metamorphic
Marble
Recrystallized Calcite (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, off-white, or light gray; Luster: vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal (as calcite); Cleavage: rhombohedral; Specific Gravity: 2.7
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- typically white, off-white, or light gray
- Luster
- vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, off-white, or light gray; Luster: vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal (as calcite); Cleavage: rhombohedral; Specific Gravity: 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of limestone or dolostone under high pressure and temperature conditions, which causes the recrystallization of carbonate minerals into an interlocking mosaic.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction (countertops, flooring), sculpture, and architecture. Ground marble is used in paper, plastics, and as an acid neutralizer in the chemical industry.
Geological facts
Pure marble is the result of metamorphism of very pure limestone. The characteristic 'veins' found in colored marble are usually due to various mineral impurities like clay, silt, sand, or iron oxides.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its relatively soft surface (can be scratched by a copper penny) and its strong effervescence (fizzing) when exposed to a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid. It has a distinctive sugary, crystalline texture.
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