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Story: Limestone country

Limestone

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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.

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How to cite this page

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

Story by Paul Williams, published 1 March 2009.