The document describes how limestone is formed from the remains of marine organisms over millions of years. Limestone landscapes are formed from sedimentary rock that was created on the seafloor from the compaction of shells, corals, and other marine life. As the sediments accumulated in shallow tropical seas and were buried deeper over time, they underwent pressure and chemical processes that transformed the layers of organic material into limestone rock.

1. Limestone Landscapes
These pictures all show
limestone landscapes. Think
of 3 words to describe what
you think limestone is like.

2. SO .. HOW WASSO .. HOW WAS
LIMESTONE REALLYLIMESTONE REALLY
FORMED?FORMED?
The land was
covered by a
shallow tropical
sea As the small animals
and corals died in
the sea, their bodies
fell to the sea bed.
After million of years
this layer was very
thick. As it compacted
and turned hard, it
eventually turned to
limestone. The rock
we know today.
Q. Is limestone an igneous,
metamorphic or sedimentary rock?

3. Characteristics of Carboniferous Limestone:
• Formed from the remains of organic matter, usually seashells
and plants. It was formed under the sea 220-280 million
years ago.
• It is a hard, grey sedimentary rock, with a large number of
joints (vertical cracks) and bedding planes (horizontal cracks).
• The main process that affects it is chemical weathering.

4. Planet Earth ‘caves’
Watch the documentary and complete the worksheet
BBC Earth – Caves