metamorphic
Marble (Polished Egg)
Metamorphic Limestone (predominantly Calcite, CaCO3)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Pinkish-beige/salmon with reddish-brown veins and mottling; Luster: Vitreous to sub-vitreous when polished; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline calcite matrix); Specific gravity: ~2.6 - 2.8.
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pinkish-beige/salmon with reddish-brown veins and mottling
- Luster
- Vitreous to sub-vitreous when polished
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Pinkish-beige/salmon with reddish-brown veins and mottling; Luster: Vitreous to sub-vitreous when polished; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline calcite matrix); Specific gravity: ~2.6 - 2.8.
Formation & geological history
Formed via regional or contact metamorphism of limestone or dolostone, where recrystallization occurs under elevated heat and pressure, often incorporating trace iron oxides that lend pink and reddish hues.
Uses & applications
Commonly carved and polished into decorative shapes such as eggs, spheres, bookends, sculptures, and architectural tiles or ornamental slabs.
Geological facts
Egg-shaped stone carvings have been popular ornamental items and tactile pocket stones since the Renaissance and became widely produced decorative curiosities in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its softness (easily scratched by a copper penny or steel nail), effervescence when exposed to dilute hydrochloric acid, and classic swirling recrystallized calcite patterns. Common source localities include Italy, Spain, Pakistan, and Turkey.
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