metamorphic
Coarse-Grained Marble
Recrystallized Limestone (Major component: CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, gray, or bluish; Luster: vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal (hexagonal); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific gravity: 2.7.
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- typically white, gray, or bluish
- Luster
- vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white, gray, or bluish; Luster: vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal (hexagonal); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral; Specific gravity: 2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed via regional or contact metamorphism of limestone or dolostone. Heat and pressure cause the calcite grains to recrystallize into a dense interlocking mosaic. Geological age varies greatly from Precambrian to Cenozoic.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction for countertops and floor tiles, in sculpture due to its relative softness, and crushed for use as an acid neutralizer or as an abrasive in cleaning products.
Geological facts
Marble is famous for its translucency, which allows light to penetrate into the stone before being scattered out, giving statues a 'lifelike' glow. Michelangelo's 'David' is carved from Carrara marble.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its sugary (saccharoidal) texture and its strong effervescent reaction to cold dilute hydrochloric acid. It is commonly found in mountainous regions under high tectonic pressure such as the Alps or the Appalachians.
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