metamorphic
White Marble
Recrystallized Calcite (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Pure white to light gray; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific Gravity: 2.7
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pure white to light gray
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Pure white to light gray; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific Gravity: 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed when limestone is subjected to high heat and pressure during regional or contact metamorphism. This process causes the calcite grains to recrystallize into a dense, interlocking mosaic of crystals.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction for cladding and flooring, sculpture, monuments, and as a raw material in pharmaceuticals and agriculture after being crushed into calcium carbonate.
Geological facts
Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of a very pure (silicate-poor) limestone or dolomite protolith. Famous structures made of white marble include the Taj Mahal and the Parthenon.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its sugary texture (saccharoidal) and its reaction (effervescence) when exposed to a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid. It is commonly found in mountainous regions underlain by ancient sedimentary rocks.
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