Verde Ming

Geologically, Verde Ming is a silicate-rich metamorphic dimension stone from the Dandong area in north-eastern China — the database classification as a quartzite points to a high quartz and silicate content, yet at the same time the material shows a clear kinship with serpentinite-bearing dimension stones. Mineralogically, quartz, green serpentine and chlorite minerals, tremolite (a green calcium silicate fibrous mineral) and occasional traces of olivine dominate. This mineral composition corresponds to the classic Chinese “Ming green stones”, which have been used in Chinese art since the late Bronze Age for high-quality jade sculptures, imperial bowls and religious ritual objects. Petrographically the classification is complex — the material lies between a classic quartzite, a serpentinite and a silicate-rich metamorphite. In the international stone trade Verde Ming is usually assigned to the marble family (or listed as a “silicate marble”), because its visual effect and its polishable surface recall classic marble.

The technical values: bulk density 2,700 kg/m³, compressive strength 90 MPa, flexural strength 28.15 MPa (exceptionally high — granitic), water absorption only 0.27 per cent, frost-resistant to DIN EN 12371. The high flexural strength (28 MPa) is typical of serpentinite-bearing silicate dimension stones — the fibrous tremolite minerals act as “natural reinforcement” and raise the flexural strength considerably. An important restriction: Verde Ming is acid-sensitive (confirmed in the database) — unlike pure quartzites, the material contains enough carbonate components for wine, lemon juice, vinegar or carbonated drinks to leave matt etch marks on polished surfaces. This acid sensitivity is typical of the mixture of silicate and carbonate minerals. Compared with classic Italian green serpentinite marbles such as Verde Alpi, Verde Ming is lighter in tone with more dramatic vein routing; compared with Greek Tinos selections such as Tannoti Velvet Green, the material signature is more flowing and less snakeskin-like, with a clear jade appearance.

At ROSSITTIS, Verde Ming is available as an unsized slab, as a floor tile, as a wall facing, as a tread and riser, as a window sill, as a skirting, as a mosaic tessera and as a project-specific cut to size; likewise as a bar counter, washstand top, fireplace surround and table top. The finish available is primarily polished (mirror gloss, intense depth of the jade-green overall effect, luminous effect of the dark green vein bands and creamy cloud passages — the classic choice for prestigious statement faces with the full jade material effect).

Our honest assessment: Verde Ming is one of the most attractive Chinese green dimension stone selections — perfect for projects that are looking for a jade-green dimension stone with a dramatically flowing material signature, full frost resistance and a Far Eastern, elegant appearance. The combination of a warm apple-green to deep jade-green overall effect, flowing dark green serpentine vein bands, high flexural strength (28 MPa) and the cultural-historical link to the Ming dynasty makes the material particularly suitable for Asian and oriental inspired residential fit-outs, prestigious lobby claddings, designer bathrooms with a jade atmosphere, and feature walls in hotels and restaurants with Far Eastern stylistic ambitions. If you are looking for an acid-resistant green hard stone material, choose Verde Bamboo or Tannoti Velvet Green; if you value a classically jade-green, Far Eastern and elegant material signature with Chinese tradition, Verde Ming is exactly right. For sampling we recommend a selection made from real slab images, since with Verde Ming the distribution of the dark green vein bands and creamy cloud passages varies strongly from block to block — and it is precisely this that makes up the authentic jade character of this material.