Nero Marquina Marble
Nero Marquina is a black stone with white veining, named for the Markina area of Spain's Basque Country. It is sold as marble, but geologically it is a black limestone, colored by natural bitumen, with white calcite veins. Similar-looking black stone from other countries is sold under similar names.
- Also called
- Negro Marquina; Negro Bilbao; Negro Español
- Family
- Marble
- Color
- Black with white veining
- Geological type
- Black bituminous limestone, sold in the trade as marbleSource: Nero Marquina marble, Wikipedia
- Named for
- The Markina-Xemein area, Basque Country, SpainSource: Nero Marquina marble, Wikipedia
- Veining
- White calcite deposited in fractures in the rockSource: Nero Marquina marble, Wikipedia
- Acid sensitivity
- Calcareous: acids such as lemon or vinegar can dull or etch the surfaceSource: Natural Stone Institute, Care & Cleaning of Natural Stone
- Finishes at SoCal Tiles
- Polished, Tumbled, Split-Faced
SoCal Tiles carries
SoCal Tiles sells tile under the name Nero Marquina: Polished, Tumbled and Split-Faced, as field tile, mosaics and trim. Field tile examples, each with a sample option:
Appearance and variation
A black background with fine white veining, from sparse to dense.
Vein density and pattern vary from block to block and between production lots. Order a sample from the product page before deciding, and keep a large installation to one lot where possible.
About Nero Marquina Marble
Limestone sold as marble. The trade sells Nero Marquina as marble, but geologically it is a black bituminous limestone. The black comes from natural bitumen in the rock. The white veins are calcite, deposited by mineral-rich water moving through fractures. Calling limestone "marble" is common across the stone trade. See the Marble family page.
The name doesn't fix the quarry. "Nero Marquina" (or Negro Marquina) first described stone from the Markina area of Spain's Basque Country, once called Negro Bilbao or Negro Español. Similar black, white-veined stone is also quarried in Morocco, Mexico and China and sold under similar names. If the exact origin matters to you, ask before you buy.
Good to know
Nero Marquina is used mostly indoors, for floors, walls, steps and washbasins. Some is finished for exterior paving and façades.
Caring for natural stone: read our stone care guide.
Common questions
Is Nero Marquina actually marble?
Not geologically. It is a black bituminous limestone, but the stone trade sells it as marble. Like other calcium-carbonate stone, it is sensitive to acids.
Where does Nero Marquina come from?
The name comes from the Markina area of Spain's Basque Country. Similar black, white-veined stone from Morocco, Mexico and China is sold under similar names, so ask if the exact origin matters to you.
Sources
- Nero Marquina marble, Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-09-24)
- Litos Online, Negro Marquina (retrieved 2026-09-24)
- Natural Stone Institute, Care & Cleaning of Natural Stone (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- SoCal Tiles product catalog: Nero Marquina (retrieved 2026-09-21)