sedimentary
Limestone with Calcite Veining
Sedimentary Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 (Mohs scale); Color: Gray to tan with white veining; Luster: Dull/earthy (matrix) to vitreous (veins); Structure: Massive/Fine-grained; Cleavage: Rhombohedral in calcite crystals.
- Hardness
- 3 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Gray to tan with white veining
- Luster
- Dull/earthy (matrix) to vitreous (veins)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 (Mohs scale); Color: Gray to tan with white veining; Luster: Dull/earthy (matrix) to vitreous (veins); Structure: Massive/Fine-grained; Cleavage: Rhombohedral in calcite crystals.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the accumulation of shell, coral, algal, and fecal debris in marine environments; typical of Paleozoic or Mesozoic shallow seas. Heat and pressure later caused mineral-rich fluids to fill cracks, forming the white calcite veins.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, cement production, agriculture for soil treatment, and as a raw material in the chemical industry. Smaller specimens are collected as decorative garden stones or geological samples.
Geological facts
Limestone covers about 10% of the Earth's land area and contains significant records of Earth's history through fossils. Calcite is the primary mineral that fizzes when exposed to weak acid.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by checking for the reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid (it will fizz) and its ability to be scratched by a steel nail. Commonly found in quarries, road cuts, and riverbeds in karst landscapes.
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