The "Estremoz marbles" were for decades the hallmark of Portuguese Dimension Stone. Mostly economic constraints associated with a lack of knowledge regarding the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of different rocks of prescribers, created a "fashion" that focuses primarily on the homogeneity of the material don´t having in account its longevity. We note that there was no depletion of raw material; in fact almost every varieties of marble have enough reserves to sustain a mining activity for several hundred of years.

Thibaut will hold its "Open Days" at its headquarters in Vire, France, on the 13th and 14th of April 2012. The company will exhibit more than of its machines including three new products.

As part of its expansion strategy and world reaffirmation as a benchmark in the Natural Stone sector, Levantina has started the year off by participating in two events key to its principal focus on world orders.

Levantina joins the group of organizations endorsed by the U.S. Building Council for its commitment to the environment. With this new accreditation the company's products may be able to be used in US buildings that fulfill the rules on sustainability and environmental protection.

The Natural Stone Show in London next March will be as international as ever with exhibitors showing stone from around the world. But t here will also be a record number of British producers attending.

This year's Marmomacc in Verona was more successful than the 2009 edition. According to the fair organisation Veronafiere the number of visitors reached 56 thousand.

Our natural stone database contains pictures and information about more than 5,000 stones. Every month we present the most clicked materials. Following the top 15 for September.

The UK Stone Show returns to ExCel, London. The 9th edition of the fair will take place from 15-17 March 2011.

54,227 visitors from all over the world came to the 16th "Marble2010" fair from 24th – 27th March in Izmir - 2,667 more than in 2009, and many came to shop. "This is the best fair we‘ve had in Turkey", said Abit Yeşilkaya the president of Haz International.

China purchases raw materials world wide with import tax at zero. The door to finished materials is ajar, however with an import tax varying from 10% to 24% for finished products. Will this change? With the current developments in China, it looks positive. Naturstein visited Stonetech fair held in Shanghai 6th-9th April to explore the potential the fair offers foreign exhibitors and visitors.

At this edition of Expostone (22 - 25 June) there were exhibitors from 20 countries with a total of 307 stands - 4 % more than in 2009.

Every month we present the most viewed materials in our natural stone database. Following the top 15 for June.

Our natural stone database contains pictures and information about more than 5,000 stones. Every month we present the most clicked materials. Following the top 15 for May.

Denver has reorganized its sales organisation. There's now one division for stone and one for glass.

This year;s PIEDRA exhibition, held from 5 - 8 May in Madrid, was a lot smaller than previous editions but still with plenty of interest on an international scale.

The crisis affecting the major economies is hitting the stone industry hard. According to the organisation "Internazionale Marmi e Macchine Carrara" (IMM) the declared international exports of stone materials, raw and processed materials counted as raw decreased significantly in 2009.

Coinciding with the staging of the spanish fair PIEDRA 2010, the winners of the International Architecture Award have been announced.

Every month we present the most clicked materials in our natural stone database. Following the top 15 for April.

Our natural stone database grows continiously. We just added new materials. Following some newcomers.

For the German construction equipment and building material machinery industry sales fell in 2009 nominally by 43 per cent to 9.5 billion euros. "2009 has been the most difficult year ever for our industry," says Dr Christof Kemmann, Chairman of the German Association for construction equipment and building material machinery (VDMA).

Every month we present the natural stones in our DNSA-Database which had the most clicks. Following the top 15 for January.

Natural stone database, news, newsletters, technical dictionary, online trade show, and much more – our portal offers everything that the industry needs. The centrepiece is a database with information and images of more than 4.500 natural stones.

Over 2,000 exhibitors and over 50,000 visitors met at Marble 2009 held, this year, in the classical Turkish city of Izmir. Simply walking along the Kordon one feels the friendly and courteous welcome of the Turkish people. This friendliness is brilliantly mirrored in the atmosphere of the Culture park where the fair is held.

Granite countertops don’t pose any health risk. That is the result of a scientific study conducted by the environmental testing firm "Environmental Health & Engineering" (EH&E). Quantities of radon and radiation emitted by stones which were analysed all fell well below average background levels commonly found in the U.S.

Natural stone is incomparably versatile. In each edition we assist our readers in the processing and application of this building material and in the marketing
of their products. Our editorial mix includes reports, interviews and "discussions with experts" on current technical questions. Building and Landscaping, Cemeteries and Gravestones, Stone Market and Technology are regular headliners in our magazine.