Marble--A Stone for Multipurpose Uses

Marble is ornate limestone in more or less crystalline state capable of taking a high polish. It can be used in sculpture and architecture and as material for furniture, flower-vases, decorations and other handicrafts. Because of its wide range of colors and variegations, marble is much in demand. Due to prosperity and progress of building in Taiwan, the use of marble is increasing rapidly. Most of newly built hotels, halls, restaurants, apartments and office buildings use marble in their construction for ornamentation. Even some ordinary houses use marble to pave floors or inlay ceilings, walls, fireplaces and bathrooms.

The marble reserve in eastern Taiwan is enormous. According to the reliable estimation, it totals more than 300 billion tons. After several years' development and management, the sound foundation of Taiwan marble industry has been established. The marble products, including construction materials and handicrafts have large volume of consumption at home and abroad. It yields a remarkable economic profit to our country. The value of marble blocks used for construction, delivered to processing factories from the quarries is about US$50 per ton, and that of small pieces about US$20 per ton. After processing, the value will be increased by 10 times. If 10 per cent of the marble reserve could be exploited, the income will be astonishing. The estimated annual production of marble in Taiwan during the period of 1977 to 1980 is 150,000 tons, valued at a total of US$19 million.

The Hualien Marble Factory operated by the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen (VACRS) is the largest factory of its kind in the Republic of China. It has made remarkable achievements in exporting marble blocks and processed products in the international market. The Government is using this factory as an example to encourage privately-owned factories to renew their production facilities and adopt new techniques to improve the methods of prospecting, exploration, cutting, polishing and engraving, to meet the requirements of the international market. There are many kinds of marble products, included furniture, screens, wall placages, vases, tea pots, ashtrays, lamp-bases and other handicrafts made in Taiwan. They have won a high reputation internationally.