Limestone
A rock classification type
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About Limestone
As a Commodity:
A sedimentary rock composed dominantly of calcium carbonate.
i. A sedimentary rock consisting chiefly (more than 50% by weight or by areal percentages under the microscope) of calcium carbonate, primarily in the form of the mineral calcite, and with or without magnesium carbonate; specifically a carbonate sedimentary rock containing more than 95% calcite and less than 5% dolomite. Common minor constituents include silica (chalcedony), feldspar, clays, pyrite, and siderite. Limestones are formed by either organic or inorganic processes, and may be detrital, chemical, oolitic, earthy, crystalline, or recrystallized; many are highly fossiliferous and clearly represent ancient shell banks or coral reefs. Limestones include chalk, calcarenite, coquina, and travertine, and they effervesce freely with any common acid.
i. A sedimentary rock consisting chiefly (more than 50% by weight or by areal percentages under the microscope) of calcium carbonate, primarily in the form of the mineral calcite, and with or without magnesium carbonate; specifically a carbonate sedimentary rock containing more than 95% calcite and less than 5% dolomite. Common minor constituents include silica (chalcedony), feldspar, clays, pyrite, and siderite. Limestones are formed by either organic or inorganic processes, and may be detrital, chemical, oolitic, earthy, crystalline, or recrystallized; many are highly fossiliferous and clearly represent ancient shell banks or coral reefs. Limestones include chalk, calcarenite, coquina, and travertine, and they effervesce freely with any common acid.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
49160
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:49160:6
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
0fc285b9-01a0-4ee8-b766-da849b456ee2
Classification of Limestone
Sub-divisions of Limestone
- Limestone
- Argillaceous limestone
- Ashford Black Marble
- Cave Pearls
- Coral limestone
- Klintite
- Landscape marble
- Limestone breccia
- Magnesian Limestone
- Stromatolitic limestone
- Lime-mudstone
- Lime-wackestone
- Lime-packstone
- Lime-grainstone
- Lime-boundstone
- Lime-framestone
- Lime-pseudosparstone
- Lime-sparstone
- Lime-microsparstone
- Lime-microstone
- Ooid-limestone
- Pisoid-limestone
- Oncoid-limestone
- Microoncoid-limestone
- Peloid-limestone
- Shell-limestone
- Crinoid-limestone
- Beachrock
- Tufa
- Travertine
- Chalk
- Mud-grade limestone
- Sand-grade limestone
- Gravel-grade limestone
- Kerogenic limestone
- Nummulitenkalk
Mineralogy of Limestone
Non-essential minerals - these minerals are common, sometimes major components, but are not always present:
Pronunciation of Limestone
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon & Katya Ralph | United Kingdom |
Age distribution
Recorded ages:
Phanerozoic : 541 ± 1.0 Ma to 5.332 Ma - based on 9 recorded ages.
Other Language Names for Limestone
French:Calcaire
Varieties of Limestone
| Nummulitenkalk | A limestone rich in nummulites (marine protozoans, a type of large foraminiferan). |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 77 photos of Limestone associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 20 photos of Limestone associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 11 photos of Limestone associated with Manganese Dendrites | |
| 10 photos of Limestone associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 8 photos of Limestone associated with Sulphur | S8 |
| 8 photos of Limestone associated with Galena | PbS |
| 7 photos of Limestone associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Limestone associated with Iron oxide | |
| 6 photos of Limestone associated with Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| 6 photos of Limestone associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
Internet Links for Limestone
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-49160.html
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Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain