Limestone Marble Metamorphism

Marble is a metamorphic rock formed when limestone is exposed to high temperatures and pressures.

Limestone marble metamorphism.

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. Marbles are limestones or dolostones that have been metamorphosed. Marble forms under such conditions because the calcite forming the limestone recrystallises forming a denser rock consisting of roughly equigranular calcite crystals. Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to the heat and pressure of metamorphism.

In this hand specimen of vermont marble the crystals are small. Since metamorphism recrystallizes the individual calcite or dolomite crystals in the parent rock slightly metamophosed limestones have textures that look slightly blurred compared to a fresh limestone. The variety of colours exhibited by marble are a consequence of minor amounts of impurities being incorporated with the calcite during metamorphism. Marble is a rock resulting from metamorphism of sedimentary carbonate rocks most commonly limestone or dolomite rock.

Marble is formed from limestone when the limestone is affected by heat and high pressure during a process known as metamorphism. This type of metamorphic rock consists of recrystallized calcite in limestone or dolomite in dolomite rock. The resulting marble rock is typically composed of an interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals.