metamorphic
Common Marble
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: White to light gray; Luster: Dull to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite grains; Specific gravity: 2.7
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White to light gray
- Luster
- Dull to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: White to light gray; Luster: Dull to pearly; Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular); Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite grains; Specific gravity: 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the regional or contact metamorphism of limestone or dolostone during mountain-building events. High heat and pressure cause the original carbonate minerals to recrystallize into an interlocking mosaic of calcite crystals.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in sculpture, building materials (flooring and countertops), crushed stone for construction, and as a calcium supplement in livestock feed.
Geological facts
Marble has been the preferred stone for European sculptors since classical times because of its relative softness and its 'isotropy' (the ability to be carved in any direction). The Taj Mahal and the Parthenon are famous structures made mostly of marble.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its softness (can be scratched by a copper coin) and its energetic reaction (fizzing) when exposed to a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in mountainous regions near convergent plate boundaries.
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