Can Marble Be Foliated
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals most commonly calcite or dolomite marble is typically not foliated although there are exceptions in geology the term marble refers to metamorphosed limestone but its use in stonemasonry more broadly encompasses unmetamorphosed limestone.
Can marble be foliated. Non foliated metamorphic rocks such as hornfels marble quartzite and novaculite do not have a layered or banded appearance. Examples of foliated metamorphic rocks would be schist gneiss and slate. Marble is a metamorphic rock formed when limestone is subjected to high pressure or heat. Marble was considered one of the most beautiful and useful rocks throughout history.
In its pure form marble is a white stone with a crystalline and sugary appearance consisting of calcium carbonate caco 3 usually marble contains other minerals including quartz graphite pyrite and iron oxides these minerals can give marble a pink brown gray green or variegated coloration. Truth is marble and quartzite can be foliated but it is hard to detect. Marble is commonly used for sculpture and as a building material. When there are more minerals the alignment is more obvious as the rock appears layered.
Marble will not show noticeable foliation although it undergoes some pressure during metamorphism. Foliation is more easily seen on a microscopic scale rather than in hand specimen. Even calcite crystals realign. Although it is still used for making statures this rock can also be.
It is because they are made of only one mineral.