Core stoneMarble · Grey
Marmara Marble
The same stone since antiquity
Marmara Marble is the marble we select at the Marmara Island quarries, known for parallel grey bands on a white ground that create striking symmetries when book-matched. The same vein worked since Roman times lives on in today’s buildings. Together with Akhisar Beige it is one of our two core stones, kept permanently in slab stock.
- Available finishes:
- Polished, Honed, Brushed, Sandblasted.
- Formats:
- Blocks, Slabs (2 cm / 3 cm), Cut to size, Project-specific cutting.
What is Marmara Marble?
Marmara Marble is a crystalline marble from the quarries of Marmara Island in Balıkesir, Turkey, known for parallel grey-blue bands on a white ground. In antiquity it was called Proconnesian marble and was used across the Roman and Byzantine world, most famously in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Yılmaz Mermer selects the blocks in person at the island’s quarries and processes them into slabs and cut-to-size pieces at its Akhisar plant.
Stone profile
- Stone type
- Crystalline (calcitic) marble
- Ground colour
- White to light grey
- Pattern
- Parallel grey-blue bands
- Crystal structure
- Medium to coarse grain
- Origin
- Marmara Island, Balıkesir (Turkey)
- Historic name
- Proconnesian marble
- Cut direction
- Striped when cut along the bands, cloudier when cut across them
- Slab thickness
- 2 cm and 3 cm standard; 1.2 cm and 4–5 cm on request
Where it is used
- Book-matched wall panels and lobby feature walls
- Hotel, shopping-centre and office floors
- Bathroom walls and floors
- Mosques and public buildings
- Stairs, sills and door surrounds
- Façade cladding (honed or brushed)
Care and installation
Marble is calcium carbonate, so keep acidic cleaners, lemon and vinegar away and use a pH-neutral stone cleaner for daily cleaning. With its light ground, an impregnating sealer applied after installation is especially important against coffee, tea and oil stains. For wet floors and exteriors we recommend a honed, brushed or sandblasted finish.
Marmara Marble: frequently asked questions
Where is Marmara Marble quarried?
On Marmara Island in Balıkesir, Turkey. Known in antiquity as Proconnesus, the island has been quarried for marble for more than two thousand years; the Sea of Marmara takes its name from the island, and the island from its marble.
Was Marmara Marble used in Hagia Sophia?
Yes. Proconnesian (Marmara) marble is one of the main stones of Hagia Sophia’s floors and wall revetments in Istanbul; the book-matched wall panels show this stone’s banded texture.
What is book-matching, and is Marmara Marble suitable for it?
Book-matching opens two consecutive slabs from the same block side by side like the pages of a book, creating a mirror-symmetric pattern. Its parallel bands make Marmara Marble ideal for it; we deliver consecutive slabs numbered and in sequence.
What is the difference between Marmara Marble and Afyon White?
Marmara Marble has distinct parallel grey bands on a white ground and a coarser crystal, suited to a patterned backdrop. Afyon White has a homogeneous white ground with fine, sparse veins for a calmer white surface.
Can Marmara Marble be used outdoors?
Yes, on façades, stairs and paving with a honed, brushed or sandblasted finish. A polished surface dulls outdoors over time, so it is best kept for interiors.
How much does Marmara Marble cost?
The price depends on the selection grade (set by band density and whiteness of the ground), thickness, finish and quantity. Send us the area and delivery port and our sales team will reply with a current price within one business day.