Formation Of Limestone+ Distinctive Lanscape Flashcards
How is limestone formed ?
Limestone is an organically formed sedimentary rock
Made from the remains of dead sea creatures
Formed in shallow seas 350 to 300 million years ago when Ireland lay close to the equator
Over time dead bodies of sea creatures accumulated
Over time the weight of the sediments compressed the grain together
Water was pushed out of the pore spaces between the grains of sediments and gradually the grains were cemented together with calcium carbonate(calcite) from the shells
The remains of shells are seen as fossils
The process by which the loose grains of sediment are turned to rock is called lithification
Because limestone is a sedimentary rock it contains horizontal layers also known as strata which are separated by flat surfaces called bedding planes
Vertical cracks called joints are present, formed when earth movement folded and split the rock
Limestone is a permeable pervasive rock
