethite and manganese oxides deposited along a polygonal fracture network during diagenesis. That is worth knowing because it determines what heating, light and time can and cannot do to the stone.
A refractometer reads 1.486-1.658, and the specific gravity sits near 2.55-2.75; cleavage is calcite cleavage in grains.
Where landscape Marble comes from
The recognised sources are Alpi Apuane foothills and the Arno valley, Tuscany, Italy - the classic pietra paesina of the Medici workshops, Cotswolds and Bristol district, England (Cotham marble, a stromatolitic variant) and Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.
Origin affects price in this material, so we name the locality on every quote rather than the country. "African" or "Asian" tells a buyer nothing.
How landscape Marble is treated
Cut, polished, waxed and sometimes resin-filled. The images are wholly natural, which is the point - but painted and printed imitations exist, and Tuscan workshops have historically 'improved' pieces with added figures and skies in paint. Examine under magnification for pigment sitting on the surface. Not CITES.
None of this is a problem when it is said out loud. It becomes one the moment it is left out.
What landscape Marble is confused with
The usual confusions are Painted or enhanced pieces, Cotham marble (biologically formed, different mechanism), Dendritic limestone and Printed stone panels.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.486-1.658 and specific gravity 2.55-2.75 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What landscape Marble is used for
Landscape Marble is bought by mineral collecting, architecture and interiors, decorative objects and carving and sculpture — and each of those trades wants a different form of the same material.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen, by the square metre or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 3-4; cleavage calcite cleavage in grains. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What landscape Marble costs
Indicative pricing for landscape Marble is $30-300 for small polished plaques; fine large 'landscape' panels $300-3,000.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is landscape Marble treated, and how?
Cut, polished, waxed and sometimes resin-filled. The images are wholly natural, which is the point - but painted and printed imitations exist, and Tuscan workshops have historically 'improved' pieces with added figures and skies in paint. Examine under magnification for pigment sitting on the surface. Not CITES.
Where does landscape Marble come from?
Alpi Apuane foothills and the Arno valley, Tuscany, Italy - the classic pietra paesina of the Medici workshops, Cotswolds and Bristol district, England (Cotham marble, a stromatolitic variant) and Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is landscape Marble hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3-4 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does landscape Marble cost?
Indicatively $30-300 for small polished plaques; fine large 'landscape' panels $300-3,000. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is landscape Marble confused with?
Most often Painted or enhanced pieces, Cotham marble (biologically formed, different mechanism), Dendritic limestone and Printed stone panels. A refractive index of 1.486-1.658 and a specific gravity near 2.55-2.75 separate it quickly.
What is landscape Marble used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting, architecture and interiors, decorative objects and carving and sculpture. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for landscape marble?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about landscape marble