What is fossil-rich limestone?
Limestone, sedimentary rocks composed primarily of calcium carbonate, contain the minerals found in shells and the bones of dead marine animals. Fossil-rich limestone, also called fossiliferous limestone, normally contains the hard parts (shells and skeletal remains) of organisms, such as mollusks and coral, and dead plants.LocationLimestone beds form in water environments near the earth’s surface, including tropical marine environments, temperate freshwater lakes and even in the hot water springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.CharacteristicsLimestone is fine grained, although many limestone specimens contain large clusters of shells cemented together. These compact sedimentary rocks, usually light in color, occasionally contain shades of pink.CategoryThe three subcategories of sedimentary rocks include mechanical, biological and chemical–with fossil-rich limestone part of the biological subcategory. While not all limestone formations contain fossil fragments, foss
