metamorphic
Marble (Sculptural Statue)
Metamorphic Limestone (CaCO3)
Hardness 3 on Mohs scale, white to light gray with natural weathering and lichen growth, sugary (granoblastic) texture, non-foliated, effervesces strongly in dilute acid.
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Physical properties
Hardness 3 on Mohs scale, white to light gray with natural weathering and lichen growth, sugary (granoblastic) texture, non-foliated, effervesces strongly in dilute acid.
Formation & geological history
Formed from regional or contact metamorphism of limestone or dolostone under intense heat and pressure, recrystallizing calcite grains into a dense interlocking matrix.
Uses & applications
Used widely in statuary, outdoor art, architecture, monumental masonry, decorative garden sculptures, and indoor flooring.
Geological facts
Marble has been the preferred stone for sculptors since antiquity due to its relative softness when freshly quarried and its fine, homogeneous grain that allows for intricate carving.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its fine crystal grain, light color, and reaction to acid tests. Weathered outdoor marble statues often develop surface pitting, discoloration, and biological growth over time.
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