Marble

rocks · metamorphic · sculpture

Heat and pressure. Marble forms when limestone (a softer rock made of shells and skeletons) gets buried deep in the Earth and squeezed by the weight of rocks above it, plus heated by the planet's warmth. This transforms the limestone into something much harder and more beautiful.

Sparkling crystals. When marble forms, the minerals inside recrystallize into larger crystals you can actually see and feel. This gives marble its smooth, shiny look that makes it perfect for sculptures and fancy buildings.

Comes in colors. Pure marble is white, but it can be pink, green, black, or have colorful streaks depending on what minerals got mixed in while it was forming deep underground.

Sculptors' favorite. Artists have loved marble for thousands of years because it's hard enough to carve into fine details, but soft enough to work with tools. Some of the world's most famous statues are carved from marble.

No layers usually. Most marble doesn't have the layered striped look you see in some other rocks, which makes it easier for sculptors to work with and gives it a more uniform appearance.