Multicolor Calcite Blocks

The world's whitest marble is mined in Sylacauga town, Alabama, USA. Alabama White Marble is prized for its pure white color and its crystalline structure. The stone is named after the town of Sylacauga, Alabama, which is sometimes called "the Marble City". Sylacauga marble has been called the "world's whitest".

Italy and China were the world leaders, each representing 16% of world production, while Spain and India produced 9% and 8%, respectively. In 2018 Turkey was the world leader in marble export, with 42% share in global marble trade, followed by Italy with 18% and Greece with 10%.

While marble is quarried in many countries around the world including Turkey, Greece, Brazil, India, Spain, China, Iran and Egypt there is one country which is generally considered the home of the most high-grade and luxurious marble available: Italy.

For marble blocks of fixed size, usually of 2 meters thick, the Romans used the method of the “panel” practicing in the selected block, a 15-20 cm deep cut in which were inserted metallic chisels. After a continuous pounding, the block was finally separated from the mountain.