Oolite
From Free net encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Oolite (disambiguation).
Oolites are sedimentary rocks composed of ooids, which is a spherical grain composed of concentric layers.
Ooids can be composed of chert, dolomite, and hematite. Dolomitic and chert ooids are most likely result of the replacement of the original texture in limestone. Oolitic hematite occurs at Red Mountain near Birmingham, Alabama along with oolitic limestone.
Some example Oolitic limestone, a common term for an oolite, was formed in the United Kingdom during the Jurassic period, and forms the Cotswold Hills and part of the North Yorkshire Moors. A particular type, Bath Stone, gives the buildings of the World Heritage City of Bath, England its distinctive appearance.
The name derives from the Greek word oon meaning egg.
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See also
- Geologic timescale
- Geology of the United Kingdom
- Pearls - also formed from concentric layers of calcium carbonate