Marble

Bianco Gioia Venatino

Bianco Gioia Venatino is a classic Italian Carrara marble from the Gioia quarry district in Carrara (Province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany) – petrographically a true metamorphic marble from the world-famous Apuan marble region. The slab shows a pale whitish-cream ground tone with characteristic fine to medium-fine grey veining that runs across the face as a branching, tree-like vein network. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate Bianco Gioia Venatino into elegant bathroom installations, wall claddings, staircases, window sills, floor areas, kitchen worktops and prestigious internal applications with a classic Italian marble effect.

Petrographisch ein echter metamorpher Marmor aus den Apuanischen Alpen – ein metamorph rekristallisiertes Karbonatgestein, entstanden aus ursprünglich sedimentären Trias-/Jura-Kalksteinen (vor etwa 200 Millionen Jahren) durch alpine Metamorphose während der alpidischen Gebirgsbildung. Die Lagerstätte befindet sich im Steinbruchgebiet Gioia im Marmorbecken von Carrara (Provinz Massa-Carrara, Toskana, Italien). Im Gegensatz zu vielen „Marmor"-Sortierungen im internationalen Steinhandel, die petrographisch Kalksteine sind, ist Bianco Gioia ein echter geologischer Marmor. „Bianco Gioia Venatino" bezeichnet die mild-bewegte (lightly veined) Sortierung mit feiner Aderung aus dem Gioia-Steinbruch – im Gegensatz zur stärker geäderten „Venato"-Variante. Mineralogisch dominiert Calcit – damit voll säureempfindlich.

Marble Italy 2.720 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs, Skirting, Tiles and flooring slabs

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About Bianco Gioia Venatino

Background. Bianco Gioia Venatino belongs to the world-famous Carrara marble family from the Apuan Alps in Tuscany – the historic centre of Italian marble extraction for over 2,000 years. Carrara marble was used in Roman antiquity (marmor luculleum) for the marble temples of Rome, in the Renaissance by Michelangelo for his famous sculptures (David, Pietà), and remains to this day the world's most iconic white marble. 'Bianco Gioia' denotes the specific selection from the Gioia quarry district, one of the significant extraction districts within the Carrara basin. The suffix 'Venatino' marks the lightly veined selection with fine veining – in contrast to the more strongly veined 'Venato' variant. Within the Carrara family, Bianco Gioia Venatino positions itself as the elegantly classic mid-range choice with characteristic Tuscan marble authenticity.

Geology and occurrence. Petrographically, Bianco Gioia Venatino is a true metamorphic marble – a metamorphically recrystallised carbonate rock that formed from originally sedimentary limestones of the Triassic and Lias (around 200 million years ago) through Alpine metamorphism during the Alpine orogeny. In this metamorphism the originally sedimentary calcite crystals were recrystallised at high temperatures and pressures into larger, interlocking calcite crystals – the end product is a compact crystalline marble structure. The characteristic grey veining arises from metamorphically concentrated remnants of the original sedimentary material (clay minerals, organic substances, sometimes pyrite) along the bedding planes. The deposits of Bianco Gioia lie in the Gioia/Pian della Fioba quarry district in the marble basin of Carrara, in the Province of Massa-Carrara (Tuscany, Italy). Geologically it is one of the rare petrographically true marbles – in contrast to many 'marble' selections in the international stone trade, which petrographically are in fact limestones.

Appearance. The ground tone is a classic Carrara white to pale grey-cream dimension stone white with subtle warm or cool undertones. The characteristic grey veining runs across the face as a fine to medium-fine branching vein network in irregular distribution – the vein courses are, as is typical for the material, organic and fluid rather than strictly linear, with more powerful diagonals and finer branches. The veining varies between individual slabs (batch variation) – some slabs show a finer, calmer vein pattern, others more strongly animated branching. From a medium distance the face reads as a calm, elegant white marble image with subtle movement; close up one discovers the fine crystalline calcite structure and the characteristic branching veining. Stylistically, Bianco Gioia Venatino sits between the calmer Bianco Carrara CD and the more dramatic Statuarietto.

Technical properties (SC s1596). Bulk density 2,720 kg/m³, compressive strength 125 – 126 MPa, flexural strength 19.8 MPa, water absorption 0.10 – 0.12 %, Mohs hardness around 3 – 4 (calcite). This places the stone in the more stable range of the marble family and makes it structurally load-bearing for floor and wall applications. Acid sensitivity: complete (calcitic) – vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato and cola leave etch marks on polished surfaces immediately. Frost resistance: not officially documented.

ROSSITTIS range. The finishes currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down this page. From the slabs we fabricate bathroom installations (vanity tops, wall and floor tiles, showers with professional waterproofing), wall claddings with bookmatched mirroring, staircases with treads and risers, internal floors in large format or tile format, bar counters, buffet and furniture tops, window sills, skirtings and kitchen worktops (with an acceptance of the care regime).

Comparison. Within the Carrara marble family, Bianco Gioia Venatino positions itself as the lightly animated, classically elegant choice. Related Carrara selections with differing degrees of movement are Bianco Carrara CD (markedly calmer, with minimal veining), Bianco Carrara C (somewhat greyer with more veins), Bianco Venatino (more strongly veined variant), Statuarietto (more contrasting with dramatic veins), Statuario (the premium statement with powerful black veins) and Calacatta (with golden-yellow/brown accents). Compared with Calacatta Vagli (with dramatic veining and golden accents), Bianco Gioia Venatino is calmer and more elegant; compared with Bianco Sivec (North Macedonian, very calm and homogeneous), Bianco Gioia shows more Italian classical movement. Compared with Calacatta selections with golden accents, Bianco Gioia stays within the pure white-grey tonality.

A frank assessment. Bianco Gioia Venatino is the ideal choice for any application where a classic Italian white marble character with mild, elegant veining is wanted. The selection performs particularly strongly in luxurious bathroom installations (vanity tops, wall claddings, floor applications with professional waterproofing), as a statement wall cladding with bookmatching in prestigious living spaces, as a staircase in elegant entrance areas and as a high-grade furniture top. Anyone seeking a calmer, more homogeneous white effect should turn to Bianco Carrara CD or Bianco Sivec; anyone wanting more powerful, dramatic veining should switch to Statuarietto or Calacatta; anyone needing an acid-resistant white stone for kitchen worktops or external applications should switch to a white quartzite (Cristallo, Mont Blanc), a porcelain (Calacatta look) or a pale granite/migmatite (Bianco Sardo, New Kashmir White).

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 2.720 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 125,5 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 19,8 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,11 %

Säurebeständig Nein

Suitability by application

Suitable with limitations

Bodenbelag △ Limited
Außenbereich △ Limited

Finishes

Bianco Gioia Venatino 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.

Geschliffen C220

Mattes Erscheinungsbild durch feinen Schliff mit Körnung C220 — die ebene Oberfläche wirkt ruhig mit etwas intensiverer Farbwirkung als C120, leichte Schleifspuren möglich. Pflegeintensiver als poliert, dafür kratzfester und matt-elegant — beliebte Wahl für moderne Bodenflächen und Wandverkleidungen.

Care & fabrication

Cleaning. In everyday use, warm water, a soft cloth or a clean mop and a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner are sufficient. Mild all-purpose cleaners without an acid content and 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 content, WC cleaners, wheel cleaners, oven sprays. Even diluted acids etch calcite marble immediately and leave matt patches that can only be remedied by professional repolishing. Aggressive scouring pads or abrasive pastes are likewise out of the question.

Sealing. Recommended for all applications with a risk of water or soiling – bathroom, kitchen, entrance area. A premium sealer with stone protection on a silane/siloxane basis protects against grease, oil and water stains and reduces the visibility of drip marks on pale marble surfaces, but it cannot remove the acid sensitivity. The sealer should be refreshed regularly (every 2 – 5 years depending on exposure).

Bathroom. Classic application – the strength of this selection. Usable as a wall and floor surface, vanity top and shower – with professional waterproofing to DIN 18534 and a premium sealer. Note: anti-limescale sprays and bathroom cleaners with an acid content must be avoided without exception, because they etch the calcite surface matt immediately.

Kitchen. Recommended with restrictions. Wine, vinegar, lemon, tomato juice and cola leave immediately visible etch marks on polished surfaces. Anyone wanting to minimise acid marks should choose a more matt finish with a premium sealer. For an acid-resistant white kitchen worktop with a similar classic look we recommend switching to a white quartzite or a porcelain with a Calacatta look.

Floor and stairs. Classic Italian application – built into prestigious interior fit-out schemes for centuries. With a compressive strength of 125 MPa and a flexural strength of 19.8 MPa, Bianco Gioia is fully load-bearing for heavily used entrance areas and staircases. For heavily used floor areas we recommend a more matt finish with a premium sealer.

External. Suitable with restrictions. With a more matt finish and careful laying with good drainage, Bianco Gioia 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 cycles. Frost resistance is not officially documented – with direct exposure to the weather we recommend a trial laying over the first winter.

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

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is Bianco Gioia Venatino?

Petrographically a true metamorphic marble – a metamorphically recrystallised carbonate rock from the Apuan Alps, formed from originally sedimentary Triassic/Jurassic limestones during the Alpine orogeny. The deposit is located in the Gioia quarry district in the marble basin of Carrara (Province of Massa-Carrara, Tuscany, Italy). In contrast to many 'marble' selections in the international stone trade, which petrographically are limestones, Bianco Gioia is a true geological marble.

What does the name 'Bianco Gioia Venatino' mean?

'Bianco' is Italian for white; 'Gioia' denotes the specific Gioia/Pian della Fioba quarry district in the marble basin of Carrara; 'Venatino' marks the lightly veined selection with fine veining – in contrast to the more strongly veined 'Venato' variant. This positions Bianco Gioia Venatino as the elegantly classic mid-range choice within the Carrara family.

What exactly does Bianco Gioia Venatino look like?

A classic Carrara white to pale grey-cream dimension stone white as the ground tone, run through with characteristic fine to medium-fine grey veining as a branching, tree-like vein network. The vein courses are, as is typical for the material, organic and fluid rather than strictly linear. Stylistically, Bianco Gioia Venatino sits between the calmer Bianco Carrara CD and the more dramatic Statuarietto.

What technical values does Bianco Gioia Venatino have?

SC values (s1596): bulk density 2,720 kg/m³, compressive strength 125 – 126 MPa, flexural strength 19.8 MPa, water absorption 0.10 – 0.12 %, Mohs hardness around 3 – 4 (calcite). This places the stone in the more stable range of the marble family. Acid-sensitive (calcitic). Frost resistance not officially documented.

Is Bianco Gioia Venatino suitable for kitchen worktops?

With restrictions. Wine, vinegar, lemon, tomato juice and cola leave immediately visible etch marks on polished surfaces. Anyone wanting the classic Italian marble look in the kitchen should choose the honed (C220) variant with a premium sealer – the etch marks then remain markedly less visible. For an acid-resistant white kitchen worktop we recommend switching to a white quartzite (Cristallo) or a porcelain with a Calacatta look.

Where is Bianco Gioia Venatino used most strongly?

The classic domain is luxurious bathroom installations – vanity tops, wall claddings with bookmatched mirroring, floor applications with professional waterproofing. It is also particularly impressive as a statement wall cladding in prestigious living spaces, as a staircase in elegant entrance areas and as a high-grade furniture top.

Which cleaners may I use?

Permitted are warm water, all pH-neutral stone and all-purpose cleaners and mild washing-up foam. Out of the question are all acidic cleaners – descalers, anti-limescale sprays with an acid content, WC cleaners, wheel cleaners, oven sprays. Even diluted vinegar or lemon juice leaves matt etch patches immediately, which can only be remedied by professional repolishing.

Bianco Gioia Venatino or Statuarietto?

Both are classic Italian Carrara marbles with differing degrees of movement. Bianco Gioia Venatino is lightly animated with fine veining – the elegantly classic mid-range choice. Statuarietto is markedly more contrasting with dramatic black-grey veins on a purer white ground tone – the more powerful statement choice. Both are acid-sensitive true marbles with an identical care profile. The choice is a stylistic decision between calm, elegant classicism (Bianco Gioia) and dramatic veining (Statuarietto).