What is Crema Marfil marble, and is it really marble?
Last updated November 2026.
Quick answer
- Sold as
- Marble; petrographically a biosparite (limestone)
- Origin
- Monte Coto near Pinoso, Alicante, Spain
- Absorption
- 0.5 ± 0.1% (producer, EN 13755); 0.15–0.2% (panel supplier)
- Density
- 2,690 kg/m³ (about 168 lb/ft³)
- Compressive strength
- 165 ± 26.5 MPa (about 23,900 psi)
- Grades
- Extra, First, Standard, Commercial
Crema Marfil is a cream-to-beige stone from the Monte Coto area near Pinoso in Alicante, Spain. The trade sells it as marble, but the producer's own data sheet classes it petrographically as a biosparite, a fossil-bearing limestone. It is dense, takes any finish, and etches in acids.
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What is Crema Marfil marble?
Crema Marfil is a Spanish cream stone from the Monte Coto area near Pinoso in Alicante province. The producer describes it as a creamy yellowish rock of compact fine grain, with small dark veins scattered irregularly. A panel supplier adds soft golden and ivory undertones, with fine white, tan and occasional rust veining.
It is sold under many names: Crema Marfil Clasico, Classico, Zafra, Cream Marfil and Crema Marfim, among others. A designer asking for Crema Marfil should check which quarry and grade the sample came from.
What are the properties of Crema Marfil marble?
| Property | Crema Marfil marble |
|---|---|
| Trade class | Marble in the trade; petrographic denomination biosparite (UNE-EN 12407) [1] |
| Description | Creamy yellowish, compact fine grain with small dark veins irregularly scattered [1] |
| Density | 2,690 kg/m³ apparent density (UNE-EN 1936) [1] |
| Open porosity and absorption | Open porosity 0.4%; water absorption at atmospheric pressure 0.5 ± 0.1% (UNE-EN 13755) [1] |
| Compressive strength | 165 ± 26.5 MPa (UNE-EN 1926) [1] |
| Abrasion | 20.5 ± 0.4 mm (UNE-EN 14157) [1] |
| Slip resistance (wet pendulum, SRV) | Polished 11; honed 32 (UNE-EN 14231); dry values 37 and 60 [1] |
| Panel supplier absorption | 0.15–0.2%, MIA soundness class C [2] |
| Fabric | Calcite with fossil remains such as nummulites and corals; ivory and golden flecks [3] |
Numbers in brackets refer to the sources at the end of this page. Natural stone varies block to block.
Planning a piece in Crema Marfil marble?
Tell us about the room. We reply within one business day with options, and every quote gives the exact dimensions and weight of the piece.
Is Crema Marfil really marble?
In the trade, yes. Geologically, the producer's own data sheet gives the petrographic name biosparite under UNE-EN 12407, which is a limestone made of fossil fragments bound in a calcite cement. The stone fabric shows calcite and fossil remains such as nummulites and corals.
The stone trade uses the word marble more broadly than geologists do: it includes unmetamorphosed limestone and other crystalline rocks that take a polish, while marble proper is metamorphosed limestone. Crema Marfil sits on the trade side of that line. What matters for care is that it is calcium carbonate, so it etches in acids.
What grades does Crema Marfil come in?
Four are commonly named. Extra Choice has no visible veining and the most uniform look. First Choice has barely visible thin veining and an even tone. Standard has soft tones with subtle veining. Commercial has pronounced veining and color variation on a creamy base.
Grade drives both price and how well slabs match across a bathroom, so ask which grade is quoted and request slabs from one lot for a vanity top and a matching wall. No dependable per-sq-ft price is published for this stone in the sources used.
| Grade | Veining and tone | Retailer's suggested use |
|---|---|---|
| Extra | None visible, most uniform | High-end installations |
| First | Barely visible thin veins | Upscale residential and commercial |
| Standard | Subtle veining, soft tones | Versatile |
| Commercial | Pronounced veins and variation | More eclectic designs |
Grade descriptions are from a retailer guide, SurfacesGalore, citing trade sources.
How dense is Crema Marfil, and how does it test?
The producer's data sheet lists apparent density of 2,690 kg/m³ (about 168 lb/ft³), open porosity of 0.4%, and water absorption at atmospheric pressure of 0.5 ± 0.1%. Compressive strength is 165 ± 26.5 MPa, flexural strength under concentrated load 9.1 MPa, and abrasion resistance 20.5 mm.
A panel supplier lists lower absorption of 0.15–0.2% and a Marble Institute soundness class of C. Test methods differ, so treat the numbers as a range and ask for results on your lot. The sheet states the stone admits any surface finish, from polished and honed to bush-hammered.
Is Crema Marfil good for a bathroom floor?
It works, with the right finish. The producer's slip-resistance table lists pendulum values for the wet condition of 11 for a polished face and 32 for a honed face, with dry values of 37 and 60. Lower numbers mean less grip, so the polished face is clearly the slipperier one wet.
For a bathroom, pick honed, keep soap film off, and use a mat at the shower exit. Seal against stains and use pH-neutral cleaner, since dilute acids etch calcite and limestone. A retailer guide also says to avoid acidic cleaners and to reseal regularly. Ask a licensed installer and local code about substrate and floor loads.
What is Crema Marfil confused with?
Cream limestones and travertines: travertine has linear pits that Crema Marfil does not, while Indiana limestone and Jerusalem stone are limestones sold under their own place names. Against white marbles such as Carrara, Crema Marfil has a warm beige ground rather than a cool white one. For stone and cast comparisons see cast marble vs natural marble.
Does Pietra Fonte make pieces in Crema Marfil?
We carve marble, travertine and onyx to order; ask whether this stone is available for your piece. We make no promise on any one name or grade, and every quote gives exact dimensions and weight. See the stone library or write to us about a one-off piece through bespoke.
Sources
Every piece is made to order. Tell us about the room and we reply within one business day.
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