Difference between revisions of "Marble" - New World Encyclopedia

Revision as of 18:30, 20 August 2006

For glass, metal, or ceramic toys, see marbles.

Venus de Milo, front.

Marble is a metamorphic rock, resulting from the metamorphism (transformation) of limestone. It is composed mostly of calcite, a crystalline form of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). It is used extensively for sculpture, as a building material, and for many other applications. The word 'marble' is colloquially used to refer to many other stones that are capable of taking a high polish.

"Faux marble" (or faux marbling) is a wall-painting technique that imitates the color patterns of real marble (not to be confused with paper marbling). Marble dust can be combined with cement or synthetic resins to make reconstituted or "cultured marble."

Places named after the stone include Marble Hill, Manhattan, New York; the Sea of Marmara; India's Marble Rocks; and the towns of Marble, Minnesota; Marble, Colorado; and Marble Arch, London. The Elgin Marbles are marble sculptures from the Parthenon that are on display in the British Museum. They were brought to Britain by the Earl of Elgin.

Origins

Marble.

Marble is a metamorphic rock, resulting from the metamorphism (transformation) of sedimentary carbonate rocks—either limestone (composed mainly of the mineral calcite) or dolomite rock (composed mainly of the mineral dolomite). The metamorphic process, which takes place at high temperatures and pressures, causes a complete recrystallization of the original rock into an interlocking mosaic of calcite or dolomite crystals. Calcite consists of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), and dolomite, of calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO₃)₂). The temperatures and pressures necessary to form marble usually destroy any fossils and sedimentary textures present in the original rock.

Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of very pure limestone. The characteristic swirls and veins of many colored marble varieties are usually due to the presence of minor amounts of other minerals such as clay, silt, sand, iron oxides, or chert, which were originally present as grains or layers in the limestone. These various mineral "impurities" were mobilized and recrystallized by the intense pressure and heat of the metamorphic process.

Kinds of marble

Natural patterns on the polished surface of "landscape marble" can resemble a city skyline or even trees (see photo).

Blocks of cut marble at the historic mill in Marble, Colorado.

Some historically important kinds of marble, named after the locations of their quarries, include:

Paros and Penteli from Greece
Carrara from Italy
Proconnesus from Turkey
Macael from Spain
Makrana from India
Danby from Vermont, United States
Yule from Colorado, United States

White marbles, like Carrara, have been prized for sculpture since classical times. This preference has to do with its softness, homogeneity, and a relative resistance to shattering. Also, based on the low index of refraction of calcite, light can penetrate several millimeters into the stone before being scattered out, resulting in the characteristic waxy look that gives "life" to marble sculptures of the human body.

Construction marble

In the construction trade, the term "marble" is used for any massive, crystalline calcitic rock (and some non-calcitic rocks) useful as building stone. For example, Tennessee Marble is really a massive, highly fossiliferous gray to pink to maroon Ordovician dolostone, known as the Holston Formation by geologists.

Industrial use of marble

Colorless marbles are a very pure source of calcium carbonate, which is used in a wide variety of industries. Finely ground marble powder is a component in paints, toothpaste, and plastics; calcium carbonate can also be reduced under high heat to calcium oxide (also known as "lime"), which has many applications including being a primary component of most cements.

Etymology

The word "marble" derives from the Greek marmaros, "shining stone" (OED). This stem is also the basis for the English word "marmoreal" meaning "marble-like".

Cultural associations

As the favorite medium for Greek and Roman sculptors and architects, marble has become a cultural symbol of tradition and refined taste. Its extremely varied and colorful patterns make it a favorite decorative material, and are often imitated — e.g. in background patterns for computer displays.

In folklore, marble is associated with the astrological sign of Gemini. Pure white marble is an emblem of purity. It is also an emblem of immortality, and an ensurer of success in education.

External links

Tips for cleaning marble
Calcite, Limestone and Marble by Kelly Snyder and Peter Russel
How to engrave marble with laser.
Marble Institute of America, a trade organization.
Learning to carve by Marc Levoy.

Credits

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Marble ^history

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@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 [[Image:Wenuszmf.jpg|thumb|120px|right|Venus de Milo, front.]]
-'''Marble''' is a [[metamorphic rock]] resulting from the [[metamorphism]] of [[limestone]], composed mostly of [[calcite]] (a crystalline form of [[calcium carbonate]], [[calcium|Ca]][[carbon|C]][[oxygen|O]]<sub>3</sub>). It is extensively used for [[sculpture]], as a [[architecture|building]] material, and in many other applications.  The word 'marble' is colloquially used to refer to many other stones that are capable of taking a high polish.
+'''Marble''' is a [[metamorphic rock]]*, resulting from the metamorphism (transformation) of [[limestone]]. It is composed mostly of [[calcite]]*, a crystalline form of [[calcium carbonate]]* (CaCO<sub>3</sub>). It is used extensively for [[sculpture]], as a [[architecture|building]]* material, and for many other applications. The word 'marble' is colloquially used to refer to many other stones that are capable of taking a high polish.
-Faux marble or [[faux marbling]] is a wall painting technique that imitates the color patterns of real marble (not to be confused with [[paper marbling]]). Marble dust can be combined with cement or synthetic resins to make ''reconstituted'' or ''[[cultured marble]]''.
+"Faux marble" (or faux marbling) is a wall-painting technique that imitates the color patterns of real marble (not to be confused with paper marbling). Marble dust can be combined with cement or synthetic resins to make reconstituted or "cultured marble."
 Places named after the stone include [[Marble Hill, Manhattan, New York]]; the [[Sea of Marmara]]; [[India]]'s [[Marble Rocks]]; and the towns of [[Marble, Minnesota]]; [[Marble, Colorado]]; and [[Marble Arch]], [[London]]. The [[Elgin Marbles]] are marble sculptures from the [[Parthenon]] that are on display in the [[British Museum]].  They were brought to [[United Kingdom|Britain]] by the [[Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin|Earl of Elgin]].
+==Origins==
 [[Image:MarbleUSGOV.jpg|225px|thumb|left|Marble.]]
-==Origins==
+Marble is a [[metamorphic rock]]*, resulting from the [[metamorphism]] (transformation) of [[sedimentary rock|sedimentary]]* carbonate rocks&mdash;either [[limestone]] (composed mainly of the mineral calcite) or [[dolomite]] rock (composed mainly of the mineral dolomite). The metamorphic process, which takes place at high temperatures and pressures, causes a complete recrystallization of the original rock into an interlocking mosaic of calcite or dolomite [[crystal]]s. Calcite consists of calcium carbonate (CaCO<sub>3</sub>), and dolomite, of calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>). The temperatures and pressures necessary to form marble usually destroy any [[fossil]]s and sedimentary textures present in the original rock.
-Marble is a [[metamorphic rock]] resulting from regional or at times contact [[metamorphism]] of [[sedimentary rock|sedimentary]] carbonate rocks, either [[limestone]] or [[dolostone]]. This metamorphic process causes a complete recrystallization of the original rock into an interlocking mosaic of [[calcite]] and/or [[dolomite]] [[crystal]]s. The temperatures and pressures necessary to form marble usually destroy any [[fossil]]s and sedimentary textures present in the original rock.
-Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of very pure limestones. The characteristic swirls and veins of many colored marble varieties are usually due to various mineral impurities such as [[clay]], [[silt]], [[sand]], [[iron oxide]]s, or [[chert]] which were originally present as grains or layers in the limestone. Green coloration is often due to [[serpentine]] resulting from originally high magnesium limestone or dolostone with silica impurities. These various impurities have been mobilized and recrystallized by the intense pressure and heat of the [[metamorphism]].
+Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of very pure limestone. The characteristic swirls and veins of many colored marble varieties are usually due to the presence of minor amounts of other minerals such as [[clay]], [[silt]]*, [[sand]], iron oxides, or [[chert]]*, which were originally present as grains or layers in the limestone. These various mineral "impurities" were mobilized and recrystallized by the intense pressure and heat of the metamorphic process.
 ==Kinds of marble==
 [[Image:Landscape marble skyline.jpg|225px|right|thumb|Natural patterns on the polished surface of "landscape marble" can resemble a city [[skyline]] or even trees ([[:Image:Landscape marble treeline.jpg|see photo]]).]]
-[[Image:DSCN2642 marbleblocksinmarble 600.jpg|225px|right|thumb|Blocks of cut marble at the historic mill in Marble, Colorado]]
+[[Image:DSCN2642 marbleblocksinmarble 600.jpg|225px|right|thumb|Blocks of cut marble at the historic mill in Marble, Colorado.]]
 Some historically important kinds of marble, named after the locations of their [[quarry|quarries]], include:
-*[[Parian marble|Paros]] from [[Greece]]
+*[[Parian marble|Paros]]* and [[Penteli]]* from [[Greece]]
-*[[Penteli]] from [[Greece]]
+*[[Carrara]]* from [[Italy]]
-*[[Carrara]] from [[Italy]]
+*[[Proconnesus]]* from [[Turkey]]
-*[[Proconnesus]] from [[Turkey]]
+*[[Macael]]* from [[Spain]]
-*[[Macael]] from [[Spain]]
+*[[Makrana]]* from [[India]]
-*[[Makrana]] from [[India]]
+*[[Danby,_Vermont|Danby]]* from [[Vermont]]*, [[United States]]
-*[[Danby,_Vermont|Danby]] from [[Vermont]]
+*[[Yule Marble|Yule]]* from [[Colorado]]*, [[United States]]
-*[[Yule Marble|Yule]] from [[Colorado]]
-White marbles, like Carrara, have been prized for [[marble sculpture|sculpture]] since classical times. This preference has to do with the softness and relative [[isotropy]] and homogeneity, and a relative resistance to shattering. Also, the low index of refraction of [[calcite]] allows light to penetrate several millimeters into the stone before being scattered out, resulting in the characteristic "waxy" look which gives "life" to marble sculptures of the human body.
+White marbles, like Carrara, have been prized for [[marble sculpture|sculpture]] since classical times. This preference has to do with its softness, homogeneity, and a relative resistance to shattering. Also, based on the low index of refraction of calcite, light can penetrate several millimeters into the stone before being scattered out, resulting in the characteristic waxy look that gives "life" to marble sculptures of the human body.
-==Construction marble==
+== Construction marble ==
 In the [[construction]] trade, the term "marble" is used for any massive, crystalline calcitic rock (and some non-calcitic rocks) useful as building stone.  For example, [[Tennessee Marble]] is really a massive, highly fossiliferous gray to pink to maroon [[Ordovician]] [[dolostone]], known as the [[Holston Formation]] by [[geology|geologists]].