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Limestone Rock



Definition

Definition
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed mostly of calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate

History

Origin
New Zealand

Discoverer
Belsazar Hacquet

Etymology
From lime and stone in late 14th Century

Class
Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group
-

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic

Color
Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Cream, Gold, Green, Grey, Light Green, Light Grey, Linen, Pink, Red, Rust, Silver, White, Yellow

Maintenance
More

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
No

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
No

Appearance
Rough and Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, for Road Aggregate, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar, Roadstone, Source of calcium

Medical Industry
In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Medicines and Cosmetics

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Animal feed filler, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Paper Industry, Raw material for manufacture of quicklime, slaked lime, Soil Conditioner, Used in aquariums, Whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper

Types

Types
Chalk, Coquina, Fossiliferous Limestone, Lithographic Limestone, Oolitic Limestone, Travertine, Tufa

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Stalactites and stalagmites are formed from this rock, Zinc and Copper Deposits

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
Acropolis of Athens in Greece, Agia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Big Ben in London, Charminar in Hyderabad, India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Maharashtra, India, Chichen Itza in Mexico, Empire State Building in New York, Khajuraho Temples, India, Kremlin in Moscow, Louvre in Paris, France, Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, Potala Palace in Lahasa, Tibet, Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India, Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra, India

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Present

Formation

Formation
Limestone is a sedimentary rock which is mainly made up of calcium carbonate.

Composition

Mineral Content
Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO

Transformation

Metamorphism
No

Types of Metamorphism
-

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
3-4

Grain Size
Fine Grained

Fracture
Splintery

Streak
White

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Dull to Pearly

Compressive Strength
115.00 N/mm2 27

Cleavage
-

Toughness
1

Specific Gravity
2.3-2.7

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.3-2.7 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.91 kJ/Kg K 11

Resistance
Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Europe
United Kingdom

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
USA

South America
Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula

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Sedimentary Rocks

Information about Limestone

Rocks are naturally occurring solids which are composed of minerals & have been used by humans since ages. From Stone Age, rocks are used for various purposes. Also, the metals and minerals found in rock play an important role in our life. Get to know all the Limestone Uses. We have provided you with all information about Limestone rock here. Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed mostly of calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate. Limestone is available in beige, black, blue, brown, cream, gold, green, grey, light green, light grey, linen, pink, red, rust, silver, white, yellow colors. The streak of a rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Limestone is white. Get to know more about Limestone rock and characteristics of Limestone rock in the next sections.

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