Definition
Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase
  
Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic rock which is composed of recrystallized carbonate which is formed when limestone is exposed to high temperatures and pressures over a long time
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
Egypt
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1
  
From the Greek marmaros, shining stone and also from the English word marmoreal meaning marble-like
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Plutonic
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Foliated, Glassy
  
Granular
  
Color
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White
  
Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Pink, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
More
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
  
Veined and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Not Yet Used
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate
  
As Dimension Stone
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Curling
  
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling, Laboratory bench tops, Paper Industry, Tombstones, Used in aquariums, Whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper
  
Types
Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite
  
Breccia Marble, Carrara Marble, Calacatta marble, Cultured Marble, Polished Marble, Honed Marble, Sand Marble
  
Features
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Easily splits into thin plates, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Buland Darwaza in Agra, India, Capitol Hill Building, Washington DC, Charminar in Hyderabad, India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Maharashtra, India, Ephesus in Turkey, Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan, Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, India, Jama Masjid in Delhi, India, Lotus Temple in New Delhi, India, Louvre in Paris, France, Mysore Palace in Karnataka, India, Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, Romania, Parthenon in Greece, Potala Palace in Lahasa, Tibet, Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Qutb Minar in India, Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City, Taj Mahal in Agra, India, Tower of Pisa, Italy, Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, India, Washington Monument, US
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India, Bust of Artemis, Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra, India, Lincoln Memorial in America
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Anorthosite is a phaneritic, intrusive igneous rock which is characterized by a predominance of plagioclase feldspar which is almost 90–100%, and a minimal mafic component.
  
Marble is a metamorphic rock produced from limestone in the earth crust. It is formed by the metamorphism of limestone.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene
  
Garnet, Graphite, Olivine, Pyrite, Quartz
  
Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO, Sulfur Trioxide
  
CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
Impact Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5-6
  
3-4
  
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
  
Medium Grained
  
Fracture
Irregular
  
Not Available
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Pearly to Subvitreous
  
Dull to Pearly to Subvitreous
  
Compressive Strength
Not Available
  
115.00 N/mm
2
  
18
Cleavage
Irregular
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.62-2.82
  
2.86-2.87
  
Transparency
Translucent
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.7-4 g/cm3
  
2.4-2.7 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K
  
15
0.88 kJ/Kg K
  
13
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Not Yet Found
  
China, India
  
Africa
Not Yet Found
  
Namibia
  
Europe
Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Czech Republic
  
Italy, Spain
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada
  
Not Yet Found
  
South America
Bolivia, Colombia
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria
  
Anorthosite vs Marble Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Anorthosite vs Marble characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Anorthosite and Properties of Marble. Learn more about Anorthosite vs Marble in the next section. The interior uses of Anorthosite include Decorative aggregates, Floor tiles, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Marble include Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Floor tiles, Homes, Hotels, Interior decoration, Kitchens and Stair treads. Due to some exceptional properties of Anorthosite and Marble, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Anorthosite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate and that of Marble include As dimension stone.
More about Anorthosite and Marble
Here you can know more about Anorthosite and Marble. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Anorthosite and Marble consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Anorthosite includes Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene and mineral content of Marble includes Garnet, Graphite, Olivine, Pyrite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Anorthosite vs Marble, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Anorthosite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, green, grey, light greenish grey, pink, white colors whereas, Marble is available in black, blue, brown, grey, pink, white colors. Appearance of Anorthosite is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and that of Marble is Veined and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Anorthosite vs Marble. The hardness of Anorthosite is 5-6 and that of Marble is 3-4. The types of Anorthosite are Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite whereas types of Marble are Breccia Marble, Carrara Marble, Calacatta marble, Cultured Marble, Polished Marble, Honed Marble, Sand Marble. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Anorthosite and Marble is white. The specific heat capacity of Anorthosite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Marble is 0.88 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Anorthosite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, scratch resistant, wear resistant whereas Marble is heat resistant.