Have you wondered about the rostrum's background at the Senate trial? [View all]

[MineralMan]

I certainly did. I noticed it behind the impeachment managers as they presented their case. It's a very striking backdrop, looking like aluminum embedded in a dark background, with three-dimensional qualities. So, I dug in to find out what it was. It wasn't easy to get the answer. Not easy at all. I spent a couple of hours on Google before identifying it.

It's marble, of the variety Rosso Levanto. The ground color is actually a deep red brown, and the figure color is creamy white. It's name means "red from the Levant." While that variety of marble can be found in Italy, it is quarried primarily in Turkey. Its striking appearance and high contrast makes it a dramatic background when used as a facing material, as on the Senate rostrum.

It's a rather expensive style of marble, but is available in slabs or as tiles from most marble suppliers. It's a little too dramatic for use in a residential setting, but makes a big statement in places like the Senate chambers.

So, that's what MineralMan has been up to during the trial, at least some of the time.