sedimentary
Limestone
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 3 on the Mohs scale, typically gray or white in color, dull to earthy luster, and reacts strongly with hydrochloric acid.
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Physical properties
Hardness 3 on the Mohs scale, typically gray or white in color, dull to earthy luster, and reacts strongly with hydrochloric acid.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation of skeletal fragments of marine organisms or chemical precipitation in shallow marine environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction for road base, aggregate in concrete, production of cement, and in agricultural soil conditioning.
Geological facts
Limestone frequently contains well-preserved fossils and forms dramatic cave systems through dissolution by slightly acidic groundwater.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its pale color and characteristic fizz when tested with dilute acid; commonly found in sedimentary basins worldwide.
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Fossil-bearing concretion, possibly containing a fossil shell or other organic inclusion
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Fossiliferous Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
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Fissile Sedimentary Rock
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Clastic sedimentary rock
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