Why Does Marble Corrode

Acid rain has a significant effect on marble and limestone.

Why does marble corrode.

In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air and rain react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. The aforementioned conditions plus the stone being subjected to excessive moisture can cause rust staining or also know as inorganic metal stains. Acid rain contains carbonic nitric and sulfuric acid that are produced by oxidation and dissolution in water of gaseous oxides co 2 no 2 and so 2 present in the air as chemical pollutants.

Causes and cures and why we recommend white or very light marble never be used in a shower sitting in my office one morning i received a call from a very upset home builder. He told me he was building a two million dollar home and had installed nearly 3500 square feet of a white statuary marble tile. Iron deposits that are embedded in white marble tile especially carrara marble are typically the cause of this type of stain. A yellow brownish stain has begun to appear on the marble bench slab.

How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings. Marble and limestone river rocks form from the action of water on the rock as they move down the river. The gaseous oxides co 2 no 2 and so 2 present in the air as chemical pollutants mix with water in air to form acids such as carbonic acid nitric acid and sulphuric acid this acid comes down as acid rain and cause corrosion of marble statues calcium carbonate present in marble is transformed. That is a natural element of the stone so it doesn t make the stone.

It started out faint has gotten brighter and appears to be growing. Carbonic sulfuric or nitric acid are components of acid rain that will react with the calcium carbonate in the marble and limestone to pit and dissolve the rock over time. If these deposits are exposed to water they can rust and leach through to the surface causing the yellow brown stains. Although specialized non acidic products can remove surface rust on marble or limestone the indwelling rust caused by constant induction of humidity mostly from the backside of the stone cannot be removed.

Acid rains are one of the main degradation agents for marble artifacts. Why does my carrara marble have orange stains. Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways. Marble like all calcareous rocks is particularly sensitive to degradation by acid chemicals and to weathering.

But the same patterns that make marble beautiful can be a real headache to match from tile to tile says daniel dixon a california based tile construction expert. Taj mahal is an example of corrosion of marble the discoloration of its marble is due to corrosion. Real marble tiles have a beautiful unique look like no other surface with all their whirling patterns and shade variations. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves.