Chapter 25, Problem 5TE

To determine

Whether any fossils is present in limestone or not.

Answer to Problem 5TE

Limestone is a sedimentary rock made entirely of fossils.

Explanation of Solution

The non-silicate like the carbonates, oxides, sulphides and a few others make up just eight percent of Earth’s crust by mass. Limestone is one of the common carbonates that are found in the group of rocks. Limestone is a common sedimentary rock.

Limestones are formed in narrow, still and warm ocean water. In such conditions, when the organisms present in the water die, their shell and skeletal deposit as sediment that can be transformed into limestone. The waste from these organisms also adds up to the sediment mass. These organic sedimentary rocks are limestones. Hence, the organic origin of limestone is due to the presence of fossils.

Conclusion:

Therefore, Limestone is a sedimentary rock made entirely of fossils.