A shining stone named after Marmar (in Latin) or Marmarous (Greek) is a crystalline metamorphosed form of limestone. Commercially speaking it is any rock composed of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate or serpentine (calcite, dolomite or part silica) that can take polish.

In India, commercially potential deposits of serpentinite ( so called "green marble") are located in South Rajasthan. The mining of these deposits is being carried out mainly by open-cast, mechanized method and it contributes about 2,00,000 tonnes of serpentinite blocks annually. The recovered blocks are being processed by gang-saws located mainly within the state at several sites. Nearly 60-70% of serpentinite resource produced in the state is being exported to a large number of countries for use as a dimensional stone.

There is an interesting story. A few years back while crushing rocks near Rishabhdeo - Kalyanpur road, a greenish stone caught some one's attention. It was taken to Makrana since Udaipur did not have such facilities in those times. The stone caught excellent green color polish. Soon it became popular and Italy took initiative by importing green marble blocks. After processing them further into slabs, cut size and tiles, they were exported to other countries as well. Grace marble is doing this directly from India.

Serpentinite is a dark-green, igneous rock widely distributed in south Rajasthan.Its massive deposits Are located about 70 km southwest of Udaipur in the tribal zone of Udaipur and Dungarpur districts.It is named green marble ( ' green marble of kesariaji') . In fact it is composed of serpentine group of minerals, iron-oxides and carbonates. Mineralogically, it is called serpentinite i.e. Hydrous Magnesium silicate - Mg6 Si4 O10 (OH)8.

Physical Properties of Green Marble