Limestone is a sedimentary rock formed through the sedimentation and compression of tropical sea creatures over time. It is made of calcium carbonate and is vulnerable to chemical weathering from rainfall, which dissolves the limestone and forms distinctive karst features. Key limestone landforms include swallow holes, limestone pavements with clints and grykes, dry valleys, dolines or sinkholes, and underground caverns, stalactites, and stalagmites. Limestone properties and weathering processes help explain the formation of these unique limestone features and landscapes.

1. Limestone Features
To be able to explain the formation of
limestone features

2. Can you describe Limestone?

3. Limestone is a sedimentary rock

4. Can you explain how Limestone
formed?
• Include....
–Tropical
–Sea Creatures
–Sedimentation
–Compression
–Lithification
–Uplift
–Joints
–Bedding planes

5. The main features of Limestone
Group Teach - Notes
• Structure
• Permeability
• Vulnerability

7. Jura Mountains (1)

8. Jura Mountains (2)

10. Doline

11. Limestone landscapes
Press play on the animations below to see
different ways in which limestone is weathered.

12. Limestone properties
Unlike some other forms of limestone, carboniferous limestone is very hard. It has been
used
as a building material for thousands of years.
Carboniferous limestone was even
used to build the Great Pyramid
of Giza, which is the only wonder
of the ancient world still standing.
It is
over 4,500 years old.

13. Gravestone from
south-east England
This gravestone is also
made out of carboniferous limestone. It
has only been around for 300 years – but
it’s not in as good shape. There is even a
hole
right through the middle.
Limestone properties

14. Limestone weathering
Carboniferous limestone is made up of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Calcium carbonate is
vulnerable to chemical solution, a form of chemical weathering caused by rainfall.
When rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide,
it forms
carbonic acid (H2CO3). This is a weak acid
which over time will dissolve limestone to
produce various exotic features. This
process is known as chemical solution or
limestone solution.

15. The Main Limestone Feature – Identify,
Diagrams and explanations...
• Surface
• Swallow Holes
• Limestone Pavement (Clints and Grykes)
• Dry Valleys
• Gorge (collapsed Cavern)
• Doline/ Sink Hole
• Spring/ Resurgence
• Underground
• Caverns
• Stalactites and Stalagmites (Pillars)

16. Extension....
• Devise a 10 question quiz for the class on
Limestone features. All questions must be
True/ False answers.....

17. Name the landforms

18. • A Question of Limestone......