Is Granite Harder Than Limestone

Limestone is classed as a sedimentary rock.

Is granite harder than limestone.

These factors influence the final price of the stone so although limestone is generally more affordable a rare limestone that s travelled a long way may be more expensive than a local marble. Hence the large amount of limestone in florida. The skeletal remains are typically from ocean dwellers like coral and mollusks. Bell reported in the bulletin of engineering geology and the environment that carboniferous limestone consistently rated as harder and stronger than magnesian limestone inferior oolitic limestone and great oolitic limestone.

Granite is harder and stronger than limestone whilst limestone is easier to shape or mould. Granite and sandstone are the most abundant minerals in the earth s crust. Granite vs limestone characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Limestone is a sedimentary rock that is composed of calcium carbonate minerals such as calcite and skeletal remains.

The igneous rock is comprised of mostly quartz and feldspar along with smaller amounts of various other minerals. Though some rocks look identical they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Limestone generally ranks at around a 3 on the scale while marble falls between 3 and 4. Marble and limestone lie at the opposite end of the hardness scale from granite.

Caches of limestone from different locations can possess different hardness scores. An example of the hardness of a granite countertop can be seen in the fact that a knife blade will not scratch the surface. Therefore choose granite when permanence enduring color and texture and complete freedom from deterioration and maintenance are prime requirements. Characteristics of rocks include texture appearance color fracture streak hardness etc.

Granite rocks were formed when pockets of magma cooled below the earth s surface with the overall process taking longer than for many other igneous rocks. Limestone on the other hand is basically just a huge pile of non interlocked but cemented calcite caco3 which is the definition of a mohs 3. The only natural stones harder than granite are diamonds rubies and sapphires. Granites have large amounts of quartz sio2 and other hard silicate materials quartz 7 mohs.

Granite comes in at a 6 to 7 on the mohs scale meaning it is relatively hard. Granite is very tough making it harder to quarry and work. While marble is slightly harder and denser than limestone both rate very low on the mohs scale a rating used to measure the hardness of stones.