sedimentary
Limestone
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
Hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from white and gray to tan and brown, dull to earthy luster, fine-grained to coarse crystalline texture, good cleavage in some forms, specific gravity around 2.7.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from white and gray to tan and brown, dull to earthy luster, fine-grained to coarse crystalline texture, good cleavage in some forms, specific gravity around 2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed primarily from the accumulation of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral, algal, and foraminifera, typically in shallow marine environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as building material, an aggregate for roads, as a primary component of Portland cement, and in agriculture as soil conditioner.
Geological facts
Limestone often contains fossils of ancient marine life and makes up about 10 percent of the total volume of all sedimentary rocks on Earth.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its characteristic fizz when a weak acid like vinegar is applied due to the release of carbon dioxide gas; commonly found worldwide in sedimentary basins.
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