Marble

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(People's Daily Online) 13:20, August 15, 2013

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Marble, known as Dali Stone(Dali Shi) in Chinese, is indigenous product in Yunnan; marble from Cangshan Mountain has been quarried for more than 1,000 yeas since the Tang Dynasty.

Dali marble, beautiful in patterns and colours, refined in texture and multiform in variety, has a strong anti-corrosive nature.

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. Primary sedimentary textures and structures of the original carbonate rock (protolith) have typically been modified or destroyed.
　　　
Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of a very pure (silicate-poor) limestone or dolomite protolith. The characteristic swirls and veins of many colored marble varieties are usually due to various mineral impurities such as clay, silt, sand, iron oxides, or chert which were originally present as grains or layers in the limestone. Green coloration is often due to serpentine resulting from originally high magnesium limestone or dolostone with silica impurities. These various impurities have been mobilized and recrystallized by the intense pressure and heat of the metamorphism.

Dali Bai people with rich artistic imagination to create many beautiful sounds of folk legends to explain the evidence of the origins of the marble with extraordinary, not only for the marble spice has also become an important part of the Dali Bai folk cultural heritage.

Masterpieces are featured as, When polished, presenting various natural patterns, such as mountains, rivers, plants, birds, animals, and figures etc; marble is processed into screens or decorations for fancy modern furniture and ancient buildings; white marble is a fine material, which is made into handicrafts and souvenirs such as pen containers, ashtrays, flower vases, tea sets, and ornaments etc.

（Editor：YeXin、Chen Lidan）