Limestone Turns To Marble

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Limestone turns to marble.

I m doing an essay and i need a detailed explanation of how limestone is turned to marble. I know that it needs to be put under great heat and pressure but i want to know what kind of heat and what kind of pressure. Fossilized materials in the limestone along with its original carbonate minerals recrystallise and form large coarse grains of calcite. Marble is formed from limestone by heat and pressure in the earth s crust.

Limestone generally ranks at around a 3 on the scale while marble falls between 3 and 4. They appear to be bleached out. What is the process of metamorphism when limestone turns into marble. The fact that marble gleams white and reflects object informs us that it has gone through the metamorphic stage withstanding heat water.

Because marble is a fairly soft material only a three on the mohs hardness scale it is easy to cut and carve. 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 under the conditions of metamorphism the calcite in the limestone recrystallizes to form a rock that is. When the heat and pressure hits the limestone calcite seed crystals form. With continued metamorphism these crystal seeds grow while any clay deposits in the limestone transform into silicate structures such as mica.

When limestone is buried and put under intense heat and pressure why does it turn to marble instead of thermally decomposing into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide. There is no treatment to avoid a limestone or marble from getting matt or losing its gloss but there is a possibility to refresh the colour of the stone easily with single component chemical agents instead of a time consuming re polishing. Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to the heat and pressure of metamorphism. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details.

Polished marble and limestone will lose their gloss and become matt. Marble is formed through the metamorphism of limestone. Marble and limestone lie at the opposite end of the hardness scale from granite. This process is called recrystallization.

These forces cause the limestone to change in texture and makeup.