RocksdayMarble vs Travertine
How to tell them apart
Limestone recrystallized by heat and pressure into a mosaic of interlocking calcite grains.
Photo: Zyance, CC BY-SA 2.5
Banded limestone deposited by hot springs, full of small holes.
Photo: Nessa Eull, CC0
Key differences
- Marble is crystalline with no holes.
Side by side
| Property | Marble | Travertine |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Metamorphic rock | Sedimentary rock |
| Mohs hardness | 3–4 | 3–4 |
| Luster | Sugary sparkle | Dull to waxy |
| Colors | White, Gray, Pink, Green | White, Yellow, Brown, Orange |
| Crystal system / structure | Interlocking crystals (non-foliated) | Banded, porous calcite |
| Specific gravity | 2.6–2.9 | 2.4–2.7 |
| Found in | Carrara, Italy; Yule, Colorado | Tivoli, Italy; Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify marble
- Sparkly, sugary crystals on broken surfaces.
- Fizzes in acid.
- A knife scratches it.
- Often swirled or veined.
Structure: Interlocking crystals (non-foliated)
Full Marble guide →How to identify travertine
- Cream to tan with wavy bands.
- Small elongated holes.
- Fizzes in acid.
Structure: Banded, porous calcite
Full Travertine guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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