Marble

Covelano Oro

Covelano Oro is a classic South Tyrolean premium marble from Covelano (Göflan) in the Vinschgau valley (province of Bolzano, Trentino-South Tyrol). Petrographically a highly pure calcite-dolomite marble from the Lasa marble mining district, with a white to light creamy base tone, fine golden-yellow to light brown drawn bedding lines and subtle mineral accents. The stone belongs to the same geological family as the world-famous Lasa marble and stands for the highest Alpine marble quality. At ROSSITTIS we fabricate Covelano Oro into prestige wall claddings, bathrooms, stairs, vanity tops, window sills and carefully planned components with a warm Alpine premium character.

Marble Italy 2.710 kg/m³

Available as: Slabs, Tiles and flooring slabs · 1 of 44 reserved

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About Covelano Oro

Background. Covelano Oro comes from the Lasa marble mining district in the Vinschgau valley (Val Venosta) in western South Tyrol — more precisely from the quarry above Covelano (Italian) or Göflan (German), a hamlet of Schlanders. Lasa marble and its neighbouring deposits at Covelano/Göflan are among the most tradition-rich and prestigious marble occurrences in Europe. The marble became known through numerous classic buildings and sculptures: in the 19th and 20th centuries, Lasa/Göflan marble was used among other things for the Habsburg prestige buildings, Viennese sacral architecture, the Berlin Holocaust Memorial and numerous US building projects (among them the World Trade Center Memorial). Extraction is still partly carried out today via the historic “marble railway” (inclined railway) — a cable railway with which the marble blocks are transported down into the valley from the high-lying quarries. This extraction tradition is inseparably bound up with the identity of the material.

Geology. Petrographically, Covelano Oro is a metamorphosed marine carbonate stone — a calcite-dolomite marble from the Ortler crystalline basement, recrystallised by Alpine metamorphism in the Tertiary (around 30–60 million years ago). The grain fabric is medium- to coarsely crystalline (0.3–1.5 mm), the mineralogy predominantly calcite (around 90–95 %) with a marked dolomite content and occasional mica and pyrite inclusions. The characteristic golden-yellow to light brown drawn bedding lines arise from finely distributed iron oxide and iron hydroxide pigments in metamorphic banded zones — they run parallel to the original bedding direction of the sediment and give the marble its typically lively but restrained golden veining.

Comparison within the Lasa marble family. Within the Lasa marble mining district there are several selections: Lasa Bianco (pure white, the highest premium quality), Lasa Vena Oro (white with restrained hints of gold veining), Lasa Vena Argento (white with silvery grey veins) and Covelano Oro (somewhat warmer, with pronounced golden-yellow creamy bedding markings). Covelano Oro is the warm, gold-toned sister of the pure white Lasa Bianco — with classic Alpine elegance, but a warmer tone than the least distracting Lasa Bianco.

Appearance. The base tone is a light, slightly warm-toned cream white — with a clearly perceptible warm note, but without a strong beige cast. Distributed across the ground are fine, parallel-running golden-yellow to light brown drawn bedding lines as well as occasional subtle silvery grey mica accents. The bedding markings follow the original sediment direction and give the slab a clear directional movement. From a middle distance the surface reads as calm and elegantly warm and creamy; up close you discover the fine crystalline structure and the delicate golden-yellow shadings.

Technical values. Bulk density around 2,710 kg/m³, compressive strength around 91 MPa, flexural strength around 12.5 MPa, Mohs hardness 3–4. Frost resistance is stated in the data sheet; the polish under open weathering does, however, change over decades into a matted surface — that is appropriate to the material, but should be borne in mind for external surfaces where a polish is the sole requirement.

The ROSSITTIS range. The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. From these we fabricate prestige wall claddings (including bathroom walls and columns), interior floors in large format or tile format, stairs with treads and risers, window sills (also in special lengths from a single piece, up to around 3 m), vanity tops, skirtings, fireplace surrounds and carefully planned interior components. The warm, creamy gold-vein character suits classic premium bathrooms, Alpine-modern living concepts, prestige hotel foyers and rooms with oak, bronze, brass and warm wall colours.

Comparison. Within the European premium white marbles, Covelano Oro stands alongside Bianco Sivec (North Macedonia, cooler), Bianco Carrara (Tuscany, classic veins), Lasa Bianco (South Tyrol, pure white) and Pentelico (Greece). In the warm, creamy spectrum with a hint of gold veining it is comparable to Calacatta Oro, but has a typically Alpine character and directional bedding instead of free vein courses. Against Calacatta, Covelano Oro appears calmer and more linear; against Lasa Bianco warmer and livelier.

An honest assessment. Covelano Oro is a premium choice for clients and architects looking for a warm Alpine Italian premium marble with a classic gold-vein character and Lasa marble identity. It is not the stone for carefree kitchen worktops — as a calcite-dolomite marble it reacts to acids with etch marks; but with a good sealer and careful maintenance it is, in the bathroom, on wall surfaces and on stairs, one of the most refined European marbles.

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 2.710 kg/m³

Druckfestigkeit 91,0 MPa

Biegezugfestigkeit 12,5 MPa

Säurebeständig Nein

Suitability by application

Finishes

Covelano Oro 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 neutral to slightly alkaline pH stone cleaner are sufficient. Soapy marble care products and mild all-purpose cleaners without acid are suitable. Take up spilled acidic liquids — wine, citrus juice, vinegar, cola, tomato — immediately, because on calcite-dolomite marble they leave dull etch marks that can only be removed by re-polishing.

Do not use. Acetic and citric acid, limescale and bathroom cleaners, anti-limescale sprays, descalers, WC cleaners, concrete and rust removers, highly concentrated all-purpose cleaners and chlorine-based bleaches are off limits. On the bright white slab with its delicate gold veins, acid damage is particularly visible.

Sealing. A silane-polysiloxane-based sealer is advisable for all applications. First sealing directly after installation, refreshed every two to three years.

Kitchen. On kitchen worktops, Covelano Oro can only be used with reservations. Acidic foods leave dull patches without protection. For the actual kitchen working surface with daily acid exposure we recommend more acid-proof alternatives (quartzite, engineered quartz, porcelain).

Bathroom. In the bathroom, Covelano Oro is a classic premium choice — vanity tops, wall claddings, bath surrounds. Consistently avoid anti-limescale sprays and limescale-dissolving bathroom cleaners.

Floors and stairs. The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. Dirt-trapping mats at the entrance reduce the ingress of scratching particles.

Outdoors. Frost resistance is given, but the polish under open weathering changes over the long term into a matted surface. Consistently avoid de-icing salt in winter.

Repair. Dull acid marks or scratches can be locally re-polished by the stonemason. Deeper damage can be filled with pigmented marble filler.

Frequently asked questions

What is Covelano Oro geologically?

Petrographically a metamorphosed calcite-dolomite marble from the Ortler crystalline basement in the Vinschgau valley (South Tyrol). The original marine limestone was recrystallised by Alpine metamorphism in the Tertiary (around 30–60 million years ago). The grain fabric is medium- to coarsely crystalline, the mineralogy around 90–95 % calcite-dominated with a marked dolomite content. The characteristic golden-yellow bedding markings arise from finely distributed iron oxide pigments in metamorphic banded zones.

What is the Lasa marble family?

Lasa marble (Italian: Marmo di Lasa) is the collective term for the high-quality white to light creamy marbles from the Vinschgau valley in South Tyrol. The family comprises Lasa Bianco (pure white, the highest premium quality), Lasa Vena Oro (with hints of gold veining), Lasa Vena Argento (with silvery veins) and Covelano Oro (somewhat warmer with golden-yellow bedding markings). All come from the same mining district and are traditionally transported down into the valley via the historic marble railway.

How does Covelano Oro differ from Lasa Bianco?

Lasa Bianco is the pure white premium selection with minimal veining — uncompromisingly bright and free of distraction. Covelano Oro is the warm, creamy-toned variant with more pronounced golden-yellow to light brown bedding lines — more Alpine warmth and livelier looks, but the same geological family and the same premium quality.

What technical values does Covelano Oro have?

Bulk density around 2,710 kg/m³, compressive strength around 91 MPa, flexural strength around 12.5 MPa, Mohs hardness 3–4. Frost resistance is stated. As with all calcite marbles, the acid sensitivity remains.

Is Covelano Oro suitable for kitchen worktops?

With reservations. Like all calcite-dolomite marbles, Covelano reacts to acids (wine, lemon, vinegar, tomato, cola) with dull etch marks. With a good silane sealer, use on bar counters is practicable; for heavily used working surfaces an acid-proof alternative (quartzite, engineered quartz, porcelain) makes more sense.

Which surfaces does ROSSITTIS supply?

The surface finishes available in stock are listed in the »Finishes« block on this page.

Which cleaners may I use on Covelano Oro?

Permitted are warm water, neutral to slightly alkaline stone care products and mild all-purpose cleaners without acid. Off limits are acetic, citric and hydrochloric acid, limescale cleaners, anti-limescale sprays, concrete and rust removers, chlorine-based bleaches and solvents.

Covelano Oro or Calacatta Oro?

Both are warm white marbles with gold veining. Calacatta Oro from the Apuan Alps (Tuscany) shows the typical freely branching golden-yellow main veins on a light ground; Covelano Oro from South Tyrol shows directional bedding lines with fine golden-yellow markings — calmer and more linear than the free play of veins in Calacatta. Carrara tradition versus Alpine Lasa tradition.