Marble:
Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. It is a hard crystalline metamorphic form of limestone, typically white with colored mottling or streaks, which may be polished or is used in sculpture and architecture. Marble dust can be combined with cement or synthetic resins to make reconstituted or colored marble. Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of very pure limestone. The word marble derives from Greek marmaros “shining stone”.
Granite:
Granite is a common type of felsic intrusive igneous rock which is granular and phaneritic in texture. The word granite is comes from the Latin granum, a grain in reference to the coarse gained structure of such a hollocrystalline rock. The term granite also applies to the group of intrusive igneous rocks with similar textures and slight variations on composition and origin. Granites can be predominantly white, pink or gray in color, depending on their mineralogy. Granite is nearly massive, hard and tough; therefore it has gained widespread use throughout humanity and more recently as a construction stone.
Differences:
| Basis | Marble | Granite |
|---|---|---|
| Definition (www.oxforddictionaries.com) |
A hard crystalline metamorphic form of limestone, typically white with coloured mottlings or streaks, which may be polished and is used in sculpture and architecture | A very hard, granular, crystalline, igneous rock consisting mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar and often used as a building stone |
| Synonyms | Checker, adamant, bone, bronze, statue | Crag, stone, brick, basalt, iron, lava and crystal |
| Antonyms | Snow, fade, whiten, squashy | |
| History | Marble is a rock resulting from metamorphism of sedimentary carbonate rocks, most commonly limestone or dolomite rock. Metamorphism causes variable recrystallization of the original carbonate mineral grains. The resulting marble rock is typically composed of an interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals. | |
| Word origin | The word marble was originated from Middle English: via Old French (variant of marbre), from Latin marmor, from Greek marmaros ‘shining stone’, associated with marmairein ‘to shine’. | The word granite was originated from Mid 17th century: from Italian granito, literally ‘grained’, from grano ‘grain’, from Latin granum. |
| Durability | Marble is less durable. | Granite is durable. |
| Resistant | It is not resistant to acidic foods. | It is mostly resistant to acidic foods. |
| Scratch resistant | It is not scratch resistant. | It is mostly scratch resistant. |
| Strains | It is not prone to stains as granites. | Granite is less prone to stains. |
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| Hardness | Marble is less hard and stronger than granite. | Granite is much harder and stronger than marble. |
| Advantages/Benefits | Its advantages are:
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| Disadvantages | Its disadvantages are:
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