Limestone (mineral) synonyms, Limestone (mineral) pronunciation, Limestone (mineral) translation, English dictionary definition of Limestone (mineral). n. A common sedimentary rock consisting mostly of calcium carbonate, CaCO3, used as a building stone and in the manufacture of lime, carbon dioxide
Definition of limestone i. 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, and with or without magnesium carbonate; specif. a carbonate sedimentary rock containing more than 95% calcite and less than 5% dolomite.
Some rocks, such as limestone or quartzite, are composed primarily of one mineral calcite or aragonite in the case of limestone, and quartz in the latter case. Other rocks can be defined by relative abundances of key (essential) minerals; a granite is defined by proportions of quartz, alkali feldspar,
Limestone is a carbonate sedimentary rock that is often composed of the skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral, foraminifera, and molluscs. Its major materials are the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). A closely related rock is dolomite, which contains a high percentage of the mineral dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2. In old USGSpublications, dolomite was referred to as magnesian limestone, a term now reserved for magnesiumdeficient dolomi