LIMESTONE

LIMESTONE. Most limestone is composed of the skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera. Other carbonate grains comprising limestone come from ooids, peloids, intraclasts, and extraclasts. These organisms secrete shells made of aragonite or calcite, and leave these shells behind after the organisms die.

Limestone was commonly used in building, especially in Europe and North America. Many landmarks across the world, including the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, are made of limestone. So many buildings in Kingston, Ontario, Canada were constructed from it that that the community was nicknamed the 'Limestone City'. Limestone is readily available and relatively easy to cut into blocks for elaborate carving. It is also long-lasting and stands up well to exposure. However, it is a very heavy material making it impractical for tall buildings and relatively expensive.

Limestone was most popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Train stations, banks and other structures were normally made it. Limestone was also used as a facade on some skyscrapers, but only in thin plates rather than solid blocks. (1)

In 1834 while the Methodists were constructing the first church in Dubuque, native limestone was being used in the construction of a stone warehouse near the foot of Second Street. This is the first recorded use of this material used in local construction. (2)

See: LIME

See: MISSISSIPPI RIVER

---

Source

1. "Limestone" Wikipedia. Online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone

2. Sommer, Lawrence J. The Heritage of Dubuque-An Architectural View," East Dubuque: Tel Graphics, 1975, p. 34