About Stone
Marble
“Marble”, is also called “limestone” in petrology. For instance, calcium carbonate is formed by metamorphism and re-crystallization and these processes are affected by the factor of temperature, pressure, hydrotherm. Also, the by-product of some not metamorphosed limestone such as hardened shale, spotted rock cordierite-bearing hornfels will be resulted.
The essential component of marble is calcium carbonate and the main minerals are calcspar and dolomite which are white, milky and gray in colour. Marbles have different colours because some iron, manganese and carbon are subsided with calcspar and dolomite. It is also because there are some greenish minerals such as serpentine, epidote, chlorite, actynolin, mussite, tremolite are found during the process of metamorphism. Thus, marbles have 7 different range of colours, black, red, yellow, green, gray and multi color spots. Moreover, many different veins and structure of marbles result in varieties for decoration.
As the component of marble is calcium carbonate which is slightly acidic and not strength enough, it is not resistant to a cid, alkaline, erosion and grinding. Therefore, it is not suitable for decorating external walls and floors. It is only for indoor wall decoration and making sculpture artware and stairs.
Marbles are distributed in most of the areas in China.