sedimentary
Limestone
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, colors range from white to gray and tan, dull to earthy luster, and reacts strongly with hydrochloric acid.
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 the Mohs scale, colors range from white to gray and tan, dull to earthy luster, and reacts strongly with hydrochloric acid.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the accumulation of skeletal fragments, coral, algal, and fecal debris in shallow marine environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as aggregate, in the production of cement, for agricultural soil conditioning, and in industrial manufacturing.
Geological facts
Limestone often contains well-preserved fossils of ancient marine organisms and forms spectacular cave systems through dissolution by acidic groundwater.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its soft nature and effervescence test with acid; commonly found in sedimentary basins worldwide.
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
Fossiliferous Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary limestone with invertebrate fossil imprint
fossil
Sandstone or Siltstone
Arenite (if sandstone)
Sedimentary
Sandstone
Arenite
sedimentary
Shale
Shale (clastic sedimentary rock)
sedimentary
Shale (or Mudstone/Siltstone)
Sedimentary Mudrock (SiO2, Al2O3 base with clay minerals)
sedimentary