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What is Marble?



Definition

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

History

Origin
Egypt

Discoverer
Unknown

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

Class
Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group
-

Other Categories
Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Granular

Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Pink, White

Maintenance
More

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
No

Appearance
Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

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

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

Other Architectural Uses
-

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

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

Types

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

Features
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
-

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

Sculpture
-

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

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

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

Composition

Mineral Content
Garnet, Graphite, Olivine, Pyrite, Quartz

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

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Impact Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
3-4

Grain Size
Medium Grained

Fracture
-

Streak
White

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Dull to Pearly to Subvitreous

Compressive Strength
115.00 N/mm2 27

Cleavage
Perfect

Toughness
-

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.4-2.7 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K 13

Resistance
Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
China, India

Africa
Namibia

Europe
Italy, Spain

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
-

South America
-

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria

Summary >>
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Metamorphic Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Marble

What is Marble? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Marble i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Marble include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Marble is 115.00 N/mm2. Streak of Marble is white while its cleavage is perfect. Luster of Marble is dull to pearly to subvitreous and its fracture is . Marble is opaque in nature. Know all about Marble, What is Marble, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Marble

What is Marble composed of? Get to know about composition of Marble here. Marble definition gives information about the Formation of Marble and its composition.The composition of Marble can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Marble rock includes Garnet, Graphite, Olivine, Pyrite, Quartz and The compound content of Marble rock includes CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO, Silicon Dioxide. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Marble rock in next section.

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