sedimentary
Limestone
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 3 on Mohs scale, colors range from white to gray and brown, dull to earthy luster, fine-grained to coarse crystal structure.
Identified More sedimentary →
Explore Limestone in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 3 on Mohs scale, colors range from white to gray and brown, dull to earthy luster, fine-grained to coarse crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation of skeletal fragments from marine organisms like coral and molluscs in shallow marine environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as building stone, aggregate in concrete, and in the manufacturing of cement and lime.
Geological facts
Limestone often contains well-preserved fossils and dissolves slowly in acidic water, creating cave systems and karst topography.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its reaction with hydrochloric acid, which causes it to fizz and release carbon dioxide.
More like this
Other sedimentary specimens
Fossil-bearing concretion, possibly containing a fossil shell or other organic inclusion
Calcareous concretion; exact fossil and host-rock composition are not identifiable from the image
fossil
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Fossiliferous Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
fossil
Shale
Fissile Sedimentary Rock
sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
sedimentary
Shale
Clastic sedimentary rock
sedimentary