Pure limestones come whiten or even nigh whiten. Because of impurities, like clay, sand, organic remains, iron oxide and other materials, numerous limestones exhibit different colors, especially in weathered surfaces. Limestone can be crystalline, clastic, grainy, or even heavy, based on the method of formation. Crystals of calcite, quartz, dolomite or barite may line small cavities in the rock. Chert or Flint nodules are park inside limestone shells.

Travertine is a banded, compact variety of limestone formed along lakes, particularly in which there are falls & in hot or cold springs. Calcium carbonate is deposited in which evaporation of the fluids leaves the guide that is supersaturated sustaining chemical constituents of calcite. Tufa, a poriferous or even cellular kind of travertine, is uncovered touching falls.

Limestone occurs as parent material of Mollisols.