Marble

Marble is a good example of how a sedimentary rock can be changed into a metamorphic one. The process of change requires a high temperature and a lot of pressure and when these two conditions are met the Calcium carbonate crystals of a coarse structure in the original limestone are changed into equal sized calcite crystals. White marble is formed from Calcite and is used by sculptors and artists throughout the world. One of the down sides of using Marble in a construction context would be it is susceptible to attack from acid rain which would erode the mineral crystals of this type of rock.

One of the famous landmarks of London is Marble Arch. Originally situated as the gate way to Buckingham Palace it was eventually moved to its present location during the refurbishment of the Palace in 1851. The reason for the move is not entirely clear but the Arch now sits on the location in London known as Tyburn, a notorious place of execution where between 40,000 – 60,000 people where executed between the 12th and 18th centuries. This landmark also marks the start of the A5 road built to improve the communications link between London and Dublin.

Situated high in the Apuan Alps in Tuscany, Italy sits the world famous Carrara marble quarries that date back more than 2000 years to the roman times. Famed throughout the world for the quality of the stone and responsible for famous statutes such as Michelangelo’s Pietà and David.