CRACKS, FISSURES, AND MORE

Oct 4

If you were to pick up a piece of marble right now, you might find yourself staring at what appears to be long cracks. However, most of these “cracks” aren’t as they seem – they are actually called “fissures”, and they are a natural and normal formation in the marble. So how do you know the difference?

WHAT IS A FISSURE?

Something called “pitting” occurs when there is a small space that forms between the deposits of mineral crystals within a natural stone. This can happen during polishing, cooling, or heating, and a fissure is the same thing but a larger “crack” that is created the same way. Fissures are a natural phenomenon within geological and environmental forces, so they are common and naturally occurring.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CRACK AND FISSURE

There are a few ways to tell the difference between cracks and fissures. The shape and size is the main way to differentiate between the two, as fissures are elongated but more narrow, with crystalline structures throughout the stone.

Cracks, on the other hand, could be both narrow or wide, and only appear in one area of the slab, and run the entire depth of the marble.

Another way to determine if you have a crack or a fissure in your marble is to feel it. When you run your fingernail over a fissure, it should run smoothly, as a fissure doesn’t change the area of the stone and causes no gaps. When you run your fingernail over a crack, there will be a noticeable uneven area, as a crack can change the plane of the stone.

BOTTOM LINE

Depending on the placement of the marble, and the color, you may not even be able to see fissures in the stone. However, with certain angles and bright light, fissures, pitting, and cracks, become visible.

It is important to recognize that a fissure is not a crack, and while fissures are naturally occurring and unproblematic to your marble, cracks can develop into problems such as chipping, separation, and breakage. Cracks can be repaired by a stone contractor who can determine if underlying structural repairs are needed.