Marble is ideal for statues and slate. Limestone is suitable for general construction and a variety of floor types. It would be boring if everything was the same hue.
It’s good to have some variety. In the same way, it is good to have distinguished knowledge, as these two terms are not the same.
Limestone vs Marble
The main difference between limestone and marble is that limestone is a type of rock created by the deposition of sand, mud, and shells in oceans and lakes. Marble is a sort of rock that establishes because of the formation of mountains leading to recrystallization.
Limestone is a sedimentary type rock. Sedimentary rocks are formed from sediments that collect at the bottom of a body of water and are buried and hardened over time to form rocks. They bury further the rock and deeper over millions of years until the temperature and pressure are high enough to disrupt the bindings between the minerals in the rock.
Marble is a metamorphic type rock. This rock has gone through the process of sedimentation and has formed hard bindings between the minerals in the rock, then has turned into the rock that deforms and recrystallizes, resulting in alternative rock. Tectonic movement may elevate the rock, which is then exposed by erosion, resulting in marble.
Comparison Table Between Limestone and Marble
| Parameters of Comparison | Limestone | Marble |
| Type of rock | Limestone is a sedimentary rock. | Marble is a metamorphic rock. |
| How is it formed? | The shells, sand, and mud settle down at the bottom of the ocean and lakes to establish into a rock to form limestone. | Natural rock-forming processes heat and crush sedimentary limestone, causing the grains to recrystallize and produce marble. |
| Comprised of | Limestone comprises fossil pieces bound by calcite. | Marble comprises a blend of white calcite crystals and colored mica. |
| Color | The commonly found limestone colors are from white to gray. | It is available in many colors, from white to snowy white, pink, and brown, etc. |
| Types | Coral reef limestone, Black limestone rock, and animal shell limestone, etc. | White marble, black marble, and red marble, etc. |
What is Limestone?
Limestone is one of the different rocks. We use the term limestone universally for many kinds of calcium carbonate rocks. Limestone is anamorphic and the main composition in limestone is CaCO3 (calcium carbonate). Limestone was formed in the sea millions of years ago. Corals and crustaceans in the sea died and were dumped on the seabed, where they were continuously covered by sand. This resulted in limestone creation.
The concrete used to create the walls, the milk of lime used to whitewash the walls, and the marble used to pave the floor are well-known building materials and all the above examples are made of limestone. The limestone becomes exceedingly hard marble because of high temperature and pressure geological processes.
After being mined, limestone is combined with clay and fired in a kiln. The mixture is pounded to a fine powder after a tiny amount of gypsum is added. Cement is the name for this fine powder. Concrete is a common construction material made of cement, sand, gravel, and water. Limestone reacts with vinegar and fizzes as the acidic vinegar moves away from it. It can be found throughout the world, although it is most prominent in the Grand Canyon and other locations.
What is Marble?
Marble is a metamorphic rock, which means it changes over time. Metamorphism (a process in which we subject the rock to heat and pressure) of limestone results in the formation of this rock (Caco3). Marble is formed with the addition of iron oxides and graphite (in lower amounts). Because marble is a comparatively soft rock, sculptors enjoy working with it. Marbles are also used largely as a decorative component.
Marble is available in a wide range of colors, including white, pink, green, brown and black, etc. The amount of impurity present and the length of metamorphosis cause the different colors.Marble is a magnificent stone that brings elegance and luxury to any project, whether it’s a worktop, cladding, feature wall, staircase, or bathroom.Marble has an extensive range of applications, from floors to walls. Architecturally, marble with striking patterning is frequently used for floors and walls.
Marble has been utilized as a building and aesthetic material in architecture and construction for ages. Marble was once thought to be reserved for only the most opulent and imposing structures, but that perception has been disproved in recent years. Marble is currently frequently employed in both local and large-scale construction and aesthetic projects. It can also support structural elements like pillars. Marble with a fine texture is a wonderful choice for carving sculptures.
Main Differences Between Limestone and Marble
- Limestone is mostly used as raw material, whereas marble is more suited to sculptured works of art.
- Limestone is a dense rock and can occur in both crystalline and amorphous forms. Marble has a hard crystalline structure.
- The formation of limestone is not aided by heat or pressure whereas the creation of marble is aided by heat and pressure.
- Limestone is a rock of sedimentation, while marble is a rock of metamorphism. When compared to marble, limestone is more permeable. Marble is more difficult to work with than limestone.
- Limestone comes in gray, white, or black tones, whereas marble is almost always white. It also comes in a variety of colors, including green and light-colored marble.
Conclusion
Metamorphism is the term for these transformations (same as in a butterfly). This is a continuous process, and if temperatures and pressures rise, the rock may melt completely, transforming into an igneous rock that will eventually dissolve and revert to limestone. It’s known as the rock cycle, and it is a continuous process.
Marble can form from any rock with a high calcium carbonate content. Marble is the name given to a rock formation that has been buried deep enough to cause the smaller sediment crystals to melt and create larger crystals due to increased warmth and pressure.
The answers in differences will let you choose the right stone as you desire and it never hurts to have some ignited knowledge.
When we know its differences, we can easily differentiate its usages and components accordingly.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781782422839000154
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02449946
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42452-020-03520-5