sedimentary
Limestone (likely Tufa or Travertine)
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3-4 (Mohs); Color: Tan, beige, buff; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Structure: Microcrystalline or porous; Specific Gravity: 2.3–2.7
- Hardness
- 3-4 (Mohs)
- Color
- Tan, beige, buff
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 (Mohs); Color: Tan, beige, buff; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Structure: Microcrystalline or porous; Specific Gravity: 2.3–2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed by the precipitation of carbonate minerals from ambient temperature water bodies, often around hot springs or in lake beds. Geological age varies by outcrop location.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as decorative stone in landscaping, building facades, and as a source for lime in cement production. Lower quality serves as aggregate.
Geological facts
Travertine and Tufa were used extensively by the Romans for building the Colosseum. These rocks often contain impressions of ancient plants or bacterial mats from their formation period.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its porous, pitted texture and reaction (fizzing) with dilute hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in karst landscapes and near geothermal areas like Yellowstone.
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