Marble

''This page is about the metamorphic rock. For the game with little glass spheres - see marbles.'' Marble is metamorphism limestone, composed of fairly pure calcite (a crystalline form of calcium carbonate, calciumcarbonoxygen₃). It is extensively used for sculpture, as a architecture material, and in many other applications. Faux marble or faux marbling is a wall painting technique that imitates the color patterns of real marble (not to be confused with paper marbling). Marble dust can be combined with cement or synthetic resins to make ''reconstituted'' or ''cultured marble''. Places named after the stone include Marble Hill, Manhattan, New York and the towns of Marble, Minnesota and Marble, Colorado. The Elgin Marbles are marble sculptures taken from the Parthenon to United Kingdom by the Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin. ==Origins== Marble is a metamorphic rock resulting from regional or at times contact metamorphism of sedimentary rock carbonate rocks, either limestone or dolostone. This metamorphic process causes a complete recrystallization of the original rock into an interlocking mosaic of calcite and/or dolomite crystals. The temperatures and pressures necessary to form marble usually destroy any fossils and sedimentary textures present in the original rock. 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. ==Kinds of marble== Some historically important kinds of marble, named after the locations of their quarry, include: *Parian marble (Greece) *Penteli (Greece) *Carrara (Italy) *Proconnesus (Turkey) White marbles, like Carrara, have been prized for marble sculpture since classical times. This preference has to do with the softness and relative isotropy and homogeneity, and a relative resistance to shattering. Also, the low index of refraction of calcite allows light to penetrate several millimeters into the stone before being scattered out, resulting in the characteristic "waxy" look which gives "life" to marble sculptures of the human body. ==Construction marble== In the construction trade, the term "marble" is used for any massive, crystalline calcitic rock (and some non-calcitic rocks) useful as building stone. For example, Tennessee Marble is really a massive, highly fossiliferous gray to pink to maroon Ordovician dolostone, known as the Holston Formation by geology. ==Etymology== The word "marble" derives from the Greek language ''marmaros'', "shining stone" (Oxford English Dictionary). This stem is also the basis for the English word "marmoreal" meaning "marble-like". [[image:gimp_marble_pattern.jpg|thumb|200px|Three marble patterns available in a graphics program (the GIMP).]] ==Cultural associations== As the favorite medium for Greece and Roman Empire sculptors and architects, marble has become a cultural symbol of tradition and refined taste. Its extremely varied and colorful patterns make it a favorite decorative material, and are often imitated — e.g. in background patterns for computer displays. In folklore, marble is associated with the astrological sign of Gemini. Pure white marble is an emblem of purity. It is also an emblem of immortality, and an ensurer of success in education. ==See also== *list of minerals *building material *limestone *travertine *alabaster *granite *sandstone *marble sculpture *marquetry — inlaying with marble and other stones. *faux marbling — painting surfaces to look like marble. *scagliola — imitating marble with plasterwork. *cultured marble — marble powder with a binder. *paper marbling ==External links== *[http://www.graniteland.com/ Searchable picture database of marbles] *[http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/earth/waton/s9910.html Calcite, Limestone and Marble] by Kelly Snyder and Peter Russel. *[http://www.marble-institute.com/ Marble Institute of America], a trade organization. *[http://www.ancientroute.com/resource/stone/marble.htm Geology, types, and history] *[http://graphics.stanford.edu/projects/mich/learning-to-carve/learning-to-carve.html Learning to carve] by Marc Levoy. Art materials Stone Metamorphic rocks

Marble

Having verified the etymology with the OED, I removed these comments from the article: :If this can be verified, it should stay. :Partridge has "marmaros," large stone or boulder, influenced by "marmarein," to glimmer or shine. Does etymology belong here at all? -- User:Heron User:CatherineMunro moved this unsigned comment to talk page: :This can and should stay provided more details are provided. For example, the folklore of which folk, exactly? Rocks and minerals aren't really all that intrinsically interesting to most people (I *am* a geologist), folklore, history and cultural traditions are important. ==Other senses== Should we record that "marbles" is also slang for "testicles", and, metaphorically, for "courage", "machismo" etc.?
User:Jorge Stolfi 01:11, 12 Jun 2004 (UTC)

See other meanings of words starting from letter:

M

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Words begining with Marble:

Marble
Marble
Marble,_CO
Marble,_Colorado
Marble,_Minnesota
Marble,_MN
Marbled_Cat
Marbled_Duck
Marbled_duck
Marbled_Godwit
Marbled_Godwit
Marbled_godwit
Marbled_hatchetfish
Marbled_Lungfish
Marbled_Murrelet
Marbled_Teal
Marbled_teal
Marblehead
Marblehead,_Essex_County,_MA
Marblehead,_Essex_County,_Massachusetts
Marblehead,_MA
Marblehead,_Massachusetts
Marblehead,_OH
Marblehead,_Ohio
Marblehead_(MA)
Marblehead_Lighthouse
Marblehead_Lighthouse
Marblemount,_WA
Marblemount,_Washington
Marbles
Marblespir
Marblespire
Marblespire
Marbles_(album)
Marbles_(album)
Marbles_(Zillions_game)
Marbles_II
Marbles_III
Marbleton
Marbleton,_WY
Marbleton,_Wyoming
Marbletown
Marbletown,_New_York
Marble_(paint_effect)
Marble_(paint_effect)
Marble_(toy)
Marble_Arch
Marble_Arch
Marble_Arch_tube_station
Marble_Bar
Marble_Bar,_Western_Australia
Marble_Blast
Marble_Blast_Gold
Marble_Boat
Marble_Canyon
Marble_City
Marble_City,_OK
Marble_City,_Oklahoma
Marble_City_Community,_OK
Marble_City_Community,_Oklahoma
Marble_Cliff
Marble_Cliff,_OH
Marble_Cliff,_Ohio
Marble_Falls
Marble_Falls,_Texas
Marble_Falls,_TX
Marble_Hall
Marble_Halls
Marble_Hill
Marble_Hill,_Manhattan,_New_York
Marble_Hill,_Missouri
Marble_Hill,_MO
Marble_Hill_(Metro-North_Railroad_station)
Marble_Hill_House
Marble_Hill_train_station
Marble_Madness
Marble_Mountain
Marble_Palace
Marble_Rock
Marble_Rock,_IA
Marble_Rock,_Iowa
Marble_sculpture
Marble_statue
Marble_Township,_Minnesota
Marble_Township,_MN