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Marble is a metamorphic rock that formed when limestone (or dolostone) is put under immense heat and pressure. They are commonly formed at convergent plate boundaries that create these events of extreme heat and pressure. It is mostly comprised of the mineral calcite, which forms its rough, crystal texture. It also is comprised of calcium carbonate which makes it fizz and react when it comes into contact with acid!
It is a relatively soft rock with a hardness scale of ~3 and is typically a light color such as white or cream, but sometimes it can be pink, yellow, black, and more due to impurities. Impurities are minerals that sneak into the mix during the cooling period.
It is a popular rock used for sculpture! The picture to the left is by Monti called The Veiled Lady (1860)
Uses:
Antacids: Its reaction to acid helps neutralize it making it useful in combating heartburn which is caused by stomach acid
Architecture: It is commonly used as building material and for interior design purposes such as marble tabletops.
Paint pigment: Its white color makes it a nice pigment when crushed up and added to paint.
Fun Facts:
The Washington Monument in Washington D.C. is made of three different kinds of marble.
Marble can take hundreds of years to form.
Where in NC?
It is located mainly in Western Carolina where a convergent boundary created the Appalachian Mountains 480 million years ago! It is found at the Brevard Fault Zone and in Ashe, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, McDowell, Mitchell, and Yadkin counties.
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