Editing Marble (section)

=== Locations ===
Marble production was dominated by 4 countries that accounted for almost half of world production of marble and decorative stone. [[China]] and [[Italy]] were the world leaders, each representing 34% and 19% of world production respectively, followed by [[India]] and [[Spain]] produced 16% and 13% respectively.<ref name=":0">[https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Country-wise-production-of-stones-in-percentages_fig3_338196136 Country wise production of stones in percentages]</ref>

In 2018 [[Turkey]] was the world leader in marble export, with 42% share in global marble trade, followed by [[Italy]] with 18% and [[Greece]] with 10%. The largest importer of marble in 2018 was [[China]] with a 64% market share, followed by [[India]] with 11% and Italy with 5%.<ref name="UNComtrade_2018">{{Cite web |last=Comtrade |title=Comtrade Explorer - Snapshot HS 2515 (Marble, travertine, ecaussine and other stone) |url=https://comtrade.un.org/db/ce/ceSnapshot.aspx?px=H2&cc=2515 |access-date=31 January 2020 |website=United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023011533/https://comtrade.un.org/db/help/ureadMeFirst.aspx?returnPath=%2Fdb%2Fce%2FceSnapshot.aspx%3Fpx%3DH2&cc=2515 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Ancient times ====
White marbles throughout the [[Mediterranean Basin|Mediterranean basin]] were widely utilized during the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] period. Extraction centers were unevenly distributed across the [[Italian Peninsula]], [[mainland Greece]], the [[Aegean Islands]], [[Anatolia|Asia Minor]], and smaller hubs like those in the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. The need for extensive trade arose due to this imbalance, leading to the widespread exchange of marble objects, including building elements, sculptures, and [[Sarcophagus|sarcophagi]]. There was a significant increase in the distribution of white marble from the late 1st century BC to the end of the 2nd century AD. A gradual decline in distribution started in the third century AD.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Taelman |first=Devi |date=2022 |title=Marble trade in the Roman Mediterranean: a quantitative and diachronic study |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-roman-archaeology/article/marble-trade-in-the-roman-mediterranean-a-quantitative-and-diachronic-study/21E133772DD873D63D03040C7CCE5D3F |journal=Journal of Roman Archaeology |language=en |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=848–875 |doi=10.1017/S1047759422000447 |issn=1047-7594 |hdl=1854/LU-01GSF6YKQ2WTX6Y0SGZYHD1KVB |s2cid=256220068 |hdl-access=free |access-date=2024-01-26 |archive-date=2024-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127023800/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-roman-archaeology/article/marble-trade-in-the-roman-mediterranean-a-quantitative-and-diachronic-study/21E133772DD873D63D03040C7CCE5D3F |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== United States ====
According to the [[United States Geological Survey]], U.S. domestic marble production in 2006 was 46,400 tons valued at about $18.1 million, compared to 72,300 tons valued at $18.9 million in 2005. Crushed marble production (for aggregate and industrial uses) in 2006 was 11.8 million tons valued at $116 million, of which 6.5 million tons was finely ground [[calcium carbonate]] and the rest was [[construction aggregate]]. For comparison, 2005 crushed marble production was 7.76 million tons valued at $58.7 million, of which 4.8 million tons was finely ground calcium carbonate and the rest was construction aggregate. U.S. dimension marble demand is about 1.3 million tons. The DSAN World Demand for (finished) Marble Index has shown a growth of 12% annually for the 2000–2006 period, compared to 10.5% annually for the 2000–2005 period. The largest dimension marble application is tile.

==== Palestine ====
The stone and marble industry is one of the largest industries in Palestine, contributing 20-25% of its total industrial revenues, generating USD $400–$450 million in revenue annually. The industry employs 15,000–20,000 workers across the West Bank across 1200–1700 facilities, and amounts to 4.5% of the nation's GDP. The vast majority of the industry's exports are to Israel.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

Marble in the geologic sense does not naturally outcrop in Palestine, and the vast majority of commercially labeled marble produced in Palestine produced would be geologically considered limestone.<ref name="Salem-2021">{{Cite journal |last=Salem |first=Hilmi S. |date=2021-02-02 |title=Evaluation of the Stone and Marble Industry in Palestine: environmental, geological, health, socioeconomic, cultural, and legal perspectives, in view of sustainable development|journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research |volume=28 |issue=22 |pages=28058–28080 |doi=10.1007/s11356-021-12526-4 |pmid=33528771 |pmc=7851506 |bibcode=2021ESPR...2828058S |issn=0944-1344}}</ref>