Rock Identifier
Limestone with Fossil Fragment (Sedimentary carbonate rock (CaCO3)) — sedimentary
sedimentary

Limestone with Fossil Fragment

Sedimentary carbonate rock (CaCO3)

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale, Color: Gray to brownish-gray, Luster: Dull to earthy, Crystal structure: Microcrystalline (calcite), Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite, Specific gravity: 2.5-2.7

Identified More sedimentary
Explore Limestone with Fossil Fragment in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

Physical properties

Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale, Color: Gray to brownish-gray, Luster: Dull to earthy, Crystal structure: Microcrystalline (calcite), Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite, Specific gravity: 2.5-2.7

Formation & geological history

Formed through the accumulation and compaction of organic debris, shell fragments, and mineral precipitation in shallow marine environments over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used in construction, production of cement, road base, agricultural lime, and geological education.

Geological facts

Limestone often preserves ancient sea life as fossils, providing a detailed record of Earth's biological history, particularly from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras.

Field identification & locations

Can be easily identified by its reaction to dilute hydrochloric acid, which causes it to fizz due to the release of carbon dioxide from calcium carbonate.