metamorphic
Marble (White)
Metamorphosed Limestone (mainly CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: White with grey veining; Luster: Dull to pearly/vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular texture); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral (in individual grains); Specific gravity: 2.7
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White with grey veining
- Luster
- Dull to pearly/vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: White with grey veining; Luster: Dull to pearly/vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular texture); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral (in individual grains); Specific gravity: 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed when limestone (sedimentary rock) is subjected to intense heat and pressure (regional or contact metamorphism), causing recrystallization of calcite. Typically found in mountain-building metamorphic belts.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction for tiles, countertops, and facades; in sculpture and art; as a lime source for agriculture; and in paper and paint manufacturing.
Geological facts
Carrara marble from Italy was used by Michelangelo for his statue of David. It is composed primarily of interlocking calcite crystals.
Field identification & locations
Identifiable by its sugary texture and reaction (effervescence) when exposed to dilute hydrochloric acid. It is soft enough to be scratched by a steel blade, which distinguishes it from white quartzite.
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