History
Since 1931...
Marnemar has focused its activity on the exploitation of natural stone, specifically the ornamental limestone known as "Mármol Negro Marquina" (Black Marquina Marble). The company is dedicated to the extraction of commercial marble blocks from its quarries. This type of marble stands out for its intense black coloration, which, combined with its characteristic white veining, makes it one of the most prestigious limestones in the ornamental sector, both in the national and international markets. Among its clients, the Italian market is particularly notable, from where it is distributed worldwide.
Foundation
There are indications that the Romans used a "black stone" from the northern region of Bizkaia for their mosaics and ornamental pieces. In the surroundings of Markina, there are buildings that attest to the fact that the rock was valued in construction work more than a hundred years ago. Since the 1930s, the quarries began to take shape with the development of the first specialized machinery, mainly of Italian manufacture. Initially started as family businesses, in the last two decades of the 20th century, they evolved into specialized quarries, developed with modern machinery.
Present Day
The combination of different machinery, capable of cutting and drilling the stone, bench dumping, and selection capacity, allows for the development of versatile and flexible production models. These models are capable of optimizing the yields of the precious stone blocks, giving each area exclusive treatment, resulting in a continuous availability of materials of all types and qualities, able to meet the demands of all our clients.
Future
The block quarries in operation have sufficient reserves to supply the current market needs for the next 80 years, both in black and gray varieties. With careful mining planning and great respect for the environmental surroundings, we have modern operations capable of meeting the different technical and environmental requirements of a developed socio-economic environment that is aware of the importance of intelligently and sustainably managing the resources of its territory.
It is a quarry with great production capacity. Around 70% is exported, and this quarry produces 80% of the Black Marquina that is sold worldwide: Italy, the USA, the Arab countries, etc. Marnemar presents its stones in blocks as well as different finishes in its varieties of "Black Marquina Marble" (Polished, Honed, Bush-Hammered, and Aged) as well as "Florido Black Marquina Marble" (Polished and Honed).