Marble and Skarn

Marble

Skarn

Definition

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

Skarns are formed during regional or contact metamorphism and from a variety of metasomatic processes involving fluids of magmatic, metamorphic, and/or marine origin

History

Origin

Egypt

USA, Australia

Discoverer

Unknown

Tornebohm

Etymology

From the Greek marmaros, shining stone and also from the English word marmoreal meaning marble-like

From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Granular

Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough

Color

Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Pink, White

Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Veined and Shiny

Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Not Yet Used

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone

As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Gold and Silver production, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Not Applicable

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling, Laboratory bench tops, Paper Industry, Tombstones, Used in aquariums, Whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)

Types

Breccia Marble, Carrara Marble, Calacatta marble, Cultured Marble, Polished Marble, Honed Marble, Sand Marble

Endoskarns

Features

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Easily splits into thin plates, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

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

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India, Bust of Artemis, Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra, India, Lincoln Memorial in America

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Marble is a metamorphic rock produced from limestone in the earth crust. It is formed by the metamorphism of limestone.

Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Skarn is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.

Composition

Mineral Content

Garnet, Graphite, Olivine, Pyrite, Quartz

Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite

Compound Content

CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Impact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Not Applicable

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion

Not Applicable

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

3-4

6.5

Grain Size

Medium Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Not Available

Irregular

Streak

White

Light to dark brown

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Dull to Pearly to Subvitreous

Waxy and Dull

Compressive Strength

115.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Perfect

Slaty

Toughness

Not Available

2.4

Specific Gravity

2.86-2.87

2.86

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.4-2.7 g/cm³

2.8-2.9 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.88 kJ/Kg K

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India

China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka

Africa

Namibia

South Africa, Western Africa

Europe

Italy, Spain

United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Not Yet Found

Canada

South America

Not Yet Found

Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria

Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Marble and Skarn Properties

Know all about Marble and Skarn properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Marble and Skarn belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Marble is Granular whereas that of Skarn is Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough. Marble appears Veined and Shiny and Skarn appears Dull. The luster of Marble is dull to pearly to subvitreous while that of Skarn is waxy and dull. Marble is available in black, blue, brown, grey, pink, white colors whereas Skarn is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Marble are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork, curling, laboratory bench tops, paper industry, tombstones, used in aquariums, whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper and that of Skarn are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, metallurgical flux, source of magnesia (mgo).