sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone
Fossiliferous Limestone (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray to tan; Luster: Dull or earthy; Structure: Clastic or Biogenic; Specific Gravity: 2.5-2.7. It contains visible shell fragments and marine fossils.
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Gray to tan
- Luster
- Dull or earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray to tan; Luster: Dull or earthy; Structure: Clastic or Biogenic; Specific Gravity: 2.5-2.7. It contains visible shell fragments and marine fossils.
Formation & geological history
Formed in warm, shallow marine environments through the accumulation of calcium carbonate and organic remains (shells and skeletons of marine organisms) over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in the production of cement, as a building stone, in road construction, and highly valued by fossil collectors for educational purposes.
Geological facts
This specimen likely contains fragments of brachiopods or crinoids. Limestone makes up about 10% of the total volume of all sedimentary rocks on Earth.
Field identification & locations
Identified by the presence of visible fossils and its reaction to dilute hydrochloric acid (it will fizz). Commonly found in areas that were once prehistoric seafloors.
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