sedimentary
Fossiliferous Limestone
Biogenic Limestone (CaCO3)
Hardness: 3-4 Mohs; Color: reddish-brown with white inclusions; Luster: earthy to dull; Structure: biogenic/clastic with visible skeletal remains; Gravity: 2.5-2.7
- Hardness
- 3-4 Mohs
- Color
- reddish-brown with white inclusions
- Luster
- earthy to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3-4 Mohs; Color: reddish-brown with white inclusions; Luster: earthy to dull; Structure: biogenic/clastic with visible skeletal remains; Gravity: 2.5-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed in shallow marine environments from the accumulation of organic debris such as coral, shell, and algal fragments over millions of years, later lithified through cementation.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in the construction industry as building stone, in the production of cement, as lime for soil treatment, and occasionally as decorative lapidary material.
Geological facts
This specimen appears to contain various bioclasts, which are fragments of ancient marine life. Limestone covers about 10% of the total surface area of all sedimentary rocks on Earth.
Field identification & locations
Identified by visible shell/fossil fragments and its reaction (fizzing) to dilute hydrochloric acid. It is commonly found in areas that were once prehistoric seabeds.
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