Thassos Extra (also Thassos Extra White, Thassos Snow White Extra or Thassos Pure White Extra) is the premium Extra sorting of the world-famous Greek Thassos marble from the Panagia quarrying area on the island of Thassos in northern Greece — one of the highest quality grades of the Thassos family with an almost veinless pure white base tone, a virtually non-directional material effect and an exceptionally high reflectivity. Petrographically a dolomitic marble with an 86 % dolomite content, frost-resistant, high in strength — used for prestigious wall claddings, bathrooms, washbasin tops, bar counters, sculptures, mosaic work and refined interior fit-outs with a classically Greek pure white elegance.
Petrographically a dolomitic marble (86 % dolomite, 12 % calcite, 2 % quartz) from the Panagia quarrying area on the Greek island of Thassos. The high dolomite proportion gives the stone a better acid resistance and greater hardness than purely calcitic marbles such as Carrara — it is nevertheless not completely acid-proof.
Other trade names: Athos White, Bianco Thassos, RO-02-146, Taxos Marble, Thassos Snow White, Thassos-Edelweiß, White Marble, White of Thassos
About Thassos Extra
Thassos Extra is the premium “Extra” quality sorting of the famous Thassos marble from the Panagia quarrying area on the Greek island of Thassos in the northern Aegean (the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, prefecture of Kavala). In the Greek quarry classification, “Extra” denotes blocks with the highest white purity, the most minimal vein marking and the most uniform mineral distribution — the selected top quality reserved for the highest design ambitions. Thassos marble has been quarried on the island since antiquity and is among the world's most iconic natural dimension stones — as early as the Greek classical period Thassos was valued for sculptural and architectural purposes, and in the modern stone market Thassos has become a synonym for “the whitest marble”.
Geologically, Thassos Extra is an exceptionally pure Mesozoic dolomitic marble — chemically composed of 86 % dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate), 12 % calcite and 2 % quartz according to DNSA mineral analysis. This mineralogical composition distinguishes Thassos from most classic white marbles such as Carrara or Sivec, which are predominantly calcitic in composition. The high dolomite proportion brings two important technical advantages: greater hardness than calcitic marbles and a noticeably better resistance to concentrated acids — Thassos is not “acid-proof”, but considerably more robust against acidic substances than pure calcite marbles. The DNSA classification (stone 2911) documents the material with excellent technical values and carries the designation “very frequently used in Germany” — a classification that testifies to the wide distribution of the stone in German architecture.
Visually, Thassos Extra is characterised by an exceptionally pure, almost veinless white appearance. Unlike most white marbles — which receive their character from grey or coloured vein markings — Thassos Extra in its purest form is almost completely homogeneously white: a luminously radiant white with a fine crystalline microstructure which, under polishing, develops a silky soft, almost porcelain-like character. The reflectivity of the polished surface is exceptionally high and makes Thassos Extra one of the most light-reflecting natural dimension stones of all — a property that makes it particularly attractive for rooms where maximum brightness is wanted. The virtually non-directional material effect — that is, the fact that the stone shows no pronounced foliation or directional structure — means that the laying direction of the slabs on walls and floor surfaces is largely uncritical with Thassos Extra, which simplifies the planning of installation compared with strongly directional stones.
Technically, Thassos Extra shows the typical values of the highest-quality Greek marbles: bulk density 2850 kg/m³ (exceptionally high), compressive strength 99.7 MPa, flexural strength 13.3 MPa, abrasion resistance 6.60 cm³/50 cm² and water absorption 0.23 %. Its frost resistance is DNSA-documented. The surface finishes available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down. Like all carbonate rocks, Thassos Extra is acid-sensitive, but thanks to its high dolomite proportion it is somewhat more robust against acidic substances than pure calcite marbles.
In interior fit-out, Thassos Extra is one of the most iconic choices for the highest design ambitions where maximum white purity is wanted. Classic applications are wall claddings in hotel lobbies and reception areas, luxurious bathrooms and spa facilities, washbasin tops, bar counters, fireplace surrounds, feature walls in prestigious residential and commercial rooms, table and console tops, floor surfaces in entrance halls and living spaces, decorative sculptures as well as mosaic work. Because of its exceptional white purity, Thassos is also a traditional choice for sacred buildings, classicist architecture and for memorials — since antiquity its almost flawless white has symbolised purity and dignity. In modern architecture, Thassos Extra finds use in purist, minimalist concepts in which the luminous white tonality is set as a soloist against black steel, fair-faced concrete, clear glass and dark timbers. Outdoors, Thassos is used for façade claddings, plinth formations and constructively protected entrance areas — the low water absorption and frost resistance qualify it for Central European climatic conditions, although polished surfaces are restricted to interior applications or constructively protected external surfaces.
In stock
Current availability from our warehouse.
7 slabs in stock · plus 1 block
Thicknesses: 3 cm · Finishes: Polished · Available as: Slabs
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.
Thassos Extra is available in a range of finishes. The finish affects appearance, feel and the care it needs.
Polished
Polishing is the most classic finish for marble and limestone — a glossy surface with the highest possible colour intensity and a pronounced depth to the veining. Depending on the mineral composition, the effect can be matte-gloss in places. Acid-sensitive — wine, lemon and vinegar leave etch marks after prolonged contact.
Care & fabrication
As a dolomitic marble, Thassos Extra is acid-sensitive, but thanks to its high dolomite proportion (86 %) it is considerably more robust against concentrated acids than pure calcite marbles such as Carrara. This improved acid resistance is an important advantage in care — Thassos reacts more slowly and more weakly to acidic substances than typical Italian marbles, but is nevertheless not completely acid-proof. Indoors, use exclusively warm water with a pH-neutral stone cleaning agent for daily cleaning — acidic household cleaners, vinegar, citric-acid descalers or other concentrated acidic substances can cause matt etched areas if allowed to act for longer. Take up spilt acidic liquids promptly with clean water — thanks to the dolomite mineralogy there is more reaction time here than with pure calcite marbles. A professional impregnation after installation and then every 2 to 3 years is recommended indoors, in order to reduce the absorption of pigments (red wine, coffee, olive oil) — on the pure white tonality, pigment stains are particularly clearly visible. In the bathroom, water droplets should be squeegeed off after showering in order to avoid water-droplet rings. On wall claddings, regular dusting and occasional wiping with a damp cloth is sufficient. Outdoors, the avoidance of road salt in winter is to be observed — chloride-free de-icing agents are the gentler alternative.
Frequently asked questions
What distinguishes Thassos Extra from Thassos A1-A2?
Both are premium sortings of Thassos marble from the same quarries on the island of Thassos. “A1-A2” and “Extra” are different designations for the highest-quality sortings with minimal vein marking and maximum white purity, used respectively in the Greek quarry classification and in international marketing. In practice both designations are synonyms for the selected top quality — the choice of term depends on the supplier and on the target market. Both denote the exceptionally pure white Thassos marble with a dolomitic mineralogy.
What does the dolomitic mineralogy mean for care?
Thassos is a dolomitic marble with an 86 % dolomite content — that distinguishes it from purely calcitic white marbles such as Carrara or Sivec. The high dolomite proportion brings two advantages in care: better acid resistance (Thassos reacts more slowly and more weakly to acidic substances than pure calcite marbles, but is not completely acid-proof) and greater hardness than calcitic marbles. This improved robustness makes Thassos easier to care for than most other white marbles.
What do the sorting terms such as “Extra”, “Crystallina” or “Snow White” mean?
Thassos Extra, Thassos Extra White, Thassos Crystallina, Thassos Crystal White, Thassos Snow White and Thassos Pure White are synonymous or very closely related trade names for the highest-quality sortings of Thassos marble. The parallel designations arise from the marketing of different suppliers and from international market strategies — all denote the premium quality of Thassos marble from the Panagia quarrying area on the Greek island of Thassos.
Is Thassos Extra suitable for bathrooms?
Outstandingly so. The luminous white tonality creates a bright, friendly atmosphere and reflects light exceptionally well — the ideal property for luxurious bathrooms and spa facilities. The low water absorption of 0.23 % and the improved acid resistance compared with pure calcite marbles are further advantages. Water droplets should be squeegeed off after showering in order to avoid water-droplet rings, and acidic cleaning agents must be avoided — pH-neutral stone cleaning agents are the standard.
Is Thassos Extra suitable for external applications?
With restrictions. The low water absorption of 0.23 % and the DNSA-documented frost resistance qualify Thassos for moderately weathered external applications such as façade claddings, plinth formations and entrance areas protected beneath a canopy. Polished surfaces, however, are not stable over the long term in openly weathered external locations — the polish is lost under the influence of weathering; a matt, textured finish is more stable over the long term. For openly weathered horizontal external surfaces with pronounced freeze-thaw cycles and acidic precipitation, denser, acid-insensitive hard stones are the more robust alternative.
Which slab formats are usual for Thassos Extra?
Standard large formats from the Thassos quarries typically lie between 280 × 160 cm and 320 × 200 cm at thicknesses of 2 cm and 3 cm. Thinner formats (1 cm and 1.5 cm for lightweight wall claddings, 4 cm and more for stairs) as well as skirtings and tile formats for floor surfaces are also sourced through ROSSITTIS. Because of the premium quality and the specific Greek origin, availability is selective — for specific dimensions please enquire directly.
What does Thassos Extra cost?
The price depends on the batch, thickness, surface finish and fabrication — with natural stone there is no serious flat rate per square metre. Business customers see prices once their B2B account is activated; private customers receive a complete quote through a fabricator near them.
