metamorphic
Marble
Recrystallized Carbonate Rock (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on the Mohs scale; Color: White to light pinkish-grey with dark grey or black veining/inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to sugary/sintered; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/hexagonal (calcite grains); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in individual grains
- Hardness
- 3 on the Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to sugary/sintered
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on the Mohs scale; Color: White to light pinkish-grey with dark grey or black veining/inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to sugary/sintered; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/hexagonal (calcite grains); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in individual grains
Formation & geological history
Formed when limestone or dolostone undergoes regional or contact metamorphism under intense heat and pressure, causing original carbonate mineral grains to recrystallize into an interlocking mosaic.
Uses & applications
Widely used in sculpture, architecture, building stone, floor tiles, and countertops. Ground marble is also used as a calcium source in agriculture and industrial applications.
Geological facts
Pure white marble results from the metamorphism of very pure limestone, while colors and swirls are caused by mineral impurities such as clay, silt, sand, or iron oxides present in the original sediment.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its soft hardness (scratched easily by a copper coin or steel blade) and strong effervescence (fizzing) when exposed to dilute hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in metamorphic terrains such as Italy (Carrara), Greece, Vermont, and Georgia.
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