Arzo marble (Canton Ticino, Switzerland) is a breccia that is predominantly 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 true marble.
It can be divided into three main varieties, each with different shapes: Brocatello d’Arzo, Macchiavecchia (red, yellow or grey) and, lastly, Rosso d’Arzo.
This breccia is only partially resistant to atmospheric agents and almost completely resistant to frost. Being a limestone, it is also somewhat sensitive to acids.
In this case, Venato is a reddish limestone with white veins or spots and, in some cases, a purplish colour. 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: Swiss Geotechnical Commission, p. 253.
