Why is marble harder than its parent rock?

Why is marble harder than its parent rock?

The heat generated by the magma chamber has changed these sedimentary rocks into the metamorphic rocks marble, quartzite, an hornfels. They are generally as hard and sometimes harder than igneous rocks.

Why is marble harder than limestone?

Marble, on the other hand, is a type of rock that is formed by the recrystallization of limestone during the mountain-building process. Marble is a metamorphic rock, and limestone is a sedimentary rock. Limestone is more porous than marble, which is much harder.

Is marble a soft or hard stone?

Marble is considered to be a strong, hard stone, even though its primary mineral, calcite, only has a Mohs hardness of 3. Marble can be scratched with a metal blade.

Is marbles a metamorphic rock?

Marble is a metamorphic rock formed when limestone is exposed to high temperatures and pressures. Marble forms under such conditions because the calcite forming the limestone recrystallises forming a denser rock consisting of roughly equigranular calcite crystals.

How does limestone turn into marble?

The transformation of limestone into marble usually occurs at convergent plate boundaries where large areas of Earth’s crust are exposed to the heat and pressure of regional metamorphism. Some marble also forms by contact metamorphism when a hot magma body heats adjacent limestone or dolostone.

How is marble formed at a plate boundary?

Usually, this happens at a convergent tectonic plate boundary, but some marble forms when hot magma heats limestone or dolomite. The heat or pressure recrystallizes calcite in the rock, changing its texture. Over time, the crystals grow and interlock to give the rock a characteristic sugary, sparkling appearance.

What are the physical characteristics of marble?

The visible crystals in marble give it a characteristic granular surface and appearance, but there are other properties used to identify the rock. Marble is considered to be a strong, hard stone, even though its primary mineral, calcite, only has a Mohs hardness of 3. Marble can be scratched with a metal blade. Marble tends to be light in color.