Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Most limestone is composed of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral, forams and molluscs.

Limestone makes up about 10% of the total volume of all sedimentary rocks. The solubility of limestone in water and weak acid solutions leads to karst landscapes, in which water erodes the limestone over thousands to millions of years. Most cave systems are through limestone bedrock.

Limestone has numerous uses: as a building material, as aggregate for the base of roads, as white pigment or filler in products such as toothpaste or paints, and as a chemical feedstock for the production of lime.

The first geologist to distinguish limestone from dolomite was Belsazar Hacquet in 1778.

Description

Like most other sedimentary rocks, most limestone is composed of grains. Most grains in limestone are skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera. Other carbonate grains comprising limestones are ooids, peloids, intraclasts, and extraclasts. These organisms secrete shells made of aragonite or calcite, and leave these shells behind when they die.

Limestone (disambiguation)

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed predominantly of calcium carbonate (calcite and/or aragonite).

Limestone may also refer to:

Geological deposits made of limestone:

  • Solnhofen limestone
  • Aymestry Limestone
  • Indiana Limestone
  • Places

    Australia

  • Limestone Coast, a government region in South Australia
  • Limestone Coast zone (wine), a wine zone in South Australia
  • Limestone, Victoria
  • Canada

  • Limestone, New Brunswick
  • Little Limestone Lake, Manitoba
  • European Alps

  • Southern Limestone Alps
  • Northern Limestone Alps
  • United States

  • Limestone Creek, Florida
  • Limestone, Illinois
  • Limestone, Kentucky, a former name for the city of Maysville
  • Limestone, Maine, a town
  • Limestone (CDP), Maine, census-designated place in the town of Limestone
  • Limestone, Michigan
  • Limestone, New York
  • Limestone, Oklahoma
  • Limestone, Tennessee
  • Limestone, West Virginia
  • Maysville, Kentucky, known as Limestone in pioneer days
  • Other uses

  • Limestone (album), an album by Joe Camilleri and Nicky Bomba
  • Limestone (Keswick, Virginia)

    Limestone, also known as Limestone Plantation and Limestone Farm, has two historic homes and a farm complex located near Keswick, Albemarle County, Virginia. The main dwelling at Limestone Farm consists of a long, narrow two-story central section flanked by two wings. the main section was built about 1840, and the wings appear to be two small late-18th-century dwellings that were incorporated into the larger building. It features a two-story porch. The house underwent another major renovation in the 1920s, when Colonial Revival-style detailing was added. The second dwelling is the Robert Sharp House, also known as the Monroe Law Office. It was built in 1794, and is a 2 1/2-story, brick and frame structure measuring 18 feet by 24 feet. Also on the property are a contributing shed (garage), corncrib (c. 1910), cemetery, a portion of a historic roadway, and a lime kiln known as "Jefferson's Limestone Kiln" (1760s). Limestone's owner in the late-18th century, Robert Sharp, was a neighbor and acquaintance of Thomas Jefferson. The property was purchased by James Monroe in 1816, after the death of Robert Sharp in 1808, and he put his brother Andrew Monroe in charge of its administration. The property was sold at auction in 1828.

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    Latest News for: limestone

    Prep Roundup: West Limestone explodes to beat Lexington

    Decatur Daily 22 Mar 2025
    LEXINGTON — West Limestone scored 12 runs in the top of the fourth inning on Friday, blowing open a close game en route to an 18-2 win over Lexington in high school baseball ... .

    Man dies in early-morning crash when car hits limestone 'Welcome to Ellettsville' sign

    The Herald-Times - Bloomington 21 Mar 2025
    46 near downtown Ellettsville and hit a massive limestone welcome sign with the town's name carved into the surface ... He and Robinson said the limestone gateway sign was damaged from the impact of the ...

    Construction of first phase of Sunrise Park in Athens to begin soon

    Decatur Daily 21 Mar 2025
    ATHENS — Construction of the first phase of Sunrise Park in Athens, including a splash pad and playground, is set to begin any day and be completed by early fall ... .

    Traces of Unknown Life Form Found in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula

    Greek Reporter 21 Mar 2025
    Scientists have discovered mysterious microscopic tunnels in marble and limestone formations across Namibia, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

    Bail denied for suspects in Limestone County human trafficking sting

    Decatur Daily 20 Mar 2025
    ATHENS — A Limestone County judge on Wednesday denied bail for several men charged with human trafficking after a sting operation ... .

    Unknown microorganisms used marble and limestone as a habitat

    Science Daily 20 Mar 2025
    ... bottom, were discovered in marble and limestone of these desert regions.

    Clarion-Limestone Academic Decathlon Team Wins State Championship - exploreClarion

    Explore Clarion 20 Mar 2025
    (EYT) – The Clarion-Limestone Academic Decathlon team achieved a remarkable victory at Pope John Paul II High School in Philadelphia on Saturday, March 15, claiming the Pennsylvania state championship in the small school division.

    NEW COACH, SAME GOALS: Clarion-Limestone Baseball Team Enters Season With Big Aspirations Under Colby Himes - exploreClarion

    Explore Clarion 20 Mar 2025
    (EYT) — Coming off a 12-6 record last season, the Clarion-Limestone baseball team will enter 2025 with a new head coach in Colby Himes, who will try and guide the Lions to success this season.

    Limestone County Restaurant Ratings

    Decatur Daily 19 Mar 2025
    Limestone County restaurant ratings from March 3-7. These ratings are provided to The Decatur Daily by the Limestone County Health Department ... .

    Limestone building new road to airport, repairing portion of Airport Road

    Decatur Daily 19 Mar 2025
    ATHENS — Limestone County plans to construct a new road from Airport Road to Pryor Field to help with the airport’s expansion and also repair a portion of Airport Road ... .

    PREP BASKETBALL: East Limestone\u2019s Cain named Class 5A Player of the Year finalist

    News Courier 19 Mar 2025
    Zak Cain. (Jake Winfrey). Zak Cain’s run of superb performances caught the eye of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, which announced Wednesday the East Limestone senior as a Class 5A Player of the Year finalist ...   ... J.D ... Zak Cain, East Limestone.

    ‘Prime Destination’: Limestone earns title of fastest-growing county in Alabama in 2024

    News Courier 19 Mar 2025
    A large crowd turns up at the Exceptional Needs Rodeo at the Limestone County Sheriff’s Rodeo Arena in 2024 ... Census Bureau, Limestone County has been named the fastest-growing county in the state of Alabama for the fourth consecutive year.
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