metamorphic

White Marble

Recrystallized Calcite (CaCO3)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale (easily scratched by steel); Color: Pure white to off-white; Luster: Vitreous to sugary; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral (though often masked in massive forms); Specific Gravity: 2.7

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale (easily scratched by steel)
Color: Pure white to off-white
Luster: Vitreous to sugary

Identified March 26, 2026More metamorphic →

Explore White Marble in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the regional or contact metamorphism of limestone or dolostone. Under extreme heat and pressure, the original carbonate mineral grains recrystallize into a dense interlocking mosaic of calcite crystals. Geologically, it can range from Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction as building stone, floor tiles, and countertop slabs. Highly valued in art for sculpture due to its relative softness and light-scattering properties (waxy look). Industrially used as an abrasive, a source of calcium, or crushed for road aggregate.

Geological facts

Pure white marble, like the Carrara marble from Italy, is the result of metamorphism of a very pure (silica-poor) limestone. Famous structures like the Taj Mahal and the Parthenon are constructed primarily from marble.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its sugary texture and softness (can be scratched by a copper coin or knife). It will vigorously effervesce (fizz) when a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid is applied. Commonly found in mountainous regions where deep crustal deformation has occurred, such as the Appalachians or the Alps.