sedimentary
Limestone with Calcite Veins
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray matrix with white veins; Luster: Dull/Earthy (matrix) to Vitreous (veins); Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in veins.
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Gray matrix with white veins
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy (matrix) to Vitreous (veins)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray matrix with white veins; Luster: Dull/Earthy (matrix) to Vitreous (veins); Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in veins.
Formation & geological history
Formed in marine environments through the accumulation of organic debris or chemical precipitation. The white veins are formed later as calcium-rich water fills fractures in the rock and crystallizes.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, cement production, lime for agriculture, and as decorative landscape stones.
Geological facts
The white lines are called 'veins' and indicate that the rock was once fractured under pressure, allowing mineral-rich water to flow through the cracks.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its reaction to cold dilute hydrochloric acid (it will fizz). Look for the contrasting white crystalline lines against a darker, fine-grained gray rock.
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