Linoleum is made from a variety of materials, including linseed oil, pine rosin, ground cork dust, wood flour and calcium carbonate. The mixture is boiled and then applied onto a backing (usually burlap or canvas).
To make a linoleum block, a design is carved into a piece of linoleum, often with a chisel or other sharp tool.
After being carved, the linoleum block is covered with paint and pressed down onto paper or fabric.
Because linoleum, unlike wood, does not have a grain, it can be much easier to carve into the desired shape, especially when delicate details are desired.
Linoleum, however, is more fragile than wood, and does not stand up as well to multiple printings, limiting the number of pictures that can be produced from one plate.