On this page
UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural inorganic gem materials · Rock / mineral aggregate · Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Marble
A metamorphic rock made mainly of Calcite and/or Dolomite; its basic name in GB/T 16552-2017 Table A.2 is "marble". This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Marble forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify MarbleHow far lab testing can go
- Treatments and enhancements of Marble4 registered treatments: status, stability, how common they are and identification leads
- Caring for and wearing MarbleCleaning, heat, chemicals and light, as the cited sources give them; durability indicators and wearing advice
- Hardness, density and refractive index of MarbleEach value with its source and check date
- Marble in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name; and: Which of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A have a name for it on record, and do those agree?
- Name origin and history of MarbleWhere the name comes from
- Listing and disclosing MarbleThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale
- Standard clauses that define MarbleWhich clause defines it, each cross-checked
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Marble is the name of a rock, not of a mineral species, and consists mainly of calcite and/or dolomite. Its parent material is sedimentary limestone, which accumulates when shells, sand and mud settle on sea and lake floors and then consolidate; applying heat and pressure through natural rock-forming processes makes the calcite grains recrystallize, giving marble. Typically the rock is pale and built of interlocking calcite crystals, and coloured streaks of non-calcite minerals may be present. Calcite is a major rock-forming mineral of limestone, marble and chalk, while dolomite is likewise a major constituent of some marbles and contact-metamorphic rocks. Where material resembles jadeite rough, acid testing combined with hardness testing can show that it is (serpentinized) marble.
Scope: Applies to the formation summary of marble (a metamorphic rock dominated by calcite and/or dolomite); the formation content concerns the metamorphic process of the rock, and marble is not claimed to be a single mineral species.
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble · Handbook of Mineralogy · G&G Summer 2020 +1
Where it forms
Sedimentary setting of the protolith limestone (ocean/lake floors); metamorphic setting of heating and squeezing.
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble
How it forms, step by step
Shells, sand, and mud are deposited on sea/lake floors and solidify into limestone.
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble
The limestone is heated and squeezed, undergoing metamorphic reactions.
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble
Calcite (and/or dolomite) grains recrystallize and interlock, forming marble.
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble
Link to appearance
Marble's appearance (light colour, interlocking crystals, streaks) arises from its recrystallized carbonate assemblage; appearance similarity alone cannot determine the material class (e.g. distinguishing it from jadeite rough requires testing).
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble · Handbook of Mineralogy · G&G Summer 2020 +1
Timescale
The sources in this record give no absolute age or growth duration for marble.
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble
Related base materials
- calcite: One of the main rock-forming minerals of marble
- dolomite: A main component of some marbles
Supporting findings
Marble belongs to the metamorphic rocks. Heating and squeezing of sedimentary limestone through ordinary rock-forming processes makes its grains recrystallize, and marble is what results.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes marble's metamorphic origin (limestone recrystallization); no specific P-T values.
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble
Limestone, the protolith, is a sedimentary rock. Shells, sand and mud settle on the floors of lakes and oceans; with time they harden into rock, and limestone is what forms.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes the sedimentary origin of the protolith (limestone); the material precursor to marble.
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble
Recorded localities
Authoritative sources list the localities below; the list is not exhaustive.
North America
- Vermont, United StatesUSGS dimension-stone statistics (U.S., 2019): leading U.S. marble-producing state by tonnage
Sources USGS Minerals Yearbook 2019
- Colorado, United StatesUSGS dimension-stone statistics (U.S., 2019)
Sources USGS Minerals Yearbook 2019
- Tennessee, United StatesUSGS dimension-stone statistics (U.S., 2019)
Sources USGS Minerals Yearbook 2019
- Georgia, United StatesUSGS dimension-stone statistics (U.S., 2019)
Sources USGS Minerals Yearbook 2019
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Where the name comes from
The source offers no etymology for the rock name 'marble' itself, only for the minerals it contains: calcite goes back to the Latin calx, meaning burnt lime and pointing to a significant commercial application; dolomite instead commemorates the French geologist and naturalist Déodat de Dolomieu (1750–1801). These origins explain the mineral names alone, not how 'marble' got its name.
Evidence grade BScope: Etymology explains the origin of the name only; it does not establish the material's composition, locality, naturalness, or treatment.
Other research findings
Most marble is pale, its calcite crystals interlocked much as the pieces of a jigsaw; streaks of colour within it are inclusions made of minerals other than calcite.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes marble's composition and texture; not all marble is so.
Sources USGS FAQ: limestone and marble
Among rock-forming minerals, calcite ranks as a major one in chalk, limestone and marble. Dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2, is likewise a major constituent of certain marbles and contact-metamorphic rocks.
Evidence grade BScope: Describes the carbonate make-up of marble; no proportions given.
In CIBJO gemmological nomenclature, rocks (e.g. lapis lazuli) are one class of gem material; marble is a rock, not a single mineral species.
Evidence grade AScope: Defines marble as a rock class; no specific genesis.
Sources CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
Material resembling jadeite rough can be identified as marble (e.g. serpentinized marble) by acid testing with visual observation and hardness testing — appearance similarity alone cannot determine the material class.
Evidence grade AScope: For identification/boundary purposes; does not equate marble with jadeite.
Sources G&G Summer 2020
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- Marble is a metamorphic rock (a rock name) made chiefly of calcite and/or dolomite. It is treated here as a material in its own right, an exception to the usual practice of not treating rock names as independent materials.
- No absolute age or growth duration is given.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- Marble
GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2 “Marble” · CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.1.141 “Marble”
Construction or treatment status
Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments recorded for this material: Dyed, Waxed, Filled / Fracture-filled, Coated
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
Marble is often subjected to dyeing and waxing.
Under GB/T 16552-2017, dyeing counts as a treatment and must be stated in the name (§5.4.2.2 a); waxing (not listed separately in GB/T; Table 1 groups it with colourless oil or wax filling) counts as an optimization, so the plain gem name may be used (§5.4.2.1 a). Do not assume it is unenhanced.
Evidence
- GB/T · Table A.2, row 大理石 (Marble)
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Marble" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- This entry's exact material identity is not fully settled.
- See “Disclosure and cautions” above
- Disclosure rules for the treatments above can change as authorities update their standards; re-check before relying on this page.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Trade-name ruling
- Industry-wide term that does not denote a single species.
- Suggested listing name
- Marble
Care and wear
Normal care for every gemstone (CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.1), in brief:
- Handle it gently.
- Store pieces apart when not worn, so they cannot scratch each other.
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
- Use ultrasonic cleaners only with caution.
The §6.1 wording and the full list of §6.2 special-care letters cited on this page are on the general gem care page.
Care
Marble — care (cleaning): Some stones are susceptible to damage from ultrasonic cleaning. Do not expose them to ultrasonic cleaning.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code j
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Marble, p.38; §6.2 j (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Marble — care (chemicals): porous, so do not let it come into contact with coloured fluids; particularly susceptible to attack by acids, so keep it away from acids.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code c, special-care code h
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Marble, p.38; §6.2 c, h (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Marble — care (chemicals): Treatments with dye, oil, resin, wax or plastic are not permanent; keep it away from all solvents (including dish-washing liquids), chemicals and heat.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code k
- Treatment state
- treated
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Marble, p.38; §6.2 k (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Marble — care (wear): Some stones are prone to scratching due to low hardness. Wear them with care.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code a
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Marble, p.38; §6.2 a (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Common care questions and matching entries
The care conclusions registered for Marble from the CIBJO Gemstone Book (Blue Book) 2022 apply according to treatment state. CleaningFor cleaning, in any treatment state, it must not be cleaned ultrasonically. ChemicalsFor chemicals, in any treatment state Marble is porous, so do not let it come into contact with coloured fluids; it is particularly susceptible to attack by acids, so keep it away from acids; in the treated state, treatments with dye, oil, resin, wax or plastic are not permanent, so keep it away from all solvents (including dish-washing liquids), chemicals and heat. WearFor wear, in any treatment state, Marble is low in hardness and scratches easily, so wear it with care.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Question | Matching entries |
|---|---|
| Can it go in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner? | care (cleaning) |
| Contact with acids, alkalis and household chemicals | porous, so do not let it come into contact with coloured fluids; particularly susceptible to attack by acids, so keep it away from acids; Treatments with dye, oil, resin, wax or plastic are not permanent; keep it away from all solvents (including dish-washing liquids), chemicals and heat |
| Wearing limits (knocks, settings) | care (wear) |
Care entries by treatment state
The same entries grouped by the treatment state each applies to; each links to its full wording and source. Letters are CIBJO special-care codes, explained on the gemstone care page.
any treatment state
- care (cleaning) §6.2 j
- porous, so do not let it come into contact with coloured fluids; particularly susceptible to attack by acids, so keep it away from acids §6.2 c, h
- care (wear) §6.2 a
treated
Durability and wearing
Toughness
Brittle
Treatments and identification leads
Registered treatmentsThe treatments registered for Marble are surface waxing, dyeing, filling and coating. Values not givenSurface waxing has status treated, stability not stable and market prevalence common, with identification leads and source both recorded as "—", meaning the cited source gives no corresponding value, not "none". Dyeing has status colour-treated, with stability and prevalence both recorded as "—"; its identification leads involve colour distribution, UV fluorescence and wiping with solvents. Filling has status treated, with stability and prevalence both recorded as "—"; its identification leads involve the lustre of filled areas, fluorescence, infrared spectra and luminescence imaging. Coating has status treated, with stability and prevalence both recorded as "—"; its identification leads involve surface lustre, peeling of the film, refractive index, and infrared and Raman spectra.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Treatment | Market frequency (CIBJO) | Stability (CIBJO) | GB/T 16552 category | JJA/AGL listing | Identification leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| surface waxingStatus: treated | commonly | unstable | — | — | — |
| dyeingStatus: colour treated | — | — | Treatment | — | See identification leads |
| fillingStatus: treated | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | See identification leads |
| coatingStatus: treated | — | — | Treatment | — | See identification leads |
Where each treatment acts (schematics): Waxed · Dyed · Filled / Fracture-filled · Coated
“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 · GB/T 16553—2017; GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1
Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):
- GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
- CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15
What this table covers
What this page can give
- Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
- Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
Standard and listing namesThe GB/T 16552—2017 formal name for Marble is given in Table A.2, and the suggested listing name is Marble; the market-name ruling is in general industry use but not a single mineral species. Names in four languagesThe four-language names are given in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Marble) and Japanese (a kanji name and a transliteration). For the Japanese GSJ formal name, the entry's own Japanese names are the kanji name and the transliteration, and the Japanese GSJ wording for them is not yet verified by this site. Institution usageAmong authority wordings, CIBJO lists Marble (CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024); the FTC source text has no wording for Marble (checked); GIA and Gem-A have not been checked. Bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name, which does not represent their position.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- 大理石／マーブル (not yet checked for this body — the entry's own Japanese name is shown)
- Chinese formal name
- 大理石 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2)
- Mineralogical name
- Metamorphic rock chiefly of calcite and/or dolomite
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 大理石
- 繁體中文
- 大理石
- English
- Marble
- 日本語
- 大理石／マーブル
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural inorganic gem materials
- Browsing family
- Rocks and polymineral aggregates
- Identity tier
- Rock / mineral aggregate
- Mineral chemical class
- Mixed / composition-dependent
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural identity; treatment status unknown
Treatments listed by standards
In the Marble row of GB/T 16552—2017 Annex B, Table B.1, the methods and categories listed for Marble are: dyeing, which changes colour and is classed as treatment; filling, which improves or changes durability and appearance and is classed by graded definitions; and coating, which improves or changes lustre, colour and other aspects of appearance and is classed as treatment. The notes to Table B.1 and the graded definitions are on the Gem treatments page.
GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1
Table B.1, row “Marble” (p.16):
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Method | Effect | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Dyeing | Changes colour | Treatment |
| Filling | Improves or changes durability and appearance | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 |
| Coating | Improves or changes lustre, colour and other aspects of appearance | Treatment |
What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.
What it is and how it's identified
Among the material facts for Marble, all items except the effect stability of surface waxing, which is registered from CIBJO, are registered from GB/T 16553—2017: the composition is calcite (CaCO3), which may contain Mg, Fe, Mn and other elements; the structure is a crystalline aggregate, often granular or fibrous; Mohs hardness is 3; cleavage is usually not seen in the aggregate; density is 2.65–2.75 g/cm³, and this site notes that the cited clause gives 2.70 with a tolerance of ±0.05, from which the range is derived; the optic character is that of an anisotropic aggregate; refractive index is 1.486–1.658; birefringence cannot be measured on the aggregate; when untreated, the lustre is vitreous to greasy, pleochroism cannot be measured on the aggregate, magnification shows a granular or fibrous structure and banded or layered structure, and its stability is shown by effervescence with a drop of hydrochloric acid; the UV-visible spectrum is not diagnostic, and in the infrared spectrum vibrations of the carbonate ion produce characteristic absorption bands in the mid-infrared. For surface-waxed Marble, the effect stability is unstable, as registered from CIBJO.
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Definition
Marble — composition (chemistry): Calcite;CaCO3, elements such as Mg,Fe and Mn may be contained.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Structure
Marble — structure (overall): crystalline aggregate, usually granular or fibrous
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Durability
Marble — Mohs hardness: 3
GB/T 16553—2017
Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — cleavage: generally not seen on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — stability: effervesces on contact with hydrochloric acid
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
For Marble, the stability of surface waxing is “unstable”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- surface waxing
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Physical properties
Marble — density: 2.65–2.75 g/cm³
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives 2.70, with a stated tolerance of ±0.05. The range shown here is worked out from that.
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Optical
Marble — optic character: anisotropic material
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — refractive index: 1.486–1.658
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — birefringence: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — pleochroism: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — fluorescence (overall): varies with colour or origin
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — spectrum (UV-visible): non-characteristic
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — spectrum (infrared): Vibration of the carbonate ion produces diagnostic bands in the mid-IR
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — magnification: granular or fibrous structure, strip or layered structure.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble — body colour: varied colours, commonly white or black, with patterns and colours of many kinds. White marble is commonly called hanbaiyu.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
GB/T 16553—2017 sums up the colour of Marble as “all colours”; in its chapter 5, Tourmaline, Calcite, Opal and other variety clauses likewise say “all colours” or “all body colours”.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Quality factors
Marble — quality factor (lustre): vitreous to greasy
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.572 / 2.7; Closest values: 1Shoushan Stone 1.56 / 2.7, 2Scapolite 1.558 / 2.67, 3Qingtian Stone 1.565 / 2.77, 4Aquamarine 1.58 / 2.79, 5Iolite 1.563 / 2.61
Show the full chart (330 registered materials)
Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22
Testing and market
How far testing can go
Marble that has undergone dyeing can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the colour is unevenly distributed and mostly concentrated in fissures, between grains or in surface hollows; the dye may light up with an unusual fluorescence under long- and short-wave UV; wiping with acetone or absolute ethanol can lift the colour.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- colour treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- dyeing
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (dyeing) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble that has undergone filling can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the surface luster of the filled part differs from the host jade; under long- and short-wave UV the filled part mostly fluoresces differently from the host jade; infrared spectra show characteristic absorption bands of the filler; luminescence imaging (UV fluorescence viewer and similar) shows how the filler is distributed.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- filling
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (filling) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Marble that has undergone coating can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the surface luster is abnormal and the film can be seen peeling off in places; refractive index readings may be abnormal; infrared and Raman spectra show characteristic peaks of the film.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- coating
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.18 (coating) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
For Marble in trade, the reported frequency of surface waxing is “commonly”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- surface waxing
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Clause-level definitions
Marble is registered in the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 under the entry Marble, and the clause defines it as a rock, with the CIBJO wording quoted in full under Clause-level definitions on this page. The cross-check result is a direct CIBJO definition; Marble also appears in the GB/T 16552—2017 annex.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Term | Clause | Definition | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marble | 7.2.1.141 | Metamorphic rock, essentially composed of carbonates, such as calcite or dolomite | Defined directly by CIBJO; also present in the GB/T annex. |
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. Gemmological Laboratories Book (Blue Book), Gemmological Commission 2024-1.
- CIBJO – The World Jewellery Confederation. The Gemstone Book (Blue Book), 2022.
- SAMR / SAC (China). GB/T 16552—2017 Gems — Nomenclature.
- RRUFF Project, in partnership with the IMA – International Mineralogical Association. IMA Mineral List.
- Geological Survey of Japan, AIST (Japan). Museum mineral specimens, browse by classification.
Further reading
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
Related-entry tree for Marble on this site: 2 entries listed by this site's parent-entry links; synthetic, treated and similar entries carry their recorded state after the name; this page (Marble) is marked.
- Marble
Sub-entries (1)
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Rocks and polymineral aggregates | Live |
| Treatments recorded for this material | Dyed, Waxed, Filled / Fracture-filled, Coated | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the Marble entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.