sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) with marine fossils
Hardness: 3-4 (Mohs scale), Color: tan/beige/gray, Luster: dull to earthy, Texture: clastic/fragmental with visible fossil impressions and pockmarks (vugs).
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 (Mohs scale), Color: tan/beige/gray, Luster: dull to earthy, Texture: clastic/fragmental with visible fossil impressions and pockmarks (vugs).
Formation & geological history
Formed in shallow, calm, warm marine waters from the accumulation of shell, coral, algal, and fecal debris. These rocks often date from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as a source for lime/cement, crushed stone for road base, and as decorative landscape rocks or collector specimens.
Geological facts
The pockmarks or holes in this specimen are likely 'vugs' where fossils or minerals once were and have since dissolved or weathered away, leaving an impression of the ancient marine life.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by checking for fossil remains and testing with weak acid (like vinegar), which will cause the rock to fizz (effervesce). Common in areas that were once prehistoric seabeds.
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