1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed mostly of calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
New Zealand
1.2.2 Discoverer
Belsazar Hacquet
1.3 Etymology
From lime and stone in late 14th Century
1.4 Class
Sedimentary Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
Not Applicable
1.6 Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic
2.2 Color
Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Cream, Gold, Green, Grey, Light Green, Light Grey, Linen, Pink, Red, Rust, Silver, White, Yellow
2.3 Maintenance
More
2.4 Durability
Durable
2.4.1 Water Resistant
✔
✘
59% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
✔
✘
62% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
✔
✘
43% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
✔
✘
38% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
✔
✘
22% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.5 Appearance
Rough and Banded
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, for Road Aggregate, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar, Roadstone, Source of calcium
3.2.2 Medical Industry
In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Medicines and Cosmetics
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 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
4 Types
4.1 Types
Chalk, Coquina, Fossiliferous Limestone, Lithographic Limestone, Oolitic Limestone, Travertine, Tufa
4.2 Features
Host Rock for Lead, Stalactites and stalagmites are formed from this rock, Zinc and Copper Deposits
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
Used
4.3.2 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
4.3.3 Sculpture
Used
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India, Elephanta Caves in Maharashtra, India
4.3.5 Pictographs
Used
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
Used
4.3.7 Figurines
Used
4.4 Fossils
Present
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
Limestone is a sedimentary rock which is mainly made up of calcium carbonate.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt
5.2.2 Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
✔
✘
19% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
5.3.3 Weathering
✔
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78% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
✔
✘
86% - Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Fine Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
Splintery
6.1.4 Streak
White
6.1.5 Porosity
Less Porous
6.1.6 Luster
Dull to Pearly
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
115.00 N/mm2
Rank: 18 (Overall) ▶
0.15
450
6.1.8 Cleavage
Non-Existent
6.1.9 Toughness
1
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
Opaque
6.1.12 Density
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
0.91 kJ/Kg K
Rank: 11 (Overall) ▶
0.14
3.2
6.2.2 Resistance
Pressure Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
7.1.2 Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
7.1.3 Europe
United Kingdom
7.1.4 Others
Not Yet Found
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
USA
7.2.2 South America
Colombia
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Tonga, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula