metamorphic
Pink Marble
Recrystallized Calcite Marble (CaCO3)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, salmon, or peach with darker reddish and black veins; Luster: Vitreous to pearly, highly polished; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite grains; Specific gravity: 2.6 - 2.8
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, salmon, or peach with darker reddish and black veins
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly, highly polished
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, salmon, or peach with darker reddish and black veins; Luster: Vitreous to pearly, highly polished; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite grains; Specific gravity: 2.6 - 2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed by regional or contact metamorphism of limestone or dolostone containing trace iron oxide (hematite) or manganese impurities, which impart the pink hue. The veining represents fracture-filling mineral phases or stylolites.
Uses & applications
Commonly carved and polished into ornamental decorative objects such as polished stone eggs, spheres, bookends, sculptures, floor tiles, and architectural cladding.
Geological facts
Pink marble has been prized throughout history; famous varieties include Norwegian Rose marble, Portuguese Pink marble (Rosa Português), and Georgia Pink marble, which was used extensively in neoclassical architecture.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its soft hardness (scratched by a copper coin or steel nail) and vigorous effervescence when exposed to dilute hydrochloric acid (acid test). Prominently quarried in Portugal, Italy, Norway, and the United States.
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