Limestone

Question 1

Formation of the Limestone Pavement

Answer 1

• Limestone is mad up of bedding planes and vertical joints
• Since limestone is permeable when rain falls its absorbed by the rock
• When rain absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere it becomes a weak acid which dissolves the rock through chemical weathering
• this widens the joints and is called carbonation
• Limestone pavement is made up of blocks called clints separated by grykes.

Question 2

Formation of swallow holes

Answer 2

• Limestone is permeable allowing water to pass through it.
• when rain water absorbs carbon dioxide and becomes a weak acid.
• When the acid falls onto the limestone it dissolves the limestone through carbonation.
• the river erodes into the joints forming a swallow hole
• carbonation make the swallow hole bigger and the river flows down it and continues underground.