karbonatkalk

Karbonatkalk is a sedimentary rock type in which carbonate minerals, mainly calcite (CaCO3) and/or dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2), make up the bulk of the material. It is commonly referred to as carbonate limestone, reflecting its dominant carbonate composition and its formation in marine environments. The term encompasses a variety of textures and fossils, from fossiliferous and crystalline limestones to micritic and oolitic varieties.

Formation of karbonatkalk occurs through both biological and chemical processes. In biogenic limestone, fragments of shells and skeletons from organisms such as corals, foraminifera, and mollusks accumulate and are compacted over time. In chemical or inorganic precipitation, calcium carbonate precipitates directly from seawater or pore waters. Diagenesis then cements these components into a solid rock. Dolostone, a related carbonate rock, forms when magnesium-rich fluids alter calcite by replacing calcium with magnesium.

Karbonatkalk often contains impurities such as clay, silica, or iron minerals, which influence color and density. It is susceptible to karst weathering, where acidic water dissolves calcite to create caves and soluble features. The rock can occur worldwide and serves important economic roles, including as a building stone, a source rock for cement production (after processing), and a reservoir for groundwater and hydrocarbons in some regions.

Overall, karbonatkalk represents a major class of sedimentary rocks formed in marine settings, central to both geological processes and human use.