sedimentary
Limestone (fossiliferous)
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on the Mohs scale, Color: Grey to brownish-grey, Luster: Earthy to dull, Crystal structure: Trigonal (Calcite), Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral, Specific gravity: 2.7
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Limestone (fossiliferous) in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on the Mohs scale, Color: Grey to brownish-grey, Luster: Earthy to dull, Crystal structure: Trigonal (Calcite), Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral, Specific gravity: 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral, algal, and foraminifera in shallow marine environments over millions of years during the Paleozoic or Mesozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction (aggregate, cement production), agriculture (soil conditioning), and as a building stone.
Geological facts
Limestone often contains well-preserved fossils of ancient marine life, making it a key rock for paleontological studies.
Field identification & locations
Can be easily identified in the field by its characteristic effervescence (bubbling) when a drop of weak hydrochloric acid or vinegar is applied due to the release of carbon dioxide.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Quartz pebble
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
sedimentary
Fossiliferous Concretion
Septarian Concretion containing Brachiopods/Crinoids
fossil
Generic Pebble / Rock Fragment
Lithic fragment / Weathered rock
sedimentary
Sedimentary Sandstone
Arenite (Sedimentary Rock)
sedimentary
Banded Siltstone / Mudstone Pebble
Siltstone / Argillite
sedimentary