Aman Chain

Marble is a metamorphic rock resulting from rarely contact metamorphism of limestone. This metamorphic process causes a complete recrystallization of limestone into an interlocking mosaic of calcite or aragonit crystals. The temperatures and pressures necessary to form marble usually destroy limestone. 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 oxides, 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.