sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone
Calcite-rich sedimentary rock with invertebrate fossils (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on the Mohs scale; Color: Gray, tan, yellowish-brown, or white; Luster: Dull to earthy; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline to cryptocrystalline calcite; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite crystals; Specific Gravity: 2.5 to 2.7
- Hardness
- 3 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Gray, tan, yellowish-brown, or white
- Luster
- Dull to earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on the Mohs scale; Color: Gray, tan, yellowish-brown, or white; Luster: Dull to earthy; Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline to cryptocrystalline calcite; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite crystals; Specific Gravity: 2.5 to 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed in marine environments through the accumulation and compaction of shell, coral, algal, and fecal debris, often dating from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, cement manufacturing, road base, agricultural lime, and prized by collectors for visible fossils.
Geological facts
Many fossiliferous limestones contain ancient brachiopods, crinoids, and bryozoans that provide a clear record of ancient shallow sea ecosystems.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its reaction to dilute hydrochloric acid (effervescence) and the visible presence of fossil molds and casts on its weathered surfaces.
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