Marble
ASTM C503
Marble is a metamorphic rock formed by recrystallized limestone, classified as dimension stone under ASTM C503 with calcite, dolomitic, serpentine and travertine groups.
Reference datasheet — Marble is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the CAL condition
Marble tempers and conditions
Marble is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. CAL is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travertine | Porous, voided banded carbonate stone — chosen for its texture and light weight; needs filling/backing and is weakest of the C503 family. | 5 | 2 W/m·K | |||
CALDefault Calcite marble | Default white/veined statuary and cladding marble — best polish and carving behaviour, most acid-sensitive. | 8 | 3 W/m·K | |||
Dolomitic marble | Pick when higher density, harder wearing surface and slightly better acid/weather resistance than calcite marble are needed. | 9 | 3 W/m·K | |||
Serpentine marble / Verde antique | Green silicate-based 'marble' — tougher and much more acid resistant than carbonate marbles, but prone to moisture-sensitive veining and shop-setting. | 12 | 3 W/m·K |
What is Marble?
Marble is a metamorphic rock formed by recrystallized limestone, classified as dimension stone under ASTM C503 with calcite, dolomitic, serpentine and travertine groups. It is chosen for fine grain, veining and the ability to take a mirror polish at 2.7 g/cm³, 55 GPa modulus and 2.8 W/m·K, in slabs, tiles, panels, sculpture blocks and cut-to-size tops, with a machinability score of 65. Limits are low tensile strength of about 8 MPa, a 300 °C service ceiling and weak acid resistance (corrosion resistance score 28), which dulls polished surfaces. Granite or quartzite is the alternative for wet, acidic or high-traffic exposure. Marble has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of natural material grades. Marble has a tensile strength of 8 MPa (1.16 ksi), weaker than 78% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.02% and the elastic modulus is 55 GPa (7.98 Msi).
What is Marble used for?
- countertops and vanity tops
- sculpture and monuments
- interior flooring and wall panels
- decorative tile
- building facades
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 94/100, better than 100% of natural material grades
- Conducts heat well — 2.8 W/m·K (1.62 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 94% of natural material grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 1.2 MPa·√m (1.09 ksi·√in), better than 93% of natural material grades
- Stiff — 55 GPa (7.98 Msi), better than 91% of natural material grades
- High service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), better than 88% of natural material grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 0.02%, worse than 100% of natural material grades
- Heavy — 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), worse than 93% of natural material grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 28/100, worse than 85% of natural material grades
- Difficult to machine — 65/100, worse than 81% of natural material grades
Marble properties
Typical room-temperature values for Marble-CAL; bars are the position among natural material grades.
Physical2
Marble has a density of 2.7 g/cm³ (0.0975 lb/in³), heavier than 93% of natural material grades.
Mechanical12
Marble has a tensile strength of 8 MPa (1.16 ksi), weaker than 78% of natural material grades. Elongation at break is 0.02% and the elastic modulus is 55 GPa (7.98 Msi).
Thermal5
Marble is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 2.8 W/m·K (1.62 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 94% of natural material grades. Thermal expansion is 7 µm/m·K (3.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical1
Marble has an electrical resistivity of 1×10⁸ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental1
Corrosion resistance is poor (28/100), worse than 85% of natural material grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Marble takes about 3 MJ of energy and emits 0.16 kg of CO₂ — less than 87% of natural material grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability2
Marble's machinability is good (65/100, worse than 81% of natural material grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Working with Marble
Is Marble easy to machine?
Cut and profiled with water-cooled diamond blades, wire saws and CNC routers; keep feeds moderate and support the slab to avoid edge chipping and vein-line fracture.
Can Marble be welded?
Not weldable — sections are joined mechanically (anchors, kerf clips) or with epoxy/polyester stone adhesive and dowels.
Can Marble be formed, bent or molded?
No plastic forming; shape only by sawing, carving, waterjet inlay and hand tooling — thin panels below ~20 mm need resin-fiberglass or honeycomb backing.
Marble chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CaCO3 (calcite)principal mineral of calcitic marble | 80 – 99 | 95 |
| MgCO3 (as dolomite)up to ~45 % CaMg(CO3)2 in dolomitic marble | 0.5 – 15 | 2 |
| SiO2quartz / silicate accessory minerals | 0.1 – 5 | 1 |
| Al2O3clay/mica impurities | 0.05 – 2 | 0.3 |
| Fe2O3 + MnOsource of veining and colour | 0.02 – 1.5 | 0.2 |
| accessory minerals (graphite, pyrite, secontrols colour and staining risk | 0 – 5 | 0.5 |
What surface finishes work on Marble?
Takes a mirror polish with progressive diamond/tin-oxide abrasives; honed, brushed, flamed (calcite only) or sandblasted finishes are common, and an impregnating silane/siloxane sealer plus acid-free cleaners are needed to protect the polish.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Marble in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- C503
- Also called
- Marble Dimension Stone
How much does Marble cost?
Marble is a budget-cost natural material ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Marble — frequently asked
What is Marble used for?
Marble is typically used for countertops and vanity tops, sculpture and monuments, interior flooring and wall panels, decorative tile and building facades. In short: highest polish of stones; acid-sensitive interior stone; moderate carving workability.
What is the tensile strength of Marble?
Marble has a typical tensile strength of 8 MPa (1.16 ksi) — weaker than 78% of natural material grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Marble easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, worse than 81% of natural material grades). Cut and profiled with water-cooled diamond blades, wire saws and CNC routers; keep feeds moderate and support the slab to avoid edge chipping and vein-line fracture.
Can Marble be welded?
Not weldable — sections are joined mechanically (anchors, kerf clips) or with epoxy/polyester stone adhesive and dowels.
What surface finishes work on Marble?
Takes a mirror polish with progressive diamond/tin-oxide abrasives; honed, brushed, flamed (calcite only) or sandblasted finishes are common, and an impregnating silane/siloxane sealer plus acid-free cleaners are needed to protect the polish.
Can Marble be formed, bent or molded?
No plastic forming; shape only by sawing, carving, waterjet inlay and hand tooling — thin panels below ~20 mm need resin-fiberglass or honeycomb backing.
What is the maximum service temperature of Marble?
Marble is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Marble cost?
Marble is a budget-cost natural material ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM C503/C503M Standard Specification for Marble Dimension Stone — ASTM International (2023)
- ASTM C99, C170, C880, C97 — stone test methods (modulus of rupture, compressive strength, flexural strength, absorption/density) — ASTM International (2023)
- Dimension Stone Design Manual, v8 — Natural Stone Institute (2016)
- Physical Properties of Rocks — thermal and elastic property tables — Elsevier / Landolt-Börnstein (2011)
- Inventory of Carbon & Energy (ICE) v3 — stone — Circular Ecology (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.