sedimentary
Limestone
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 3 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to tan, with a dull to earthy luster and fine-grained crystal structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to tan, with a dull to earthy luster and fine-grained crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation of shell, coral, algal, and fecal debris over millions of years in shallow marine environments.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as building stone, aggregate for roads, and as a primary ingredient in the production of cement and lime.
Geological facts
Limestone often contains well-preserved fossils of ancient marine organisms and can form massive cave systems through dissolution by acidic groundwater.
Field identification & locations
Identified easily by its characteristic fizz when a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid is applied. Found abundantly worldwide in sedimentary basins.
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Fossiliferous Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
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Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
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Sandstone
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Shale
Shale (clastic sedimentary rock)
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Sedimentary Mudrock (SiO2, Al2O3 base with clay minerals)
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