Here's how it forms:
* Accumulation: Over millions of years, the shells and skeletons of marine organisms like corals, clams, and microscopic algae accumulate on the ocean floor.
* Compaction: As more layers of these remains build up, the weight of the overlying sediments compacts the lower layers.
* Cementation: Dissolved minerals in the surrounding seawater seep into the spaces between the shells and skeletons, acting as a glue that binds them together. This process is called cementation.
Limestone is a common and important rock. It is used in construction, agriculture, and even as a source of calcium.
