sedimentary
Limestone
Calcareous sedimentary rock (CaCO3)
Hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from white, gray, yellow to brown, dull to earthy luster, fine-grained to coarse crystal structure, good cleavage in some calcite forms, specific gravity around 2.7.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from white, gray, yellow to brown, dull to earthy luster, fine-grained to coarse crystal structure, good cleavage in some calcite forms, specific gravity around 2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral, algal, and foraminifera, as well as chemical precipitation from calcium-rich water, typically in shallow marine environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as building material, an aggregate for base roads, as an ingredient for manufacturing Portland cement, and in agriculture for neutralizing acidic soils.
Geological facts
Limestone often contains well-preserved fossils of ancient marine life. Famous structures like the Great Pyramid of Giza and parts of the Empire State Building utilize limestone.
Field identification & locations
Can be easily identified in the field by its characteristic fizzing reaction when a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid is applied due to the release of carbon dioxide gas. Found worldwide in sedimentary basins.
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