Kastamonu Maroon Marinace Marble

Kastamonu province includes the Azdavay and Pınarbaşı districts, between which the registered natural stone is extracted from mining sites along the boundary line. The product was registered on 13 December 2022 by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office as a geographical indication under the category of origin name. The registering institution is the Kastamonu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The most distinctive features of Kastamonu Maroon Marinace Marble include its color tone ranging between dark gray and khaki, and its soft texture.

Some physical and mechanical properties of this marble are as follows:

• Uniaxial compressive strength (under dry conditions) ranges from 54.30 to 97.77 MPa.
• True density has been measured between 2.711 and 2.722 g/cm³.
• Mohs hardness grade is 3.0.
• Water absorption rate under atmospheric pressure varies between 0.073% and 0.110%.
• Apparent porosity ranges from 0.096% to 0.353%.
• Vertical wear resistance values range from 15.72 to 15.88 mm.

Kastamonu Maroon Marinace Marble is extracted from quarries located along the boundary line between the Azdavay and Pınarbaşı districts of Kastamonu province. The production process includes the following steps:

1. The area to be quarried is identified and drill holes are made.
2. Diamond wires are threaded through these holes, their ends are connected, and the marble is cut from the main rock using marble cutting machines.
3. The cut large blocks are separated from the main rock and removed using heavy machinery and hydraulic equipment.
4. From the extracted marble blocks, those with appropriate dimensions, minimal cracks, and suitable pattern structure are sized using marble cutting machines to achieve the final block form.
5. Blocks and rubble that have been sized within the quarry are transported to a storage area and then dispatched to factories.
6. Marbles received from the cutting unit undergo various surface treatments such as polishing, sandblasting, antiquing, patination, honing, flame treatment, or acid washing.
7. The sized and surface-treated marbles are packaged, stored, and made available for sale.

The geographical boundary of the product is defined as the districts of Azdavay and Pınarbaşı within Kastamonu province.

The supervision of the use of the geographical indication is carried out by a control authority established under the coordination of the Kastamonu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This authority consists of at least one expert member from the Kastamonu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Kastamonu Organized Industrial Zone Directorate, and the Seydiler Organized Industrial Zone Directorate.

Inspections are conducted regularly at least once a year. Additionally, inspections may be carried out at any time if deemed necessary or in the event of a complaint. Inspection reports are submitted to the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office through the Kastamonu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The primary criteria for inspection are as follows:

• Appropriateness of the marble quarry location.
• Compliance of the production and factory flow process.
• Conformity of the marble’s physical and mechanical properties and color.
• Proper use of the term "Kastamonu Maroon Marinace Marble" and the origin name emblem.

The control authority may utilize experts from public or private institutions during inspection processes. The registering institution conducts legal proceedings to protect its legal rights.