Carrara Marble Mineral Composition

In geology the term marble refers to metamorphosed limestone but its use in stonemasonry more broadly encompasses unmetamorphosed limestone.

Carrara marble mineral composition. Marble is typically not foliated although there are exceptions. Typically marble is composed of the following major constituents. Carrara marble contains on average about 98 of calcium carbonate together with small percentage of silica magnesia dolomite and residue. 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.

Marble contributes a very special natural appearance to the systems in which it is used. Statuary marble comes in different subtypes such as statuary carrara 1 which is almost entirely white in color statuary carrara 1 which has a slightly more yellow tone to it and statuary mossa which has a uniform beige color throughout. In addition to the major constituents marble can have many different mineral impurities of various percentages. The black yeast micrococcus halobius can colonize carrara marble by forming a biofilm and producing gluconic lactic pyruvic and succinic acids from glucose as seen in the dionysos theater of the acropolis in athens.

This process is caused by heat and pressure which interlocks the stone particles to become a mosaic of crystals. 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. Bruijna karsten kunzeb david mainpricec luigi burlinia a geological institute eth zürich sonneggstrasse 5 ch 8092 zürich switzerland. Marble is considered to be a strong hard stone even though its primary mineral calcite only has a mohs hardness of 3.

Marble tends to be light in color. The purest marble is white. Marble can be scratched with a metal blade. Mechanical and microstructural development of carrara marble with pre existing strain variation rolf h c.

Statuary marble is oftentimes confused with calcutta and carrara marble due to the striking similarities in the colors. Marble worktops marble is a metamorphic rock which is formed when limestone re crystallizes. Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals most commonly calcite or dolomite. As anticipated marble is a carbonate rock that is to say it is mainly based on carbonate it must have at least 50 of carbonates.