Limestone
| Limestone is a white, grey or black,
fine-grained rock which fizzes vigorously when a drop of dilute hydrochloric acid
is put on it. It commonly contains fossils such as shells or
other animal remains, and in some cases the fossils may make up most of the rock. When
limestone is hit with a hammer it may give off a sulphurous smell. Calcite is the dominant
constituent in limestones and it is the material which causes the rock to effervece with
acid. |
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| Fossiliferous limestone |
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| Fine-grained limestone |
Crinoidal limestone |
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| Black limestone with white
calcite veins |
| Note: Calcite is also a common material
in other sedimentary rocks, where it can occur in fossils, in vein and fracture coatings,
or as a cement. For this
reason one must be careful when testing for a reaction to acid, and put the drop of acid
on a fresh rock surface which does not contain fossils or veins. |
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Last updated May 12, 2005
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