metamorphic
White Marble
Recrystallized Calcite (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale (can be scratched by a copper coin/nail); Color: White; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: Rhombohedral (often obscured by recrystallization); Specific Gravity: 2.7
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale (can be scratched by a copper coin/nail)
- Color
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale (can be scratched by a copper coin/nail); Color: White; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: Rhombohedral (often obscured by recrystallization); Specific Gravity: 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the regional or contact metamorphism of limestone or dolostone. High heat and pressure cause the original carbonate grains to recrystallize into a dense interlocking map of calcite crystals.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, sculpture, flooring, and counter tops. High-purity white marble is often ground for use as a filler in paper, paint, and plastics, or as a calcium supplement.
Geological facts
Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of very pure limestone. The characteristic 'veins' found in many marbles are usually mineral impurities like clay, silt, sand, or iron oxides.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its softness (scratchable with a knife) and its vigorous reaction (fizzing) when exposed to dilute hydrochloric acid. It is commonly found in mountainous regions where tectonic plates have collided.
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