Rock Identifier
Fossiliferous limestone with a shell fossil (Bioclastic limestone containing a probable bivalve or brachiopod fossil; exact identification is not possible from the image alone.) — fossil
fossil

Fossiliferous limestone with a shell fossil

Bioclastic limestone containing a probable bivalve or brachiopod fossil; exact identification is not possible from the image alone.

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Pale gray-beige, fine-grained carbonate matrix with a raised, ribbed fossil. Calcite is Mohs 3, typically has a vitreous-to-dull luster and rhombohedral cleavage; the shell’s original material may be partly replaced by calcite.

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Physical properties

Pale gray-beige, fine-grained carbonate matrix with a raised, ribbed fossil. Calcite is Mohs 3, typically has a vitreous-to-dull luster and rhombohedral cleavage; the shell’s original material may be partly replaced by calcite.

Formation & geological history

Shells accumulated in a marine environment and were buried, compacted, and cemented into limestone; fossil age cannot be determined visually and may range from hundreds of millions of years to much younger.

Uses & applications

Limestone is used for cement, aggregate, and building stone; intact fossils are collected and displayed.

Geological facts

The specimen appears to preserve an articulated or strongly molded ribbed shell, but finer details are obscured by weathering and matrix.

Field identification & locations

Look for repeated ribs, bilateral shell symmetry, and a distinct shell boundary against the surrounding rock; fossiliferous limestone occurs in marine sedimentary formations worldwide.