Marble

Colorado Gold Vein

Colorado Gold Vein (also “Colorado Yule Marble”, “Colorado White Marble” or “Colorado Golden Vein”) is an exceptionally pure US white marble from the historic Yule quarry near Marble in Gunnison County, Colorado — the famous stone of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. (1922) and of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1931). At 99.5 % pure calcite, Yule marble is among the whitest and purest marbles in the world. The slab shows a radiant white, almost brilliant base tone with fine warm golden and ochre-coloured parallel accent veins. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate Colorado Gold Vein into prestige bathroom installations, wall claddings, staircases, statement furniture tops, sculptures and special accent elements with an incomparably pure white marble effect.

Petrographisch ein echter metamorpher Marmor mit dem außergewöhnlichen Reinheitsgrad von 99,5 % Calcit – einer der reinsten weißen Marmore weltweit. Die Lagerstätte befindet sich im historischen Yule-Creek-Steinbruch bei der Stadt Marble in Gunnison County, Colorado (USA), auf einer Höhe von etwa 2.700 Meter (einer der höchstgelegenen aktiven Marmorsteinbrüche weltweit). Geologisches Alter: 70 – 30 Millionen Jahre, entstanden durch Kontaktmetamorphose mit eindringenden granitischen Magmen während der Laramid-Orogenese. Yule-Marmor hat historische Bedeutung als Material für mehrere US-amerikanische Repräsentationsbauten – darunter das Lincoln Memorial (1922) und das Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (1931). Verbreitete Handelsnamen: „Colorado Gold Vein", „Colorado White Marble", „Colorado Yule Marble", „Colorado Golden Vein Marble". SC-Einträge: s18030/s4343. Achtung: SC s17850 listet fälschlich einen italienischen Calacatta-Marmor unter dem Alias-Namen – diese Verwechslung ist zu vermeiden.

Marble United States 2.714 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs

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About Colorado Gold Vein

Background. Colorado Gold Vein belongs to the world-famous Yule marble family from the historic Yule Creek quarry near the town of Marble (Gunnison County, Colorado, USA) — one of the most significant and highest-quality US marble production regions. Yule marble was first discovered in 1873 and has been quarried commercially since the 1880s. In the international stone trade the selection is offered under several trade names: “Colorado Gold Vein”, “Colorado White Marble”, “Colorado Yule Marble”, “Colorado Golden Vein Marble” and “Valley Gold Vein Marble”. SC entries: s18030 and s4343.

Historic significance. Yule marble is one of the most famous US dimension stones and was used for several iconic monuments and buildings: the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. (completed in 1922 — 5,500 tonnes of Yule marble for the external cladding and the columns, as well as the entire marble figure of the Lincoln statue inside), the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery (erected in 1931 from a single 56-tonne block of Yule marble), the interior fittings of the Capitol building in Washington and numerous further American prestige buildings. The exceptional purity of the stone makes it one of the most valuable marble selections in the Western Hemisphere.

Geology and occurrence. Petrographically, Colorado Gold Vein is a true metamorphic marble — a metamorphically recrystallised carbonate rock with the exceptional purity level of 99.5 % calcite, formed from originally sedimentary carbonate rocks during the Laramide orogeny (around 70–30 million years ago) by contact metamorphism with intruding granitic magmas. This high-temperature contact metamorphism led to the extreme purification of the calcite and to the characteristic coarsely crystalline marble structure. The deposit is located in the Yule Creek valley in the Elk Mountains, above the town of Marble (Gunnison County, Colorado, USA), at an altitude of around 2,700 metres — one of the highest-lying active marble quarries in the world. Geological age: 70–30 million years.

Appearance. The base tone is an exceptionally radiant pure white with a subtle, almost bluish-looking sheen — the purest white marble tone commercially available. The high calcite purity (99.5 %) produces an almost luminescent brightness. Across the surface run fine warm golden and ochre-coloured parallel accent veins in an irregular, often horizontal-diagonal distribution — the defining design feature of the “Gold Vein” selection. In calmer batches the veins are subtle and restrained; in more dramatic batches more powerful. The vein courses are, as is typical for the material, finely linear rather than powerfully fluid as in Italian Calacatta selections. From a middle distance the surface reads as a brilliant, elegant white marble image with a delicate warm accent effect; up close you discover the fine crystalline calcite structure and the characteristic golden veins.

Technical properties (SC s4343). Bulk density 2,714 kg/m³, compressive strength 86.03 MPa (ASTM C170), flexural strength/modulus of rupture 12.4 MPa (ASTM C99), water absorption 0.08 % (ASTM C97 — very low), Mohs hardness around 3–4 (calcite). That places the stone in the middle range of the marble family — structurally load-bearing for floor and wall applications. Acid sensitivity: complete (calcitic) — vinegar, wine, lemon, tomato and cola leave etch marks on the material surface immediately. Frost resistance: not officially documented.

The ROSSITTIS range. The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. From the slabs we fabricate prestige bathroom installations, wall claddings with bookmatch mirroring, staircases with treads and risers, interior floors in large format or tile format, bar counters, dining tables, buffet and furniture tops, window sills and sculpture blanks.

Comparison. Within the white premium marble family, Colorado Gold Vein positions itself as the brilliantly pure US choice with subtle gold veining and exceptional calcite purity. Compared with Italian Carrara marbles such as Bianco Carrara CD or Bianco Sivec, Colorado Gold Vein is whiter and purer still thanks to its 99.5 % calcite purity; compared with Calacatta selections the veining is more restrained and linear-parallel instead of fluid; compared with Statuario the powerful black-grey veins are absent. Stylistically related selections are Bianco Sivec (Macedonian marble with similar purity), Statuario Lasa (Lasa marble from South Tyrol) and Pentelic marble (Greek, historically used for the Athenian Acropolis).

An honest assessment. Colorado Gold Vein is the ideal choice for any application calling for a brilliantly pure white US marble character with an apparent historical reference. The selection works particularly strongly in luxurious bathroom installations, as a statement wall cladding, as a staircase in elegant entrance areas, as a sculptural material and as a high-quality furniture top with classic material dignity. Anyone looking for more powerful fluid veining should turn to Calacatta or Statuario selections from Italy; anyone who needs an acid-proof white stone for kitchen worktops or external applications should switch to a white quartzite (Cristallo, Mont Blanc) or a porcelain. Note: SC s17850 lists a different stone (“Calacatta Gold”, an Italian marble) as an alias trade name under “Colorado Gold Vein Marble” — this confusion is to be borne in mind; the selection sold here is unambiguously the American Yule marble (s4343/s18030).

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 2.714 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 86,0 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 12,4 MPa

Wasseraufnahme 0,08 %

Suitability by application

Finishes

Colorado Gold Vein 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. 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. Wipe 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), bathroom cleaners with an acid content, WC cleaners, wheel cleaners, oven sprays. Even diluted acids etch calcite marble immediately and leave dull patches that can only be remedied by professional re-polishing. Aggressive scouring pads or abrasive pastes are likewise off limits.

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

Bathroom. The 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 at all costs, because they etch the calcite surface dull immediately.

Kitchen. Recommended only with reservations. Wine, vinegar, lemon, tomato juice and cola leave immediately visible etch marks on the material surface. Anyone wanting to minimise acid marks should choose a more matt surface finish with a premium sealer. For an acid-proof white kitchen worktop we recommend switching to a white quartzite (Cristallo, Mont Blanc) or a porcelain with a Calacatta look.

Floors and stairs. A classic application. With its low water absorption (0.08 %), Colorado Gold Vein is structurally suitable for entrance areas and staircases in prestige interiors. For floor applications we recommend a more matt surface finish with a premium sealer. Note: with a compressive strength of 86 MPa, the selection is somewhat less structurally load-bearing than other high-quality marbles — we recommend using it primarily in prestige areas with moderate traffic.

Outdoors. Suitable with reservations. The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. A smooth, glossy external application loses its shine within a few years in the Central European climate through precipitation and freeze-thaw cycles. Frost resistance is not officially documented.

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

Frequently asked questions

What kind of material is Colorado Gold Vein?

Petrographically a true metamorphic marble with the exceptional purity level of 99.5 % calcite — one of the purest white marbles in the world. The deposit is located in the Yule Creek valley near the town of Marble in Gunnison County, Colorado (USA). Geological age: 70–30 million years, formed by contact metamorphism during the Laramide orogeny.

Which historic buildings were made from Yule marble?

Yule marble was used for several iconic US prestige buildings, among them the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. (completed in 1922, with 5,500 tonnes of Yule marble for the external cladding and the monumental Lincoln statue inside), the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery (erected in 1931 from a single 56-tonne block), the interior fittings of the Capitol building and numerous further iconic buildings.

Which trade names are used for this selection?

The selection is offered under several trade names: “Colorado Gold Vein”, “Colorado White Marble”, “Colorado Yule Marble”, “Colorado Golden Vein Marble” and “Valley Gold Vein Marble”. SC entries: s18030 and s4343. Note: SC s17850 wrongly lists a different Italian marble (“Calacatta Gold”) under the alias name — this confusion should be avoided.

What exactly does Colorado Gold Vein look like?

An exceptionally radiant pure white as the base tone with a subtle, almost bluish-looking sheen (thanks to the 99.5 % calcite purity), crossed by fine warm golden and ochre-coloured parallel accent veins in an irregular, often horizontal-diagonal distribution. The vein courses are, as is typical for the material, finely linear and more subtle than the powerfully fluid veining of Italian Calacatta selections.

What technical values does Colorado Gold Vein have?

SC values (s4343): bulk density 2,714 kg/m³, compressive strength 86.03 MPa (ASTM C170), flexural strength 12.4 MPa (ASTM C99), water absorption 0.08 % (ASTM C97), Mohs hardness around 3–4 (calcite). Calcite purity: 99.5 % (exceptionally high). Acid-sensitive (calcitic). Frost resistance not officially documented.

Is Colorado Gold Vein suitable for kitchen worktops?

With reservations. Wine, vinegar, lemon, tomato juice and cola leave immediately visible etch marks on the material surface. Anyone wanting the brilliantly pure marble look in the kitchen should choose a more matt surface finish with a premium sealer and accept the formation of a patina over the years. For an acid-proof white kitchen worktop we recommend switching to a white quartzite or a porcelain.

Which cleaners may I use?

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

Colorado Gold Vein or Bianco Sivec?

Both are extremely pure white marbles with high calcite purity. Colorado Gold Vein (USA, Yule marble) has 99.5 % calcite and subtle warm golden accent veins, with a historical link to iconic US buildings (Lincoln Memorial). Bianco Sivec (Macedonian) is similarly pure white, but with finer and calmer veining. The choice is a question of style between US provenance with a historical reference (Colorado Gold Vein) and European provenance with a calm, elegant effect (Bianco Sivec).