阿普安阿爾卑斯山大理石的地質時代一直是一個頗有爭議的話題，

The geological age of the marbles of the Apuan Alps has been a subject of much dispute,

大多數大理石形成於會聚板塊邊界，大面積地殼暴露於區域變質作用。當熱岩漿體加熱鄰近的石灰岩或白雲巖時，一些大理石也會通過接觸變質作用形成。

在變質作用之前，石灰岩中的方解石通常以化石化石和生物碎屑的形式出現。在變質過程中，這個方解石會再結晶，岩石的質地會發生變化。在石灰石到大理石轉變的早期階段，岩石中的方解石晶體非常小。在一個剛剛破碎的手標本中，隨著變質作用的進行，晶體變大，變得容易識別為方解石的互鎖晶體。再結晶掩蓋了石灰石的原始化石和沈積結構。它也發生在沒有形成葉理的地方，這種葉理通常在由會聚板邊界的定向壓力改變的岩石中發現。

重結晶是石灰石和大理石分離的標誌。已暴露於低變質程度的大理石將具有非常小的方解石晶體。隨著變質作用的進展，晶體變大。隨著變質程度的增加，大理石中的粘土礦物將變成雲母和更複雜的矽酸鹽結構。

Most marble forms at convergent plate boundaries where large areas of Earth’s crust are exposed to regional metamorphism. Some marble also forms by contact metamorphism when a hot magma body heats adjacent limestone or dolostone.

Before metamorphism, the calcite in the limestone is often in the form of lithified fossil material and biological debris. During metamorphism, this calcite recrystallizes and the texture of the rock changes. In the early stages of the limestone-to-marble transformation, the calcite crystals in the rock are very small. As metamorphism progresses, the crystals grow larger and become easily recognizable as interlocking crystals of calcite. Recrystallization obscures the original fossils and sedimentary structures of the limestone. It also occurs without forming foliation, which normally is found in rocks that are altered by the directed pressure of a convergent plate boundary.

Recrystallization is what marks the separation between limestone and marble. Marble that has been exposed to low levels of metamorphism will have very small calcite crystals. The crystals become larger as the level of metamorphism progresses. Clay minerals within the marble will alter to micas and more complex silicate structures as the level of metamorphism increases.

大理石是由石灰石或白雲巖變質作用產生的非葉狀變質岩。 它主要由碳酸鈣組成。 上面顯示的樣本大約是兩英寸（五厘米）。

非平面變質岩的性質可使岩石晶體高溫下融化並再結晶成新的岩石。 這種變質被稱為接觸或熱變質作用。 它通常局限於岩漿侵入接觸現有岩石的區域，稱為光環。 由此產生的岩石不呈現葉狀結構。

Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that is produced from the metamorphism of limestone or dolostone. It is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. The specimen shown above is about two inches (five centimeters) across.

The properties of non-foliated metamorphic rock, high temperature can make the rock crystals melt and recrystallize into new rock. This kind of metamorphism is called contact or thermal metamorphism. It is usually localized and limited to the zone where the magma intrusion touched the existing rock, called an aureole. The resultant rock does not exhibit a foliated structure

它被用於建築和雕塑的美感。 它用於製藥和農業的化學特性。它用於化妝品，塗料和紙張的光學性能。它被使用，因為它是為建設項目準備的碎石中豐富，低成本的商品。 就像樓梯踏步，立式，地磚一樣

例子：泰姬陵，最高法院大樓，華盛頓紀念碑，林肯紀念堂

It is used for its beauty in architecture and sculpture.  It is used for its chemical properties in pharmaceuticals and agriculture. It is used for its optical properties in cosmetics, paint, and paper. It is used because it is an abundant, low-cost commodity in crushed stone prepared for construction projects. Just like Stair Treads, Risers, Floor Tile

Exampes: Taj Mahal, Supreme Court Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial

當大理石岩石通過解散渠道，嚴重受到削弱和解剖，就會出現在岩石頭上

。 長度通常是5米，但厚的話可能高達15米。

通常在持續供應水的凹陷處發現岩溶，水更有效溶解大理石。 窪地在這種情況下可能會出現較高分壓的二氧化碳會大大增加溶解速度，有助於地表岩溶的發展。

This is at the rockhead where the marble rock mass is seriously

weakened and dissected by dissolution channels. It is usually 5 m

thick but may be up to 15 metres. The more developed surface

karst are usually found at depressions where the continuous supply

of water was more effective in dissolving marble. The depressions

might have been swampy in which case the higher partial pressure

of carbon dioxide would increase the rate of dissolution drastically

and contributed to a much more developed surface karst.

顏色 ：

大理石通常是淺色的岩石。 含有粘土礦物質，鐵氧化物或瀝青材料等雜質的大理石可能呈藍色，灰色，粉紅色，黃色或黑色。

硬度：

由方解石組成，大理石在莫氏硬度標度上具有三個硬度。 因此，大理石很容易雕刻，這使得它可用於製作雕塑和裝飾物品。 大理石的半透明使其對許多類型的雕塑特別具有吸引力。

大理石的低硬度和溶解度使其可用作動物飼料中的鈣添加劑。 鈣添加劑對於奶牛和產蛋雞尤其重要。 它也可用作擦洗浴室和廚房固定裝置的低硬度磨料。

The color :

Marble is usually a light-colored rock. Marble that contains impurities such as clay minerals, iron oxides, or bituminous material can be bluish, gray, pink, yellow, or black in color.

Hardness:

Being composed of calcite, marble has a hardness of three on the Mohs hardness scale. As a result, marble is easy to carve, and that makes it useful for producing sculptures and ornamental objects. The translucence of marble makes it especially attractive for many types of sculptures.

The low hardness and solubility of marble allows it to be used as a calcium additive in animal feeds. Calcium additives are especially important for dairy cows and egg-producing chickens. It is also used as a low-hardness abrasive for scrubbing bathroom and kitchen fixtures.