Marble Rock Composition

The exact chemical composition of marble will greatly vary dependong on the location and the minerals or impurities present in the limestone during recrystallization.

Marble rock composition.

Marble is a metamorphic rock formed when limestone is subjected to high pressure or heat. The composition of granite and marble consists of mineral content and compound content. Rocks are rated on the on the moh s hardness scale which rates the rocks on the scale from 1 to 10. 38 42 lime cao 20 25 silica sio2 2 4 alumina al2o3 1 5 2 5 various oxides nao and mgo and 30 32 various carbonates mgco3 and others.

Limestone a sedimentary rock forms when shells sand and fossils solidify over millions of years. Typically marble is composed of the following major constituents. It is composed primarily of the mineral calcite caco 3 and usually contains other minerals such as clay minerals micas quartz pyrite iron oxides and graphite under the conditions of metamorphism the calcite in the limestone recrystallizes to form a rock that is. Marble is a granular metamorphic rock it is derived from limestone or dolomite and it consists of a mass of interlocking grains of calcite or the mineral dolomite.

In its pure form marble is a white stone with a crystalline and sugary appearance consisting of calcium carbonate caco 3 usually marble contains other minerals including quartz graphite pyrite and iron oxides these minerals can give marble a pink brown gray green or variegated coloration. Marble is commonly used for sculpture and as a building material. Marble marble is a metamorphic rock formed when limestone is exposed to high temperatures and pressures. The hardness of marble is 3 4 whereas its compressive strength is 115 00 n mm 2.

Marble forms under such conditions because the calcite forming the limestone recrystallises forming a denser rock consisting of roughly equigranular calcite crystals. As the rock is subject to natural heat and pressure it recrystallizes growing harder and denser over time. Petrographically marbles are massive rather than thin layered and consist of a. When limestone experiences high heat and pressure beneath the earth it may transform into marble a metamorphic rock.

Rocks with hardness 1 3 are soft rocks from 3 6 are medium hardness rocks and 6 10 are hard rocks. The mineral content of granite includes amphibole biotite feldspar hornblade micas muscovite or illite plagioclase pyroxene quartz and mineral content of marble includes garnet graphite olivine. The variety of colours exhibited by marble are a consequence of minor amounts of impurities being incorporated with the. Commercially it includes all decorative calcium rich rocks that can be polished as well as certain serpentines verd antiques.

Form of it when limestone buried deep in the older layers of earth s crust is subjected to heat and pressure from thick layers of overlying sediments. Marble granular limestone or dolomite i e rock composed of calcium magnesium carbonate that has been recrystallized under the influence of heat pressure and aqueous solutions. Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to the heat and pressure of metamorphism.