sedimentary
Limestone with Fossil Inclusions
Sedimentary Carbonate Rock (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, light gray, beige, or weathering white; Luster: Earthy to vitreous; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline to cryptocrystalline calcite; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite crystals; Specific Gravity: 2.7 - 2.9
- Hardness
- 3 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Gray, light gray, beige, or weathering white
- Luster
- Earthy to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, light gray, beige, or weathering white; Luster: Earthy to vitreous; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline to cryptocrystalline calcite; Cleavage: Perfect rhombohedral in calcite crystals; Specific Gravity: 2.7 - 2.9
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation and compaction of organic remains such as shell, coral, and algal debris, or through the chemical precipitation of calcium carbonate from marine environments, typically during the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, or Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction (aggregate, road base, Portland cement production), agriculture (soil neutralization), and the manufacturing of glass and paper.
Geological facts
Limestone is famous for hosting extensive cave systems formed by the dissolution of calcium carbonate by acidic groundwater. Many of the world's most famous monuments and historical buildings, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, are constructed from limestone.
Field identification & locations
Can be easily identified in the field by applying a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid, which will cause it to vigorously fizz due to the release of carbon dioxide gas. Found worldwide in regions with ancient shallow marine basins.
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