sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone
Limestone (Calcium Carbonate - CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-tan to light brown; Luster: Dull, earthy; Texture: Fine-grained matrix containing visible fossil fragments; Cleavage: None (conchoidal to uneven fracture)
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Yellowish-tan to light brown
- Luster
- Dull, earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellowish-tan to light brown; Luster: Dull, earthy; Texture: Fine-grained matrix containing visible fossil fragments; Cleavage: None (conchoidal to uneven fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed in shallow, warm marine environments through the accumulation of organic debris, calcite precipitates, and fossilized remains of marine organisms over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used as a construction stone, crushed aggregate for roads, manufacturing of cement and lime, and as an ornamental specimen for fossil collectors.
Geological facts
Limestone constitutes about 10% of the total volume of all sedimentary rocks. It often contains microfossils or impressions of ancient sea creatures such as crinoids, bryozoans, and brachiopods.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its soft hardness (scratched easily with a steel nail) and positive effervescence reaction to dilute hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in exposed bedrock strata and quarries globally.
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