Geological and Structural Controls on Marble Quarrying and Aesthetic Patterns: Espírito Santo State (Brazil).

This article focuses on the geological characterization of Pit 9 quarry in Itaoca, Espírito Santo, Brazil, to understand factors influencing marble dimension stone extraction and aesthetics. The study identifies three marble varieties—calcite, dolomite, and banded—with metamorphic banding composed mainly of carbonates, diopside, and tremolite, and notes two distinct folding phases that shape the marble's structural and visual patterns. It also documents the presence of metamafic and felsic igneous dikes, which produce contact metamorphism halos and induce fracturing that compromises rock integrity. Structural data and 3D geological models highlight spatial variations in fracturing and folding, informing quarrying strategies. The study recommends further geophysical surveys to better assess rock fracturing for improved mining planning.