Limestone

Listed in our range under Marble.

Alpinina

Alpinina is a warm creamy ivory Portuguese limestone – carried in the international stone trade as “Portuguese marble” – with a characteristic network of pink-reddish iron oxide stylolites. The slab shows a warm Mediterranean cream tone crossed by a fine, almost coral-like mesh of pink-orange and occasional fine grey veins, which give the selection its lively, classically Portuguese Mediterranean character. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate Alpinina into classic internal floors, stairs, wall cladding, window sills, bathroom fit-outs and Mediterranean elegant accent elements with a warm Portuguese natural stone effect.

Petrographisch ein feinkörniger Kalkstein aus dem portugiesischen Maciço Calcário Estremenho (Estremadura-Kalkstein-Massiv, Distrikte Leiria und Santarém, Zentral-Portugal) – kein metamorpher Marmor im engeren geologischen Sinn. Die Sortierung wird im internationalen Steinhandel als „portugiesischer Marmor" geführt. Mineralogisch dominiert Calcit – damit voll säureempfindlich, polierbar. Charakteristisches gestalterisches Merkmal: ein dichtes Netzwerk aus rosa-rötlichen, manchmal koralligen Eisenoxid-Stylolithen, die der Sortierung ihre lebendige mediterrane Identität geben.

Limestone Portugal 2.696 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs, Tiles and flooring slabs

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About Alpinina

Background. Alpinina is one of the most established Portuguese dimension stones and belongs to the classic family of pale Estremadura platform limestones, which have been used in Portuguese and Mediterranean architecture for centuries – for flooring, wall cladding, columns, fountain surrounds and façade elements of classic Renaissance, Manueline and modern architectural buildings. The selection is well established in the current Portuguese dimension stone range for interior fit-out and high-end architectural projects.

Geology and occurrence. Petrographically, Alpinina is a fine-grained limestone – a sedimentary carbonate rock deposited in a warm, shallow tropical shelf sea and consolidated by diagenesis into a compact crystalline rock. The deposits lie in the Portuguese Maciço Calcário Estremenho – the Estremadura limestone massif, the most important Portuguese marble and limestone region (districts of Leiria and Santarém, central Portugal). The well-known sister selections Moleanos, Moca Creme, Branco Carrara, Calcário Azul, Vidraço and many others also come from this region. Geologically these selections are Jurassic to Cretaceous platform limestones.

Trade designation. In the international stone trade, Alpinina is carried as “Portuguese marble” – a commercial classification covering all readily polishable, pale carbonate rocks. Petrographically, however, the selection is a limestone and not a marble in the narrower sense (that is, not a metamorphically recrystallised carbonate rock such as Italian Carrara marble). Mineralogically, calcite dominates – the selection is acid-sensitive, polishable and has the typical care profile of a limestone.

Appearance. The base tone is a warm, creamy ivory beige with a subtle golden shimmer and fine warm undertones. Across the surface runs the defining design feature of this selection: a dense, characteristic network of pink-reddish, sometimes coral-like iron oxide stylolites – fine vein courses impregnated with iron-oxide-bearing fluids along natural fracture boundaries. The veins vary from hairline to 1 – 2 mm in width and in tones from delicate salmon pink through reddish orange to warm coral. Here and there, finer grey calcite veins are visible as a complement to the dominant iron oxide stylolites. From a middle distance the selection reads as lively, Mediterranean and warm; up close one discovers the geological complexity of the stylolite network. Alpinina thus differs markedly from calm, homogeneous beige selections such as Crema Marfil or Cleopatra Creme – the pink-reddish veining is the design identifier.

Technical properties. Bulk density 2,696 kg/m³ (higher than many platform limestones, which speaks for density and strength), compressive strength 112.8 MPa, flexural strength 17.9 MPa (good by limestone standards), water absorption 0.18 % (very low), abrasion group 1.9 cm³/50 cm². Alpinina therefore lies in the most stable range of the Portuguese platform limestones and is structurally and mechanically fully load-bearing for all floor, wall and stair applications. Mohs hardness about 3 – 4 (higher than many softer limestones). Acid sensitivity: complete (calcitic) – vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato and cola leave etch marks on polished surfaces immediately. Frost resistance: not documented in DNSA – for external applications with direct weathering we recommend a trial installation through the first winter.

ROSSITTIS range. From the slabs we fabricate internal floors in large format or classic tile format, stairs with treads and risers, wall cladding, bathroom fit-outs (vanity units, wall and floor tiles, showers with correct waterproofing), window sills, skirtings, bar counters, buffet and furniture tops as well as selected external applications under a canopy.

Comparison. Within the Portuguese Estremadura limestone family, Alpinina positions itself as the pink-reddish, fossil-emphasised selection with a characteristic stylolite network. Moleanos is paler and with a finer, calmer figure; Moca Creme is more sandstone-like and with a beige base tone; Calcário Azul is pale bluish grey. Compared with Italian selections such as Crema Marfil (Spain, calmer), Perlato Sicilia (Italy, richer in fossils with whitish pearly calcite inclusions) or Botticino Classico (Italy, paler with fine movement), Alpinina is warmer and carries the characteristic iron oxide stylolite veining as its identifier. Stylistically related are also the Turkish Rosa Aurora and the Italian Rosso Verona – both with similarly reddish-coloured veining.

Honest assessment. Alpinina is the ideal choice for any application calling for a warm, lively Portuguese Mediterranean natural stone character with characteristic pink-reddish veining. The selection works particularly strongly as a large-area internal floor in prestige living spaces, hotel lobbies and stairwells, as wall cladding in Mediterranean elegant schemes and as a bathroom fit-out in classic wellness areas. Anyone looking for a calm, homogeneous beige stone without veining should reach for Crema Marfil or Cleopatra Creme; anyone wanting an acid-proof stone for heavily used kitchen worktops should switch to a quartzite or a porcelain with a similarly warm character.

Technical data

Guide values for the stone type, taken from manufacturer and test reports. Natural stone is a natural product — individual batches and slabs can differ. For critical applications, request slab-specific test data.

Rohdichte 2.696 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 112,8 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 17,9 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,18 %

Suitability by application

Suitable with limitations

Bodenbelag △ Limited
Außenbereich △ Limited

Finishes

Alpinina is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.

Poliert

Politur ist die klassischste Veredelung für Marmor und Kalkstein — eine glänzende Oberfläche mit höchstmöglicher Farbintensität und ausgeprägter Tiefenwirkung der Aderung. Je nach mineralischer Zusammensetzung kann die Wirkung stellenweise mattglänzend sein. Säureempfindlich — Wein, Zitrone und Essig hinterlassen Ätzspuren bei längerer Einwirkung.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. For everyday use, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner are enough. Mild all-purpose cleaners without an acid component and a mild washing-up foam are suitable. Take up spilled liquids promptly – the material is acid-sensitive, and every drop of vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato or cola can leave an etch mark on the polished surface.

Do not use. Acidic cleaners of any kind – descalers (vinegar, citric acid, formic acid), sanitary cleaners with an acid component, WC cleaners, wheel cleaners, oven sprays. Even diluted acids etch calcite rocks immediately and leave dull patches that can only be remedied by professional re-polishing. Aggressive scouring pads or abrasive pastes are likewise taboo.

Sealing. Recommended for all applications with a risk of water or soiling – bathroom, kitchen, entrance area, external surfaces. Sealing with a silane/siloxane-based stone protector guards against grease, oil and water stains, but cannot remove the acid sensitivity. The sealer should be refreshed regularly (every 2 – 5 years depending on loading).

Kitchen and bathroom. Usable in the bathroom as wall and floor tile, vanity top and shower – with correct waterproofing and sealing. Note: anti-limescale sprays and bathroom cleaners with an acid component must be avoided, because they etch the calcite surface matt immediately. In the kitchen, only conditionally recommended as a worktop – wine, vinegar, lemon and tomato juice leave immediately visible etch marks on polished surfaces. For the warm Mediterranean look in the kitchen we recommend a more matt finish with a premium sealer – etch marks remain visually far less apparent on such treatments.

Floor and stairs. The classic application. With a compressive strength of 112.8 MPa and a flexural strength of 17.9 MPa, Alpinina lies in the most stable range of the Portuguese platform limestones and is structurally fully suitable for heavily used entrance areas and commercial floor surfaces. The abrasion group of 1.9 cm³/50 cm² is very good by limestone standards. For stairs with external water contact, a slip-resistant special finish with certified slip resistance should be chosen.

External. Conditionally suitable. With a more matt or slip-resistant textured finish and careful installation with good drainage, Alpinina can be used outdoors – but we recommend applications under a canopy or loggia. A polished external application loses its gloss within a few years in a central European climate through precipitation and freeze-thaw cycling. Frost resistance is not officially documented – where there is direct exposure to weathering we recommend a trial installation through the first winter to verify the material batch.

Scratches and repair. Where there are dull patches, etch marks or light scratches on the polished surface, a specialist stonemason or jointing contractor can locally re-polish the slab with diamond pastes. Deeper mechanical damage can be partly concealed with coloured calcite-based repair mortars.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is Alpinina?

Petrographically a fine-grained limestone from the Portuguese Maciço Calcário Estremenho (Estremadura limestone massif, districts of Leiria and Santarém, central Portugal) – a sedimentary carbonate rock deposited in the shallow tropical shelf sea of the Iberian platform. In the international stone trade, Alpinina is carried as “Portuguese marble” – that is a commercial classification for all polishable carbonate rocks, not a geological use of the term marble.

What is the defining design feature of Alpinina?

The characteristic network of pink-reddish, sometimes coral-like iron oxide stylolites over the creamy ivory base tone. The fine vein courses form along natural fracture boundaries into which iron-oxide-bearing fluids penetrated during diagenesis – that is the identifier of this selection and distinguishes Alpinina markedly from calm, homogeneous beige selections such as Crema Marfil or Cleopatra Creme.

Which technical values does Alpinina have?

Bulk density 2,696 kg/m³, compressive strength 112.8 MPa, flexural strength 17.9 MPa, water absorption 0.18 %, abrasion group 1.9 cm³/50 cm². Alpinina therefore lies in the most stable range of the Portuguese platform limestones. Mohs hardness about 3 – 4. Acid-sensitive (calcitic). Frost resistance not officially documented.

Is Alpinina suitable for kitchen worktops?

To a limited extent. Wine, vinegar, lemon, tomato juice and cola leave immediately visible etch marks on polished surfaces. Anyone wanting the warm Mediterranean look with the characteristic pink-reddish veining in the kitchen should choose a more matt finish with a premium sealer – etch marks remain visually far less apparent on such treatments. For an acid-proof kitchen worktop with a similar look we recommend switching to a quartzite or a porcelain.

Is Alpinina suitable for heavily used internal floors?

Yes, very much so. With a compressive strength of 112.8 MPa, a flexural strength of 17.9 MPa and an abrasion group of 1.9 cm³/50 cm², Alpinina lies in the most stable range of the Portuguese platform limestones and is structurally fully suitable for hotel lobbies, stairwells and commercial floor surfaces. For heavily walked areas we recommend a more matt finish with a premium sealer; the variants currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block.

Is Alpinina suitable for external surfaces?

Conditionally. With a more matt or slip-resistant textured finish and careful installation with good drainage, Alpinina can be used outdoors – but we recommend applications under a canopy or loggia. A polished external application loses its gloss within a few years in a central European climate through precipitation and freeze-thaw cycling. Frost resistance is not officially documented.

Which cleaners may I use?

Permitted are warm water, all pH-neutral stone and all-purpose cleaners and a mild washing-up foam. Taboo are all acidic cleaners – descalers, anti-limescale sprays with an acid component, WC cleaners, wheel cleaners, oven sprays. Even diluted vinegar or lemon juice leaves immediate dull etch marks that can only be remedied by professional re-polishing.

Alpinina or Moleanos?

Both are Portuguese platform limestones from the Maciço Calcário Estremenho with an identical care profile. Alpinina (warm cream tone with a characteristic pink-reddish stylolite network) reads as livelier and more striking in design terms; Moleanos (pale cream tone with a finer, calmer figure) is more neutral and easier to plan with. The choice is a stylistic decision between a lively, Mediterranean warm effect with defining veining (Alpinina) and a calm, elegant dimension stone effect (Moleanos).