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Limestone
A rock classification type
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About Limestone
As a Commodity:
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, or less commonly aragonite. Common minor constituents include silica (as chert or chalcedony), dolomite, 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
Similar Names
| Lumu stone | A mixture of two or more distinct mineral species |
Classification of Limestone
Sub-divisions of Limestone
- Limestone
- Argillaceous limestone
- Ashford Black Marble
- Bituminous limestone
- Calcarenite
- Cave Pearls
- Cellular limestone
- Coral limestone
- Klintite
- Landscape marble
- Limestone breccia
- Magnesian Limestone
- Nummulitenkalk
- Pseudobreccia
- Siliceous limestone
- Stromatolitic limestone
- Zebra 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
- Gravel-grade limestone
- Kerogenic limestone
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 0 Ma - based on 15 recorded ages.
Sample ages:
| Sample ID | Recorded age | Geologic Time | Dating method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23.03 to 5.332 Ma | Miocene | |
| 2 | 100.5 to 66.0 Ma | Late/Upper Cretaceous | |
| 3 | 100.5 to 66.0 Ma | Late/Upper Cretaceous | |
| 4 | ~145.0 to 33.9 Ma | Phanerozoic | |
| 5 | 201.3 ± 0.2 to ~145.0 Ma | Jurassic | |
| 6 | 252.17 ± 0.06 to 66.0 Ma | Phanerozoic | |
| 7 | 252.17 ± 0.06 to 201.3 ± 0.2 Ma | Phanerozoic | |
| 8 | 298.9 ± 0.15 to 252.17 ± 0.06 Ma | Paleozoic | |
| 9 | 323.2 ± 0.4 to 298.9 ± 0.15 Ma | Pennsylvanian | |
| 10 | 443.8 ± 1.5 to 419.2 ± 3.2 Ma | Paleozoic | |
| 11 | 541 ± 1.0 to 485.4 ± 1.9 Ma | Cambrian |
Sample references:
Other Language Names for Limestone
French:Calcaire
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 118 photos of Limestone associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 37 photos of Limestone associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 31 photos of Limestone associated with Fluorite | CaF2 |
| 19 photos of Limestone associated with Sphalerite | ZnS |
| 17 photos of Limestone associated with Galena | PbS |
| 16 photos of Limestone associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 16 photos of Limestone associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 11 photos of Limestone associated with Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 11 photos of Limestone associated with 'Manganese Dendrites' | |
| 9 photos of Limestone associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
Internet Links for Limestone
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-49160.html
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