sedimentary
Limestone
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 3 on the Mohs scale, typically gray, white, or tan in color with a dull to earthy luster. Composed primarily of calcite or aragonite crystals.
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Physical properties
Hardness 3 on the Mohs scale, typically gray, white, or tan in color with a dull to earthy luster. Composed primarily of calcite or aragonite crystals.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the accumulation of shell, coral, algal, and fecal debris, or by the chemical precipitation of calcium carbonate from water.
Uses & applications
Widely used in the manufacturing of cement, as a building material, and in agricultural soil treatment.
Geological facts
Limestone frequently contains fossils of marine organisms and dissolves readily in weak acidic solutions to form caves and sinkholes.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its characteristic fizz when a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid is applied due to the release of carbon dioxide.
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Sandstone or Siltstone
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