This article deals with the correct scientific way to cut blocks of stone, to obtain optimum results, and minimize wastage.

Direction of a cut:
The direction of a cut heavily affects the strength, weathering performance, wearing characteristics, and appearance of the finished product. Fabricators strive to take advantage of the strongest grain orientation, to produce the best performing product. Grain alignment, presence of rift planes (faults), joints, distribution of accessory minerals (when present), and intended use are all critical considerations. If the block is not consistently permeable, it should be cut so that on installation, its least permeable face is exposed to the weather or wearing side.

Certain commercial marble blocks may be sawn parallel or perpendicular to the bedding plane of the parent rock. A cut perpendicular (across-the-bedding plane) is called a "Vein cut". A cut parallel (or with-the-bed), is called a "F1euri cut". Some marbles will display a pleasing finish only when sawed in one direction while others may be sawn in either direction to provide two distinct finishes. In any case, the name of the marble will often include the terms "Vein" or "F1euri" in their product name. An example would be "Tetto Vein" and "Tetto Fleuri" as illustrated.

Veneer Patterns:
Certain marbles may be arranged to achieve specific patterns. Such patterns require selectivity from the quarry to installer and this increases the overall costs of a project, but provide stunning visual affects. The apparent size of a room, hall, etc., may be increase or decrease when selecting marbles with distinct veining patterns. (see figure 2)

Blend Pattern:
Tiles or panels of the same variety of marble, but not necessarily all from the same block, are arranged at random and when no other patters is specified or possible.

Side Slip Pattern:
Panels or tiles are placed side by side to give a repetitive pattern in the horizontal perspective.

End Slip Pattern Panels:
Panels from the same quarry block are placed end to end in sequence to give a repetitive pattern in the vertical perspective. Matching panels and tiles is an art. It is almost impossible to achieve perfect matching throughout a design because of the portion of marble block lost during the sawing process and due to the shifting of veining within the bedrock being quarried. The quarry block here and on the previous page is depicted as being removed from rock bed at an angle to the bedding plane. The panel removed from such a block therefore would be quite suited to demonstrate a Diamond Match Pattern.

End Match Pattern: 
The adjoining faces of panel 1 & 2 are finished. Panel 2 is then inverted above panel 1 to achieve this pattern.

Book Match Pattern:
The adjoining faces of panels 1 & 2 are finished. Panel 2 is placed next to panel 1 as the pages of a book lay open.

Quarter of Diamond Match Pattern:
Panels 1 & 2 are book matched. The next two Panels cut (3 & 4) are also book matched then inverted over the top of panels 1 &2.

Vein cuts of commercial stone with distinct, directional veining can be matched to alter the perspective and proportions of interior installations. Ceilings can be visually raised or lowered and walls can be distanced or elongated. This is achieved by careful selection and matching of these marbles. To match veining patterns for final installation, the fabricator generally uses the slabs faces sharing the same cut to create a match, as illustrated in figure (I) "Best matching faces". Blocks may be tilted and cut obliquely, to facilitate matching of the veining patterns as illustrated on the previous page. Though matching can be very exact, perfection is not always practicable, due to marble lost in the finishing processes, and the natural shifting of the veins within the blockhead.

The Fleuri cut, which provides an attractive mottled appearance on the finished face, can be very decorative. But due to the nature of the mottled look, such stones can only be blended, not matched. The blending or matching of tiles is not as common as veneers. Generally tiles from one source tend to be blended randomly. But there are marbles in which a designer may take advantage of certain features. This is a matter of taste, costs, and availability of sufficient tiles with the feature(s) desired. Such features such as color, flowage patterns, direction or bifurcating veining, streaking, waves, shading, etc., lend themselves to be used, with or without other tiles, to create exceptional and stunning visual artistry.