Arzo marble (Canton Ticino, Switzerland) is a breccia that is mainly reddish in colour but in some cases can also tend towards yellow and grey.
It should be noted that, from a petrographic point of view, it is not a true marble.
It can be divided into three main varieties, each with different shapes: Brocatello d’Arzo, Macchiavecchia (red, yellow or grey) and Rosso d’Arzo.
This breccia is only partially resistant to atmospheric agents and almost completely resistant to frost. Being a limestone, it is also sensitive to acids.
In this case, Brocatello is a reddish-brown limestone with white veins or spots. It contains numerous fossil fragments and its structure is partly nodular or brecciated.
References for use of material
Redevelopment of the Arzo Quarries, architect Enrico Sassi, Arzo (Switzerland).
Main source of description
Material-Archiv. (2024). Arzo-Marmor.
Original source of characteristic values
Kündig, R. et al. (1997). Die mineralischen Rohstoffe der Schweiz. Zurich: Schweizerische Geotechnische Kommission, p. 253.
