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Kōrero: Limestone country

Limestone

Image
Limestone

This microscopic view of limestone from Raglan shows the tiny sea creatures (in this case foraminifera) that make up the rock. Made of calcium carbonate, billions of skeletons and shells of ancient sea creatures have cemented together to form the rock. This process is continuous – the limestone of the future is slowly forming beneath the shallow seas of New Zealand as marine organisms die and sink to the sea floor.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

GNS Science

Reference: CN04632/8

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Paul Williams, Limestone country – Limestone, dolomite and marble, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/12377/limestone (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Paul Williams, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.