metamorphic
Marble
Recrystallized Calcite (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: White with grey veining; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal/hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral (rarely visible in hand specimen); Specific gravity: 2.7
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White with grey veining
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: White with grey veining; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal/hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral (rarely visible in hand specimen); Specific gravity: 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from regional or contact metamorphism of limestone or dolostone under high pressure and temperature, causing recrystallization of carbonate minerals. Geological age varies by source location.
Uses & applications
Widely used in high-end construction for countertops, flooring, and wall cladding, as well as in sculpture and as an architectural decorative stone.
Geological facts
Marble has been used since antiquity; the Parthenon and the Taj Mahal are famous structures built from it. Pure white marble comes from very pure limestone.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (can be scratched by a steel blade), its distinctive swirling 'marbleized' veins, and its reaction (effervescence) when exposed to dilute hydrochloric acid.
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