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Limestone

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	Limestone
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	Topics Limestone Topic Home Limestone is a sedimentary rockSedimentary rock Sedimentary rock is one of the three main rock groups and is formed in three main ways—by the deposition of the weath... composed largely of the mineralMineral Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes.... calciteCalcite The carbonate mineral calcite is a calcium carbonate corresponding to the formula CaCO3 and is one of the most widely distri... . Description Limestone often contains variable amounts of silica in the form of chertChert Chert is a fine-grained silica-rich cryptocrystalline sedimentary rock that may contain small fossils.... or flintFlint Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline silicate form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of Chalcedony.... , as well as varying amounts of clayClay Clay is a term used to describe a group of hydrous aluminium phyllosilicate minerals , that are typically less than 2 μm... , siltSilt Silt is soil or rock derived granular material of a specific grain size.... and sandSand Sand is an example of a class of materials called granular matter.... as disseminations, nodules, or layers within the rock. The primary source of the calcite in limestone is most commonly marine organismsMarine biology Marine biology is the scientific study of the plants, animals and other organisms that live in the ocean.... . These organisms secrete shells that settle out of the water column and are deposited on oceanOcean Oceans cover almost three quarters of the surface of the Earth, and nearly half of the world's marine waters are over 3,00... floors as pelagicPelagic zone The pelagic zone is the part of the open sea or ocean comprising the water column, i.e.... ooze or alternatively are conglomerated in a coral reef (see lysoclineLysocline The lysocline is a term used in geology, geochemistry and marine biology to denote the depth in the ocean below which the ra... for information on calcite dissolution). Secondary calcite may also be deposited by supersaturatedSupersaturation The term supersaturation refers to a solution that contains more of the dissolved material than could be dissolved by the so... meteoricMeteorology Overview Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting.... waters\|precipitates]] the material in caveCave A cave is a natural underground void large enough for an adult human to enter.... s). This produces speleothemSpeleothem A speleothem is a formal term for what is also known as a cave formation, or amongst cavers, collectively known as ... s such as stalagmiteStalagmite A stalagmite is a type of speleothem that rises from the floor of a limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized soluti... s and stalactiteStalactite A stalactite , or dripstone, is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling or wall of limestone caves.... s. Another form taken by calcite is that of ooliteOolite Geology of the United KingdomPearls - also formed from concentric layers of calcium carbonate... s (oolitic limestone) which can be recognized by its granular appearance. Limestone makes up about 10% of the total volume of all sedimentary rocks. Limestones may also form in both lacustrineLacustrine Lacustrine is derived from the Latin word lacus.... and evaporiteEvaporite Evaporites are water-soluble, mineral sediments that result from the evaporation of bodies of surficial water.... depositional environmentsSedimentary depositional environment In geology, sedimentary depositional environment describes the combination of physical, chemical and biological processes as... . Calcite can be either dissolvedSolvation Solvation is the attraction and association of molecules of a solvent with molecules or ions of a solute.... by groundwater or precipitated by groundwater, depending on several factors including the water temperature, pH, and dissolved ionIon An ion is an atom or group of atoms that normally are electrically neutral and achieve their status as an ion by loss of an... concentrations. Calcite exhibits an unusual characteristic called retrograde solubility in which it becomes less soluble in water as the temperature increases. When conditions are right for precipitation, calcite forms mineral coatings that cement the existing rock grains together or it can fill fractures. Karst topographyTopography Topography is a general term in geography, derived from the Greek "topos" and "graphein", and refers to the lie of the land,... and caveCave A cave is a natural underground void large enough for an adult human to enter.... s develop in carbonate rocks due to their solubilitySolubility Overview Solubility is the amount of a solute that will dissolve in a specific solvent under given conditions.... in dilute acidAcid An acid is traditionally considered any chemical compound that when dissolved in water, gives a solution with a pH of less ... ic groundwaterGroundwater Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of geologic formations.... . Cooling groundwater or mixing of different groundwaters will also create conditions suitable for cave formation. Coastal limestones are often eroded by organisms which bore into the rock by various means. This process is known as bioerosionBioerosion Bioerosion describes the erosion of hard ocean substrates by living organisms by a number of mechanisms.... . It is most common in the tropics, and it is known throughout the fossil record (see Taylor and Wilson, 2003). Because of impurities, such as clayFacts About Clay Clay is a term used to describe a group of hydrous aluminium phyllosilicate minerals , that are typically less than 2 μm... , sand, organic remains, iron oxideIron oxide Overview Altogether there are 16 known iron oxides.... and other materials, many limestones exhibit different colors, especially on weatheredWeathering Weathering is the process of disintegration of rocks, soils and their minerals through direct, or indirect contact with the ... surfaces. Limestone may be crystalline, clastic, granular, or massive, depending on the method of formation. Crystals of calcite, quartzQuartz Overview Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earth's continental crust.... , dolomiteFacts About Dolomite Dolomite is the name of both a carbonate rock and a mineral consisting of calcium magnesium carbonate2) found in crystals.... or bariteBarite Barite is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate.... may line small cavities in the rock. FolkFacts About Folk classification The Folk classification, devised by R.... and DunhamDunham classification The Dunham classification system for carbonate sedimentary rocks was devised by Dunham in 1964, and refined by Embry and Klo... classifications are used to describe limestones more precisely. TravertineTravertine Summary The rock travertine is a natural chemical precipitate of carbonate minerals; typically aragonite, but often recrystallized t... is a banded, compact variety of limestone formed along streams, particularly where there are waterfalls and around hotHot spring A hot spring or a hydrothermal spring is a place where warm or hot groundwater issues from the earth on a regular basi... or cold springs. Calcium carbonate is deposited where evaporation of the water leaves a solution that is supersaturated with chemical constituents of calcite. TufaFacts About Tufa Tufa is the name for an unusual geological formation.... , a porous or cellular variety of travertine, is found near waterfalls. CoquinaCoquina Coquina is an incompletely consolidated sedimentary rock of biochemical origin, mainly composed of mineral calcite, often in... is a poorly consolidated limestone composed of pieces of coralCoral Corals are marine animals of the , which include sea anemones .... or shellAnimal shell The hard, rigid outer covering of certain animals is called a shell.... s. During regional metamorphismMetamorphism Metamorphism can be defined as the solid state recrystallisation of pre-existing rocks due to changes in heat and/or pressur... that occurs during the mountain building process limestone recrystallizes into marbleMarble Marble is a metamorphic rock resulting from the metamorphism of limestone, composed mostly of calcite .... . Limestone is a parent materialParent material Parent material, in soil science, means the underlying geological material in which soil horizons form.... of Mollisol soilSoil Soil is the collection of natural bodies that form in earthy material on the land surface.... group. Limestone landscape Limestone is partially soluble, especially in acidAcid Summary An acid is traditionally considered any chemical compound that when dissolved in water, gives a solution with a pH of less ... , and therefore forms many erosionFacts About Erosion Erosion is the displacement of solids by the agents of wind, water or ice, by downward or down-slope movement in response t... al landformLandform A landform comprises a geomorphological unit.... s. These include limestone pavementLimestone pavement A limestone pavement is a landform consisting of a horizontal surface of exposed limestone showing the effects of weathering... s, pot holes, cenoteCenote Cenote is the name given in Central America and southern Mexico to a type of freshwater-filled limestone sinkhole.... s, caveCave A cave is a natural underground void large enough for an adult human to enter.... s and gorges. Such erosion landscapes are known as karsts. Limestone is less resistant than most igneous rocks, but more resistant than most other sedimentary rocks. Limestone is therefore usually associated with hills and downlandDownland A downland is an area of open chalk hills.... and occurs in regions with other sedimentary rocks, typically clayClay Clay is a term used to describe a group of hydrous aluminium phyllosilicate minerals , that are typically less than 2 μm... s. Bands of limestone emerge from the EarthEarth Earth is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth largest.... 's surface in often spectacular rocky outcrops and islandIsland Summary An island or isle is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water.... s. Examples include the BurrenThe Burren Burren is a unique karst landscape in northwest County Clare, Ireland.... in Co. Clare, Ireland; the Verdon GorgeVerdon Gorge Verdon Gorge, in south-eastern France, is a river canyon that is considered by many to be Europe's most beautiful.... in FranceFrance France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and whi... ; Malham CoveMalham Cove Malham Cove is a natural limestone formation, known as a national beauty spot, near Malham, North Yorkshire, England.... in North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan county within the Government Office Region of Yorkshire and the Humber in northern Eng... and the Isle of WightIsle of Wight The Isle of Wight is an English island and county, off the southern English coast, to the south of the county of Hampshire.... , EnglandEngland England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom.... ; on FåröFårö Fr is a small island just to the north of the island Gotland outside Sweden's south-eastern coast; the second-largest island... near the Swedish island of GotlandGotland Gotland is a county and province of Sweden and the largest island in the Baltic Sea.... , the Niagara EscarpmentNiagara Escarpment The Niagara Escarpment is a long escarpment or cuesta in the United States and Canada that runs westward from New York State... in CanadaCanada Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, occupying most of northern North America.... /USA, Notch Peak in UtahUtah Utah is a U.S. state located in the western United States.... , and the Ha Long Bay National Park in VietnamVietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is a country in Southeast Asia.... . Unique habitats are found on alvarAlvar An alvar or pavement barren is a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse vegetation.... s, extremely level expanses of limestone with thin soil mantles. The largest such expanse in EuropeEurope Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth.... is the Stora AlvaretStora Alvaret WHS = Agricultural Landscape of Southern ?land... on the island of Oland, SwedenSweden The Kingdom of Sweden is a Nordic country in Scandinavia.... . Another area with large quantities of limestone is the island of GotlandGotland Gotland is a county and province of Sweden and the largest island in the Baltic Sea.... , Sweden. Huge quarries in northwestern Europe, such as those of Mount Saint Peter (Belgium/Netherlands), extend for more than a hundred kilometers. The world's largest limestone quarry is at Michigan Limestone and Chemical CompanyMichigan Limestone and Chemical Company *Michigan Limestone and Chemical Company* operates the world's largest limestone quarry located near Rogers City, Michiga... in Rogers City, MichiganRogers City, Michigan Rogers City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan.... . Uses of limestone Limestone is very common in architectureArchitecture Overview * Architectural history* Architectural mythology... , especially in North AmericaNorth America North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere.... and EuropeEurope Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth.... . Many landmarks across the world, including the pyramids in EgyptEgypt Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a Middle Eastern country in North Africa.... , are made of limestone. So many buildings in Kingston, Ontario, CanadaKingston, Ontario Kingston, Ontario, is a city in Canada located at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, where the lake runs into the St.... were constructed from it that it is nicknamed the 'Limestone City'. On the island of MaltaMalta Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is a small and densely populated island nation consisting of an archipelago o... , a variety of limestone called Globigerina limestone was for a long time the only building material available, and is still very frequently used on all types of buildings and sculptures. Limestone is readily available and relatively easy to cut into blocks or more elaborate carving. It is also long-lasting and stands up well to exposure. However, it is a very heavy material, making it impractical for tall buildings, and relatively expensive as a building material. Limestone was most popular in the early 20th and late 19th centuries. Train stationTrain station For Ottawa's OC Transpo's Transitway station and the city's main train terminal, see Train Station... s, bankBank A bank is a business that provides banking services for profit.... s and other structures from that era are normally made of limestone. Limestone is used as a facade on some skyscraperSkyscraper A skyscraper is a very tall, continuously habitable building.... s, but only in thin plates for covering rather than solid blocks. In the United States, IndianaIndiana Indiana, meaning the "Land of the Indians," is a state in the Great Lakes region of the Midwestern United States.... , most notably the Bloomington area, has long been a source of high quality quarried limestone, called Indiana limestoneIndiana Limestone Indiana Limestone or Bedford Limestone is a common term for Salem limestone, a geological formation primarily qu... . Many famous buildings in LondonLondon Overview London is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom.... are built from Portland limestone. Limestone was also a very popular building block in the Middle Ages in the areas where it occurred since it is hard, durable, and commonly occurs in easily accessible surface exposures. Many medieval churches and castles in Europe are made of limestone. Beer stoneBeer stone Not to be confused with beerstone, the scale that forms on the inside of beer storage equipment.... was a popular kind of limestone for medieval buildings in southern England. Limestone and marble are very reactive to acid solutions, making acid rainAcid rain Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere, undergo chemical transformations ... a significant problem. Many limestone statues and building surfaces have suffered severe damage due to acid rain. Acid-based cleaning chemicals can also etch limestone, which should only be cleaned with a neutral or mild alkaline-based cleaner. Other uses include: The manufacture of quicklime (calcium oxide) and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide); CementCement Overview In the most general sense of the word, cement is a binder, a substance which sets and hardens independently, and can bind ot... and mortarMortar (masonry) ... ; Pulverized limestone is used as a soil conditioner to neutralize acidic soil conditions; Crushed for use as aggregateConstruction Aggregate "Construction Aggregate" , or "aggregate", is the broad category of basic materials used in construction, including sand, g... —the solid base for many roads; Geological formations of limestone are among the best petroleumPetroleum Summary Petroleum or crude oil is a black, dark brown or greenish liquid found in porous rock formations in the earth.... reservoirs; As a reagentReagent Summary A reagent or reactant is any substance used in a chemical reaction.... in desulfurizationsFlue gas desulfurization Flue gas desulfurization is the current state-of-the art technology used for removing sulfur dioxide from the exhaust flue ... ; Glass making, in some circumstances; Added to paper, plastics, paint, tiles, and other materials as both white pigment and a cheap filler. Toothpaste Suppression of methane explosions in underground coal mines Added to bread and cereals as a source of calcium See also List of types of limestoneList of types of limestone The following is a list of various types of limestone according to location. ... Carboniferous limestoneCarboniferous limestone Carboniferous Limestone is a type of limestone rock.... Blisworth LimestoneBlisworth Limestone Overview The Blisworth Limestone is a stratum of limestone of the Bathonian stage, found in the Jurassic ridge which extends north an... ChalkChalk Chalk is a soft, white, porous form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite.... Coral sandCoral sand Coral sand is sand of particles originating in tropical and sub-tropical marine environments from bioerosion of limestone sk... Ketton StoneKetton stone Ketton stone is a form of limestone used for building houses.... Oamaru stoneOamaru stone Oamaru stone is a hard, compact limestone, quarried at Weston, near Oamaru in Otago, New Zealand.... Solnhofen limestoneSolnhofen limestone The Solnhofen limestone is a Jurassic lagersttte that preserves a rare assemblage of fossilized organisms, some of which, su... Calcium carbonateCalcium carbonate Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound, with chemical formula CaCO3....