Cast-in-Situ Terrazzo

Terrazzo is a composite material poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other suitable chips, sprinkled or unsprinkled, and poured with a binder that is cementitious, chemical or a combination of both. Terrazzo is cured, ground and polished to a smooth surface or otherwise finished to produce a uniformly textured surface. 

Terrazzo was originally invented by Venetian construction workers as a low cost flooring material using marble chips from upscale jobs. The workers would usually set them in clay to surface the patios around their living quarters. Consisting originally of marble chips, clay, and goat milk (as the sealer), production of terrazzo became much easier after the 1920s and the introduction of electric industrial grinders and other power equipment.

Modern terrazzo is not all that different from the original. It's still most commonly made from small pieces of marble mixed with Portland cement in a ratio of about two to one. However, there are some differences, since modern terrazzo can also made using materials other than marble chips - granite, onyx, glass, pieces of metal or mother of pearl have all been used to provide a unique appearance.