sedimentary
Limestone (Brecciated)
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3-4 Mohs; Color: Gray with white calcite veining; Luster: Dull to sub-vitreous; Structure: Microcrystalline with fracture filling; Specific Gravity: 2.5-2.7
- Hardness
- 3-4 Mohs
- Color
- Gray with white calcite veining
- Luster
- Dull to sub-vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 Mohs; Color: Gray with white calcite veining; Luster: Dull to sub-vitreous; Structure: Microcrystalline with fracture filling; Specific Gravity: 2.5-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation of calcium carbonate shells and skeletons of marine organisms. The veining (brecciation) occurs when the rock fractures under tectonic stress and secondary calcite fills the cracks.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as a building stone, in the production of cement, for soil treatment, and occasionally as decorative landscaping stone.
Geological facts
Limestone makes up about 10% of the total volume of all sedimentary rocks. It often contains fossils that give clues to Earth's ancient marine environments.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its gray color, white intersecting veins, and a positive reaction (fizzing) with diluted hydrochloric acid. Common in mountain ranges and coastal regions.
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