Story: Fossils

Limestone

Limestone

This thin section of limestone shows the tiny fossils that make up the rock, mainly bryozoans and foraminifera. Made of calcium carbonate, billions of skeletons and shells of ancient sea creatures have been cemented together. This process is continuous – off the shallow seas of New Zealand the limestone of the future is slowly forming as marine organisms die and sink to the sea floor.

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University of Waikato

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How to cite this page:

Hamish Campbell, 'Fossils - Microfossils', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/9049/limestone (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Hamish Campbell, published 12 Jun 2006