Rock Identifier
Limestone (Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)) — sedimentary
sedimentary

Limestone

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 3 on Mohs scale, colors range from white to gray and tan, dull to earthy luster, with a fine-grained to coarse crystal structure.

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Physical properties

Hardness of 3 on Mohs scale, colors range from white to gray and tan, dull to earthy luster, with a fine-grained to coarse crystal structure.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the accumulation and compaction of organic remains like shells and coral, or chemical precipitation in marine environments over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Extensively used in construction as building stone, as an aggregate for road base, in the production of cement, and in agriculture for soil neutralization.

Geological facts

Limestone formations often house extensive cave systems and well-preserved fossils due to the nature of their depositional environments.

Field identification & locations

Readily identified by its characteristic fizz when tested with dilute hydrochloric acid, and commonly found in sedimentary basins worldwide.