metamorphic
Marble
Metamorphic Limestone (Calcite, CaCO3)
Hardness: 3-4 on Mohs scale; Color: Grey, brown, white, and beige swirling mottling; Luster: Polished vitreous to dull natural; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite component; Specific Gravity: 2.7
- Hardness
- 3-4 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Grey, brown, white, and beige swirling mottling
- Luster
- Polished vitreous to dull natural
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 on Mohs scale; Color: Grey, brown, white, and beige swirling mottling; Luster: Polished vitreous to dull natural; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite component; Specific Gravity: 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional or contact metamorphism of limestone or dolostone under intense heat and tectonic pressure, recrystallizing carbonate minerals into a dense, interlocking mosaic.
Uses & applications
Widely used as building stone, kitchen countertops, floor tiles, decorative statues, and architectural accents.
Geological facts
Pure marble is bright white; the distinct swirls and veins in colored marbles are caused by mineral impurities such as clay, silt, sand, iron oxides, or chert originally present in the limestone sediment.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its softness compared to granite, effervescence (fizzing) when exposed to weak acids like vinegar due to calcite content, and characteristic sugary granular texture when unpolished.
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