~WI:'Ie~hi.:i"~Jf".

~",,,,,~,,,_~
_ _~
"'._--­ ..
'./
/ J. C. (1~/~ec/o
~~I
The only discoveri~, I

In ¡he ~lJtICr-C 'T"1~~~ it

I \'Olllll)" -l' NUl'ilhl'"T 1

I BULLETIN
.(

ob..,-jou"
ni the
I
I AIVIERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
V{herp,,~. oil hiJ~"
[1 PETROLEUl\l GEOLOGISTS
CGG f.nd, il )\'UAKY, [9';"

l'ln(' ['Ir \1 1-'1 11;, '¡'¡; \PHIC CL\SSIF!C:\T[O.'\ 0['

l. Ut r.S TI)\' r.3'
k(ii:3r-:RT L. Inr.K~
:\u:50~in. T~."'a.:

.\bS1'J.L'ICT
L¡rn~3t,)r.~ are di\'isibll' int(l eleven b.1~¡l: t~·rc,;. 'xh.:cr. J.tC it!a'.¡"':-i~ e:l';Y to ret")g-ni~¡;, ho~h ¡Ll
:.h-:.> h},("~ator:.·and ¡,\ th.: t:elrl.lhe-,e mcks art: m.::':c up ni rh:ec: CO!l~titl:~nL;: (1) alll·lht:nb. é\i
dl!:ntly transportcd oc I)thcc\\i!'l' dir"ferl."::::.l:lred c.1r;r.'r_lt~ boJ(_!¡~:,: t2'1 l--l-nlicron l1lit:r('(:;y~tJ.:Er.c (!.!
6,:e' ouzt matrb:, amI (.1) Cl'ar~t'r a;,.1 c1t'.~~er :.p~\r~:.- (;.:i.!citt'. wbio..:h in í'ilO:it ro..;k:, rl'lr011S ;].:=.:!. -::im¡;L:
pl)[c·ñiling cemt'nt (Iikt:: tOt: C..l!citl· (~m~'n~ in ~ rl;;~~i:Z ;;;<.:.nd::otun:L atlll lmly '_mcr.:m.:!\(.nly f,;"rr.'s by
rC\.{y:::otaIEzation. Only four t~p\.'S uf ::diocnt"'!ls ~:-t \....llulílctriCU::y ¡nTor.Jnt in :i[llt'''~~,.'.1::o:;,· (a:
intradast5 (reworked fra';::!I"~nts of ['ent"co!\t~r:::lpo¡:,~::,=üus c:.lrbonat~ ~cdimcnt), (b' l):'iliv:". \:: fJ~'
5i:s. a"d (d) pdlt:ts (roundcJ .l;c!rt:~"l[c~ f)f m¡crc~.:::::ora~ilr:~ ~J.lcitc a\'eraging .04-.10 rr.'.) . .-\H..­
chl:'r;,s pro\'iete the structttral fra¡L1~\~ork oi !inles:'1::-.~:::. jU::lt as sa::ri graill::J pro\itit' the 5-u'uctur:t!
ir:lme'.\·ork of ~ndstof\€'); O1icroc.:ry.H~\l¡ne L.":Ik:~e L~J. sparry calcne are .1nJ.h'gll\l.i \\ ¡th tite day
matnx and cbernlcat ccme'1t of ~n\istone::- .
. -\ tri¡logul:1r diagnltD :iho"'ing' [he rdat¡ ...e V'o':Nctions nf allochems, calciee ooc:e ~Ha[rix. and
~¡)arf\' caIcite c~m~nt is uSC(! to dt:&nt: t~rct.' maior l~;~to('.e familil'"'3. Famil\' 1 con~¡~~s of :t~u:J.(rant
al1ú{"h~ms cemcnted by sp'-~rf1' caldtc; thoe aré the cit.':J.nly wa-:beJ limf"'::túnes. aoa.logou5 witb !;\:ell
St:lrted, c1ay·fret: salidstoo~; and sim.il:tdy iormed i.r:. ,v~¡ oi vigomu.s currents. Family l[ CQO$ists of
"ari;lb!~ amounts of aliochenls ernbedrfed in :l tr'jc.:.-;"'e:r~stJ.lIine oozc matrü:; th~ are th.: puorly
w:¡sher. lirnestones thal 3rt: analogous with clayey. ~'\tA..lrly sorteo s;l.ndstones. and form io lod of ind­
fccti\"e currents. FamiI-.: IU lirnc-:tones con:;ist alffi<~t entlre!v Di C'J.lcite ooze. bcoce aTe aUJ.logous
\..i:h terrigenolJs da v3cone::. . .
Just as c!ayey versus nou-cb.yey sand$~ont:s C-d..:J. be rli\ided minl:!ralogically into ortboqU:lrtlltcs.
ar~{l.o;é5, and gri1ywa~ke::i. 5imilarl~' cbe 6r::it two lirn~;:'Jne faa1iH~ art:: subdivided by consiJering the
;:;'J,t~::-e of the allochcms. Farnily [ int:1uett:"i r~pec!i . . -.:~~o· intr..lSpMü~. oQ::5parite¡ bil}:¡.parite, ~r.d pd;·
! p..\ nte; fal1lily l( incluclcs ¡ntramicrtte 3m! oi'imicrit:c', ty)t.h r'J.reL r,ioQlicrite J and pdmicrite ..Faf!lily'
i rn i:".:ludes homogenenu~ ooze (mio:rit~), a:lCl dhtlli-b~d oüze w;ch :r:egular openings filled" icb. Sp4l1
(cüs~ic;-jte). Roc.:ks made up largel:,' of org-..i.!iism~ ::.: gr(w:th po~ition are conside~cJ a.s J, ::¿-parat!.
f.lmtly IV ~biúlitbite). Pro~rti~ and mude oi il)r.~:'.rion oi ~ach of th~e typC'S ar~ I.liSCtJ5s-h! br¡~r1:.
Content of admixed krri~e"10us m~H~ri3i or l.Jo1\Huite i':J S~t\\'\il b\' addi:ional 3ymr.,)Js i pUf t.'
dolornitt:='S ar~ c1assitied 00 .1l1.;chem C(lnt~nt and C'i'". ~t3.1 ~¡7,I':. Ri'tT...~tJ.·1ti7.:ltion ¡ñ timesr1'.-:e !:::; be­
lic"ed to be 1000all~' abundant hut of o\·er-.:tll minor u..;,PQrtance ..·\mong several cypt"s of rCC::3C.lI!Íí:<l .
t:no, rh3e in whicb a form\.: microcn'sca[lin~ M,le c:.ltri....· re~f\ ~taHizl:s to 5-15 f\licron '-[T!Jcr()~par"4

i.s considered D'\O::it cOOlrtlon.· •

Tbe term "caklithite' Ig .:¡ug~e;ted ior the terr~~17.:.l/}us- c:!rhonate rocks. e.g.o lir,.6tone ,:ongiL,íij'
J

1 Read b~iore tht: Si)l..;i<:ty (li F.conomk PJ.:éon:.]ll)g1"3ts ancl :\lint:raJ(I~sts.1t S:c LO.ji:::. :\..p.. :l .3,
195,. ''\(anusc:;pt rect:lvro. So\"crnher Il>. 1')51; r~\'~':-tcl .. \!J!lt:3t S. 195~.
'\ ! Department of Geolo~y! L'ninorsitr oí T.-:x3.".

,.. ~'''i' __ ~.-.r'

 ~WI:'Ie~hi.:i"~Jf".~",,,,,~,,,_~
_ _~
"'._--­ ..
'./
/ J. C. (1~/~ec/o
~~I
The only discoveri~, I

In ¡he ~lJtICr-C 'T"1~~~ it

I \'Olllll)" -l' NUl'ilhl'"T 1

I BULLETIN
.(

ob..,-jou"
ni the
I
I AIVIERICAN ASSOCIATION OF
V{herp,,~. oil hiJ~"
[1 PETROLEUl\l GEOLOGISTS
CGG f.nd, il )\'UAKY, [9';"

l'ln(' ['Ir \1 1-'1 11;, '¡'¡; \PHIC CL\SSIF!C:\T[O.'\ 0['

l. Ut r.S TI)\' r.3'
k(ii:3r-:RT L. Inr.K~
:\u:50~in. T~."'a.:

.\bS1'J.L'ICT
L¡rn~3t,)r.~ are di\'isibll' int(l eleven b.1~¡l: t~·rc,;. 'xh.:cr. J.tC it!a'.¡"':-i~ e:l';Y to ret")g-ni~¡;, ho~h ¡Ll
:.h-:.> h},("~ator:.·and ¡,\ th.: t:elrl.lhe-,e mcks art: m.::':c up ni rh:ec: CO!l~titl:~nL;: (1) alll·lht:nb. é\i
dl!:ntly transportcd oc I)thcc\\i!'l' dir"ferl."::::.l:lred c.1r;r.'r_lt~ boJ(_!¡~:,: t2'1 l--l-nlicron l1lit:r('(:;y~tJ.:Er.c (!.!
6,:e' ouzt matrb:, amI (.1) Cl'ar~t'r a;,.1 c1t'.~~er :.p~\r~:.- (;.:i.!citt'. wbio..:h in í'ilO:it ro..;k:, rl'lr011S ;].:=.:!. -::im¡;L:
pl)[c·ñiling cemt'nt (Iikt:: tOt: C..l!citl· (~m~'n~ in ~ rl;;~~i:Z ;;;<.:.nd::otun:L atlll lmly '_mcr.:m.:!\(.nly f,;"rr.'s by
rC\.{y:::otaIEzation. Only four t~p\.'S uf ::diocnt"'!ls ~:-t \....llulílctriCU::y ¡nTor.Jnt in :i[llt'''~~,.'.1::o:;,· (a:
intradast5 (reworked fra';::!I"~nts of ['ent"co!\t~r:::lpo¡:,~::,=üus c:.lrbonat~ ~cdimcnt), (b' l):'iliv:". \:: fJ~'
5i:s. a"d (d) pdlt:ts (roundcJ .l;c!rt:~"l[c~ f)f m¡crc~.:::::ora~ilr:~ ~J.lcitc a\'eraging .04-.10 rr.'.) . .-\H..­
chl:'r;,s pro\'iete the structttral fra¡L1~\~ork oi !inles:'1::-.~:::. jU::lt as sa::ri graill::J pro\itit' the 5-u'uctur:t!
ir:lme'.\·ork of ~ndstof\€'); O1icroc.:ry.H~\l¡ne L.":Ik:~e L~J. sparry calcne are .1nJ.h'gll\l.i \\ ¡th tite day
matnx and cbernlcat ccme'1t of ~n\istone::- .
. -\ tri¡logul:1r diagnltD :iho"'ing' [he rdat¡ ...e V'o':Nctions nf allochems, calciee ooc:e ~Ha[rix. and
~¡)arf\' caIcite c~m~nt is uSC(! to dt:&nt: t~rct.' maior l~;~to('.e familil'"'3. Famil\' 1 con~¡~~s of :t~u:J.(rant
al1ú{"h~ms cemcnted by sp'-~rf1' caldtc; thoe aré the cit.':J.nly wa-:beJ limf"'::túnes. aoa.logou5 witb !;\:ell
St:lrted, c1ay·fret: salidstoo~; and sim.il:tdy iormed i.r:. ,v~¡ oi vigomu.s currents. Family l[ CQO$ists of
"ari;lb!~ amounts of aliochenls ernbedrfed in :l tr'jc.:.-;"'e:r~stJ.lIine oozc matrü:; th~ are th.: puorly
w:¡sher. lirnestones thal 3rt: analogous with clayey. ~'\tA..lrly sorteo s;l.ndstones. and form io lod of ind­
fccti\"e currents. FamiI-.: IU lirnc-:tones con:;ist alffi<~t entlre!v Di C'J.lcite ooze. bcoce aTe aUJ.logous
\..i:h terrigenolJs da v3cone::. . .
Just as c!ayey versus nou-cb.yey sand$~ont:s C-d..:J. be rli\ided minl:!ralogically into ortboqU:lrtlltcs.
ar~{l.o;é5, and gri1ywa~ke::i. 5imilarl~' cbe 6r::it two lirn~;:'Jne faa1iH~ art:: subdivided by consiJering the
;:;'J,t~::-e of the allochcms. Farnily [ int:1uett:"i r~pec!i . . -.:~~o· intr..lSpMü~. oQ::5parite¡ bil}:¡.parite, ~r.d pd;·
! p..\ nte; fal1lily l( incluclcs ¡ntramicrtte 3m! oi'imicrit:c', ty)t.h r'J.reL r,ioQlicrite J and pdmicrite ..Faf!lily'
i rn i:".:ludes homogenenu~ ooze (mio:rit~), a:lCl dhtlli-b~d oüze w;ch :r:egular openings filled" icb. Sp4l1
(cüs~ic;-jte). Roc.:ks made up largel:,' of org-..i.!iism~ ::.: gr(w:th po~ition are conside~cJ a.s J, ::¿-parat!.
f.lmtly IV ~biúlitbite). Pro~rti~ and mude oi il)r.~:'.rion oi ~ach of th~e typC'S ar~ I.liSCtJ5s-h! br¡~r1:.
Content of admixed krri~e"10us m~H~ri3i or l.Jo1\Huite i':J S~t\\'\il b\' addi:ional 3ymr.,)Js i pUf t.'
dolornitt:='S ar~ c1assitied 00 .1l1.;chem C(lnt~nt and C'i'". ~t3.1 ~¡7,I':. Ri'tT...~tJ.·1ti7.:ltion ¡ñ timesr1'.-:e !:::; be­
lic"ed to be 1000all~' abundant hut of o\·er-.:tll minor u..;,PQrtance ..·\mong several cypt"s of rCC::3C.lI!Íí:<l .
t:no, rh3e in whicb a form\.: microcn'sca[lin~ M,le c:.ltri....· re~f\ ~taHizl:s to 5-15 f\licron '-[T!Jcr()~par"4

i.s considered D'\O::it cOOlrtlon.· •

Tbe term "caklithite' Ig .:¡ug~e;ted ior the terr~~17.:.l/}us- c:!rhonate rocks. e.g.o lir,.6tone ,:ongiL,íij'
J

1 Read b~iore tht: Si)l..;i<:ty (li F.conomk PJ.:éon:.]ll)g1"3ts ancl :\lint:raJ(I~sts.1t S:c LO.ji:::. :\..p.. :l .3,
195,. ''\(anusc:;pt rect:lvro. So\"crnher Il>. 1')51; r~\'~':-tcl .. \!J!lt:3t S. 195~.
'\ ! Department of Geolo~y! L'ninorsitr oí T.-:x3.".

,.. ~'''i' __ ~.-.r'

 ,J
,~

,
--~ .... .;..~
'
.~
',1
J ..:.u.. - _.... .... ~.~ .. ~' ...
, ,~ •.. ,~.~_ ...• ,,"­

~I

r 2 ROlJERT L rou\. Cf..-lssrnC'.-ITf(),\ or UJILSnHLS 3

erates or sanrlstoncs mack IIp of 1l13~cri:\1 erodcd irom outcrops of consida:¡,hly oldcr lithiricd-Gl.f­
honate forlllatiofls expo~ed in an upliittd source lancl.
IL'"TRODl-CT[{';':
'['his L1assitication \1"15 d~\'eloped by the ",riter in essentially its prcscnt form
in 1'1-\3, ami firsl formalized in a Ph,D, c!i,,>erlation on lhe Beekmanto\1"n (Lo'.\'cr
Orcio\-ician) carbonates of central I'cnnsyh-ania, submilted to lhe Pennsyh-ania
Stale College in 1951, p, O, Krynine, S~¡[>cf\'isor (fon:, 1952), :\[oe!ificalious in
lerminology ane! the role oE pellets \Vcre maJe in 1953, and thc composite names
\I'ere nrst coined in 1955 During this time, the classif1cati0n has bcen used in de­
srription oE se\'eral thoLlsancl caruonate thiu sectiollS from many arcas, Hence it
has undergone an extensi ve period of practical testing and re\-ision, ancl is now in
semi-final form, Imperfecli0ns will ob\'iously arise as fllrther samples are de­
scribed beca use un)' classiflcation is ine\-itably coloree! deeply by the limited ex­
perience of the invesligator; however, the main foundation appears to be soullcl,
\\-hile flrst ".-orking on this classiflC<ltion, the \\'fiter "'as uneler the inspiring
guidance oi p, O, 1:.ryrIine, and the stirn'llating mental clirnate engendered by
this associatlun cOll,rilJutee! malerially ¡O the e!el'elorment of the scheme; further
discllssions have Leen carriee! on fruirfu!ly ",ilh l(rynine in later years, \Vltile
llsing the eiassiflC~lion during se\'eral ~essions oi a course in carbonate petrog­
raphy at The Fni\'crsity oE Texas, the writer has also henefitcd by discussions
with graduate stllde'nts, in p~rticular Thomas \1', 'Túde!, J. Stuart Pittman, and
roc-ks;.a;;.an indispensahle tool in fide! ma;)?ing and as an ine!icator oi grade ami
type o[ metamorphism anrl of rock génesis, HalE a cerllury, ho\\'ever, elapsed be­
fare O1¡ncralogists turneo. their attention lo cbs;ihnilioll oi sane!stones, Allhough.
many rival sanc1slone classiflcations have by now been proposec1, the batde fo:'
acceptance is nol yet \Ion and mosl ñelcl géolügists stiH go on déscribing strati­
graphic scctions as "sandslone" r:llher than using more exact terrns such a3 tirce
sandstone: sllbark03e, or mee!ium s:ll1clstone: orlhoquartzite, Creater use oi precise
sane!stone classilicalion itl rOLltitle tie!d \\'ork "'oLlld «,ie! greüly in inlerpretation oE
etl\'irotlment and de\'elopment oi scuimentary pelrographic pro\'inces, just as
nomencLuural precision ha:-; aided in igneous ancl met.amorphic stuclies.
LLmestones, hO\l'c\'er, ha\'e ren13ined Iargely Otl the sic1elitlcs in the conlru­
ver,y over rock c!assitication, The carbonates an, scarcely touched on as rock
types in college cbssrooms except to admire their fossil content, Thus ",hen nl0St
geologists get OLll into their \lorkil~g life the:' have an inbree! defeatiSI cornplex
that limestones are much tal> complicatecl to bnther stue!ying closely, and ii the
rock fines irI acid tha; is normrdl." the terminus oE the in\'e5tigalion, O(casio;¡ally
a brie[ note is m:le!e t~at such.-and-such a limestolle is a calcarenite or calcilatitt
or coutains crinoids, but beyond tb¡ point de~':riptions seldom go,
It is the purpose oi this papér to 5ho",- thal lirnestones are not nearly so ior­
midable as they rnight :lt hrst seeQl, There are only ele,-en hasic type; \I'hién are
relatively easy to recognize both in the laboratory and the flele!, Four types of
transported constituents may each occur with t\'iO types oi interstilial m~éerial
(ooze matri" or cheruical cement) eutirely analogous ",¡th sandstones wherein,

i
II
I E, Hal Bogardlls, The scction oi recrys¡allization has been largely del-eloped
through "igorous arguments with Rohen J. Dunham of the Shell Research and
anó Development Company, ",ha succeeded in pro\ing to tbis stuhborn writer
again, four polar assemblages of s~nd grains U1UY occur eithcr \vith a day nl.:.!trLx
or with chemical cernent. In addition to these eight types, there are three typcs uf
limestone thar lack transported constituents,
that recrystallization was an important factor in the lithification of carbonate
P rocks, Cunstructive criticism by Dunham, J. L. \\'ilson, ::\I. \\" Leighton, and
L, V, Illing has aidecl the writer in eiariiying weak points be[ore going to prinL
Befare classifying anything, it is necess;>.ry to determine what cons,ituent-s
occur; there[ore, the six chief building-blocks of limestone are discussed first.
This eiassification is intendecl for use with marine limestones_ The \\Titer has :\'ext, the prinóples oi the' rack c1assilication scheme are introduced, and char­

!1 not examined enough iresh-water limestones to kno\\' ir the same principies apply
to them, Peculiar carbonate racks such as caliche, travertine, ca\'e deposits, vein
carbonates, lufa, cone-ill-cone beds, or spherulitic limestones are also exe!uded,
acteristics o[ the ele\-en rock types are briefiy discusseel, Final1y, the effect of re­
crystallization in lime5tones is surnmarized,
CO~5TITtrE~T5 OF 5EDL.lU:~TARY ROCK5
E The writer recognizes their existence and local importance but adcling pigeonholes
for them in this classification woule! serve no particularly valuable purpose at the As Krynine (19-48) pointeel out, aH sedimentary rocks are cornposed oi mi:"
present time, tmes o[ end-members in various proportioas (Fig, 1), Befare classüying Lime-­
:.­
~" For genera tions, geologists ha ve been accustomed to using a e!ozen or so stones, then, it is essential ro determine ",hat end-members are present, The main
i igneous rack terms a~ routine, anel more than 2,000 types o[ igneous rock have constituents are as iollows,
: been individually named, The utility of igneous classification is seeu in the stue!y L Terrigenous constituents include aH materials derived irom erosion oi
~l source lane!s outsicle the basin oi deposition and transported as solids to the sedi­
~i o[ ore cleposits, where certain metals are aS50ciated with monzonites, others with
~
t peridotites; in ordinary mapping, where dilferent intrusions ancl estrusions are ment. Examples: quanz sand and >i1t, felclspar, ciar minerals, zircon, This usage
-¡ coincides with K:ryniue's (19-48) deanilion oi "detrital"; however, the word
ie!entified by e!ifferences in composition; and in geoteetonics, where concepts suco
,1:
~
1 as petrographic prO\inces or the "andesite line" aid philosophical specubtion,
Similarly, mineralogislS attacked ",ith gusto the cla5sification oi metamorphic
"eletrital" is used by many others in an entirely different sense to include any­
thing abrae!ed or transported, e\'en shell rna.erial or oolites in a lirnestone, and is

,
1
f:'
t
Ji
~ .
~::~_."_,~",,_~_-'-"'------~:~--~~-l_ .... ~:$f~~~~~~,:,,:,,,.<."r>"~'_~71'"~.,....,.,.~,~.;~
 ,J
,~

,
--~ .... .;..~
'
.~
',1
J ..:.u.. - _.... .... ~.~ .. ~' ...
, ,~ •.. ,~.~_ ...• ,,"­

~I

r 2 ROlJERT L rou\. Cf..-lssrnC'.-ITf(),\ or UJILSnHLS 3

erates or sanrlstoncs mack IIp of 1l13~cri:\1 erodcd irom outcrops of consida:¡,hly oldcr lithiricd-Gl.f­
honate forlllatiofls expo~ed in an upliittd source lancl.
IL'"TRODl-CT[{';':
'['his L1assitication \1"15 d~\'eloped by the ",riter in essentially its prcscnt form
in 1'1-\3, ami firsl formalized in a Ph,D, c!i,,>erlation on lhe Beekmanto\1"n (Lo'.\'cr
Orcio\-ician) carbonates of central I'cnnsyh-ania, submilted to lhe Pennsyh-ania
Stale College in 1951, p, O, Krynine, S~¡[>cf\'isor (fon:, 1952), :\[oe!ificalious in
lerminology ane! the role oE pellets \Vcre maJe in 1953, and thc composite names
\I'ere nrst coined in 1955 During this time, the classif1cati0n has bcen used in de­
srription oE se\'eral thoLlsancl caruonate thiu sectiollS from many arcas, Hence it
has undergone an extensi ve period of practical testing and re\-ision, ancl is now in
semi-final form, Imperfecli0ns will ob\'iously arise as fllrther samples are de­
scribed beca use un)' classiflcation is ine\-itably coloree! deeply by the limited ex­
perience of the invesligator; however, the main foundation appears to be soullcl,
\\-hile flrst ".-orking on this classiflC<ltion, the \\'fiter "'as uneler the inspiring
guidance oi p, O, 1:.ryrIine, and the stirn'llating mental clirnate engendered by
this associatlun cOll,rilJutee! malerially ¡O the e!el'elorment of the scheme; further
discllssions have Leen carriee! on fruirfu!ly ",ilh l(rynine in later years, \Vltile
llsing the eiassiflC~lion during se\'eral ~essions oi a course in carbonate petrog­
raphy at The Fni\'crsity oE Texas, the writer has also henefitcd by discussions
with graduate stllde'nts, in p~rticular Thomas \1', 'Túde!, J. Stuart Pittman, and
roc-ks;.a;;.an indispensahle tool in fide! ma;)?ing and as an ine!icator oi grade ami
type o[ metamorphism anrl of rock génesis, HalE a cerllury, ho\\'ever, elapsed be­
fare O1¡ncralogists turneo. their attention lo cbs;ihnilioll oi sane!stones, Allhough.
many rival sanc1slone classiflcations have by now been proposec1, the batde fo:'
acceptance is nol yet \Ion and mosl ñelcl géolügists stiH go on déscribing strati­
graphic scctions as "sandslone" r:llher than using more exact terrns such a3 tirce
sandstone: sllbark03e, or mee!ium s:ll1clstone: orlhoquartzite, Creater use oi precise
sane!stone classilicalion itl rOLltitle tie!d \\'ork "'oLlld «,ie! greüly in inlerpretation oE
etl\'irotlment and de\'elopment oi scuimentary pelrographic pro\'inces, just as
nomencLuural precision ha:-; aided in igneous ancl met.amorphic stuclies.
LLmestones, hO\l'c\'er, ha\'e ren13ined Iargely Otl the sic1elitlcs in the conlru­
ver,y over rock c!assitication, The carbonates an, scarcely touched on as rock
types in college cbssrooms except to admire their fossil content, Thus ",hen nl0St
geologists get OLll into their \lorkil~g life the:' have an inbree! defeatiSI cornplex
that limestones are much tal> complicatecl to bnther stue!ying closely, and ii the
rock fines irI acid tha; is normrdl." the terminus oE the in\'e5tigalion, O(casio;¡ally
a brie[ note is m:le!e t~at such.-and-such a limestolle is a calcarenite or calcilatitt
or coutains crinoids, but beyond tb¡ point de~':riptions seldom go,
It is the purpose oi this papér to 5ho",- thal lirnestones are not nearly so ior­
midable as they rnight :lt hrst seeQl, There are only ele,-en hasic type; \I'hién are
relatively easy to recognize both in the laboratory and the flele!, Four types of
transported constituents may each occur with t\'iO types oi interstilial m~éerial
(ooze matri" or cheruical cement) eutirely analogous ",¡th sandstones wherein,

i
II
I E, Hal Bogardlls, The scction oi recrys¡allization has been largely del-eloped
through "igorous arguments with Rohen J. Dunham of the Shell Research and
anó Development Company, ",ha succeeded in pro\ing to tbis stuhborn writer
again, four polar assemblages of s~nd grains U1UY occur eithcr \vith a day nl.:.!trLx
or with chemical cernent. In addition to these eight types, there are three typcs uf
limestone thar lack transported constituents,
that recrystallization was an important factor in the lithification of carbonate
P rocks, Cunstructive criticism by Dunham, J. L. \\'ilson, ::\I. \\" Leighton, and
L, V, Illing has aidecl the writer in eiariiying weak points be[ore going to prinL
Befare classifying anything, it is necess;>.ry to determine what cons,ituent-s
occur; there[ore, the six chief building-blocks of limestone are discussed first.
This eiassification is intendecl for use with marine limestones_ The \\Titer has :\'ext, the prinóples oi the' rack c1assilication scheme are introduced, and char­

!1 not examined enough iresh-water limestones to kno\\' ir the same principies apply
to them, Peculiar carbonate racks such as caliche, travertine, ca\'e deposits, vein
carbonates, lufa, cone-ill-cone beds, or spherulitic limestones are also exe!uded,
acteristics o[ the ele\-en rock types are briefiy discusseel, Final1y, the effect of re­
crystallization in lime5tones is surnmarized,
CO~5TITtrE~T5 OF 5EDL.lU:~TARY ROCK5
E The writer recognizes their existence and local importance but adcling pigeonholes
for them in this classification woule! serve no particularly valuable purpose at the As Krynine (19-48) pointeel out, aH sedimentary rocks are cornposed oi mi:"
present time, tmes o[ end-members in various proportioas (Fig, 1), Befare classüying Lime-­
:.­
~" For genera tions, geologists ha ve been accustomed to using a e!ozen or so stones, then, it is essential ro determine ",hat end-members are present, The main
i igneous rack terms a~ routine, anel more than 2,000 types o[ igneous rock have constituents are as iollows,
: been individually named, The utility of igneous classification is seeu in the stue!y L Terrigenous constituents include aH materials derived irom erosion oi
~l source lane!s outsicle the basin oi deposition and transported as solids to the sedi­
~i o[ ore cleposits, where certain metals are aS50ciated with monzonites, others with
~
t peridotites; in ordinary mapping, where dilferent intrusions ancl estrusions are ment. Examples: quanz sand and >i1t, felclspar, ciar minerals, zircon, This usage
-¡ coincides with K:ryniue's (19-48) deanilion oi "detrital"; however, the word
ie!entified by e!ifferences in composition; and in geoteetonics, where concepts suco
,1:
~
1 as petrographic prO\inces or the "andesite line" aid philosophical specubtion,
Similarly, mineralogislS attacked ",ith gusto the cla5sification oi metamorphic
"eletrital" is used by many others in an entirely different sense to include any­
thing abrae!ed or transported, e\'en shell rna.erial or oolites in a lirnestone, and is

,
1
f:'
t
Ji
~ .
~::~_."_,~",,_~_-'-"'------~:~--~~-l_ .... ~:$f~~~~~~,:,,:,,,.<."r>"~'_~71'"~.,....,.,.~,~.;~
 /
ti
~ ROBERT L. rOLK
I
thus rertdercd sOlllewhat amLiguous. "Clastic" is also usecl c1ifferent!y by difTcrent
~I persons, lo some meaning lartd·derivecl material, to others includirtg al so broken
~fl shell material. Consequently to avoid coníusion thc wriLer recommends the llSC of
~~I
f:.¡ the relati"ely unequivocal word "terrigenous."
11. .-\lioche·mical conslitueOls, or "a!lochems," include a!l ma.erials thal have
iormed by chelllical or biochemical precipitation witlú" the ba5ill of deposiliort,
but which are orgartized into discrele aggregaled bodies and br lhe most part
1 f
have sulfered sOllle transporlation ("aUo" is from the Greck meaning "out oi the
orclinar}'," in the sense that these are not just simple, unmodified chemical pre·
cipita¡es, but have a higher order of organi..:ation). Allochems are by far the domi·
T These fragments (which commonly show bedcling) are then abraded to rounded or
I A
FrG. t. ~rain divisions of sedimentary rocks, based cn relative propartions oC terrigenous (T),
¡
.-I.llochetcic"1 (A). and Orthochemical (O) constiluents. The Triangle is divideu into fields coro
rcspvncing \\-itb five typcs of sedimentar)" rocks: T, Terrigenous rocks (sandstom:s, rnudrock-s, coo­
glomer.ltlt~. etc.); lA, Impure AUocbe:nical rocks (sandy ooUtic limestooes, silty pellet liroestoac:5,
dayey iossitiierous lime5tones, etc.); la, Impure Orthocheroical rocks (c1ayey microcf:'"5talline
[imestonC). si.lry primary dolornÜes); A. Allochemical rocks (intraclastic, oolitic , biogenic, or pdlet
lim~toü.~, etc.); 0, Orthochernic..1.1 rocks (microcrystalline limestones, primary doiomite, haute,
anhydrit<. chert. etc.). Rock. in fields L-I. or 10 may be collectively designated as lmpure Chemica!
rock.5; tho-se in fields _\ or O can simiIarly be grouped as Pure Cbemical rock.5.
nant conslituent of Iirnestones, and only four types of allochems are oi impor­
tance: inlraclasts, oatites, fossils, and pe!lets.
¡¡ 1. lntraciasts.-This term is introduced to describe fragments of penecon­
I tempor.!neous, usua!ly weakly consolidated carbooate sediment that have be en
eroded ;rom adjoining parts of tbe sea bottom and redeposited to form a new sedi­
ment (hence the terrn "iotraclast," signifying that they h'ave been reworked irom
u:ithin tbe area of depasition). Figures 5-8 illustrate typical intraclasts.
. , Intr.lclasts mar be torn up from sedímentary ¡ayers almost imrnediately
afler lhey have been la id do\\"n, or under more severe conditions may be produced
by erosion of layers that bad beco me buried some feet below the sea fioor.'
;I
,1 'The foUowing discu.<sion 01 intrncla;ts has been modified and considerably e.<panded in response
to lbe '"&!- fine descriptive arliele 01 Be,.Jes (1938), whicb appeared after the present paper had been
suhmitted.
\_--
'!)!~. t'..C:!áJJ4@i •• .;.~;:=",.~.\~.~npu ;'~~'.*\"_:':"'%;-'; ~"(;~;~~,.'~:-41"¡;"':'l,~~' ~t~.:_~.~~
~. _ :: , ~."""!I!"tI"~., ....t •._ii#_'¡;¡~
5
CLASSlFICATION OF LlME5TO.YC5
Consequerttly, the sediment layers from which they are deri"eJ silo\\" a complete
range of degrees of consoliclatiorY or lithification. Some intraclasts are re\\'orked
from surFtcial carbonrrte mlld when that mlld is slill very plrrslic and barely c6­
hesi\'e; these on redeposilion are usually pla~tically deiormed and commonly
ha"e vague or mashecl Lounclaries. Other early formecl inlraclasls are the Babama
"grapeslone" aggregrrtcs of llling (l95~), ,rhich are cluslers of pe!lcts that ha'·e
beco me stuck together by incipient cementation shortly aftcr deposilion; lhese
later undergo erosion and variolls degrees of abr<lsion. In this "-riter's opinion,
hOll'ever, the most common mode of formation of intraclrrsts is by erosion oí írag-'
rnents of a widespread layer of semi·consolidated carbonate sediment, wilh ero­
sion reaching to depths of a fe\\' iuches IIp to a few feet in the bottom sediment_
somewhat irregular shapes, and the abradecl margin oi the intraclast cuts indis­
criminately across fossils, earlier intraclasts, ooliles, or pellets that ,,"ere contained
inside the intraclast. This indicates abrasion of illtraclasts that had become con­
solidated enough so that these inclucled objeets would \Year equally ",ith tbe
malrix. Tbese intraclasts eould be forOled either by submarille erosior! (such as
might be caused by storm ,,-aves or under\Yaler slicles), by mild tectonic up"-arps
oi the sea floor, or by low tides allowing wal'e attack on exposecl, mudcracked
fiats. Specifically excluded are fragments oi consolidated limestone eroded írom
ancient limt:;lone outcrops on an emergent !and area (see later under "calclilh­
ite;").
Intradasts cornrnonly range fmm very fine sand size to pebble or boulder
size, as in ¡he familiar "eclgewise" limestolle conglomera tes. Usually they are well
rounded, and the form varies from equant to highly discoidal. Less common!y
they may be suballgular to subround, and some may possess irregular protuber·
ances like the grapestone of Illing (1954). Intrac!asts may be composeel oi any
type of limes tone or dolo mi te, thus rnany have complex internal structure a·D.el
contain iossils, oolites, quartz silt, pellets, and previously forrned intraclasts; in
facl, these are their most U:nportant eliagnostie features. Howe\-er, some are com­
pased of bomogeneous rnicrocrystalline calcite (i.e., "Iitbographic" limestone) and
these are difficu!t to differentiate from pellets if lhey are srnaller than about 0.2
mm.
Tbe term "in traclast" is thus used to embrace the entire speclrum oi sedí­
meoted, aggregated, and then reworked particles, regardless of degree of cobesion ­
or time gap between deposition oi the originallayer of sediment and later rework­
ing of parts of it. Afler this paper ",as submitteel, Beales (1958) sholl'eel that t,hese
objects ""ere abundant in certain formatioos of Canada, ane! maintained tbat
mos¡ of tbem had formed like the Bahama material, i.e., by in si/u aggregation oi
pellets, somewhat analogous with lhe formation of lumps in a bowl of sugar. In­
deed, he aelvocated using the term <'bahamite" for tbe rock made of these parti­
eles. In this writer's opinion, use of the term "baharnite" implies that one knows
tbat tbe aggregates forrned like the grapestone of Illing (1954), hence has a \"ery
.;;.; . .;;C;~,-~.:"'f ~,,!,,~;;:.e-'-,,~ ."$~.i_t ...~·
4:'
 /
ti
~ ROBERT L. rOLK
I
thus rertdercd sOlllewhat amLiguous. "Clastic" is also usecl c1ifferent!y by difTcrent
~I persons, lo some meaning lartd·derivecl material, to others includirtg al so broken
~fl shell material. Consequently to avoid coníusion thc wriLer recommends the llSC of
~~I
f:.¡ the relati"ely unequivocal word "terrigenous."
11. .-\lioche·mical conslitueOls, or "a!lochems," include a!l ma.erials thal have
iormed by chelllical or biochemical precipitation witlú" the ba5ill of deposiliort,
but which are orgartized into discrele aggregaled bodies and br lhe most part
1 f
have sulfered sOllle transporlation ("aUo" is from the Greck meaning "out oi the
orclinar}'," in the sense that these are not just simple, unmodified chemical pre·
cipita¡es, but have a higher order of organi..:ation). Allochems are by far the domi·
T These fragments (which commonly show bedcling) are then abraded to rounded or
I A
FrG. t. ~rain divisions of sedimentary rocks, based cn relative propartions oC terrigenous (T),
¡
.-I.llochetcic"1 (A). and Orthochemical (O) constiluents. The Triangle is divideu into fields coro
rcspvncing \\-itb five typcs of sedimentar)" rocks: T, Terrigenous rocks (sandstom:s, rnudrock-s, coo­
glomer.ltlt~. etc.); lA, Impure AUocbe:nical rocks (sandy ooUtic limestooes, silty pellet liroestoac:5,
dayey iossitiierous lime5tones, etc.); la, Impure Orthocheroical rocks (c1ayey microcf:'"5talline
[imestonC). si.lry primary dolornÜes); A. Allochemical rocks (intraclastic, oolitic , biogenic, or pdlet
lim~toü.~, etc.); 0, Orthochernic..1.1 rocks (microcrystalline limestones, primary doiomite, haute,
anhydrit<. chert. etc.). Rock. in fields L-I. or 10 may be collectively designated as lmpure Chemica!
rock.5; tho-se in fields _\ or O can simiIarly be grouped as Pure Cbemical rock.5.
nant conslituent of Iirnestones, and only four types of allochems are oi impor­
tance: inlraclasts, oatites, fossils, and pe!lets.
¡¡ 1. lntraciasts.-This term is introduced to describe fragments of penecon­
I tempor.!neous, usua!ly weakly consolidated carbooate sediment that have be en
eroded ;rom adjoining parts of tbe sea bottom and redeposited to form a new sedi­
ment (hence the terrn "iotraclast," signifying that they h'ave been reworked irom
u:ithin tbe area of depasition). Figures 5-8 illustrate typical intraclasts.
. , Intr.lclasts mar be torn up from sedímentary ¡ayers almost imrnediately
afler lhey have been la id do\\"n, or under more severe conditions may be produced
by erosion of layers that bad beco me buried some feet below the sea fioor.'
;I
,1 'The foUowing discu.<sion 01 intrncla;ts has been modified and considerably e.<panded in response
to lbe '"&!- fine descriptive arliele 01 Be,.Jes (1938), whicb appeared after the present paper had been
suhmitted.
\_--
'!)!~. t'..C:!áJJ4@i •• .;.~;:=",.~.\~.~npu ;'~~'.*\"_:':"'%;-'; ~"(;~;~~,.'~:-41"¡;"':'l,~~' ~t~.:_~.~~
~. _ :: , ~."""!I!"tI"~., ....t •._ii#_'¡;¡~
5
CLASSlFICATION OF LlME5TO.YC5
Consequerttly, the sediment layers from which they are deri"eJ silo\\" a complete
range of degrees of consoliclatiorY or lithification. Some intraclasts are re\\'orked
from surFtcial carbonrrte mlld when that mlld is slill very plrrslic and barely c6­
hesi\'e; these on redeposilion are usually pla~tically deiormed and commonly
ha"e vague or mashecl Lounclaries. Other early formecl inlraclasls are the Babama
"grapeslone" aggregrrtcs of llling (l95~), ,rhich are cluslers of pe!lcts that ha'·e
beco me stuck together by incipient cementation shortly aftcr deposilion; lhese
later undergo erosion and variolls degrees of abr<lsion. In this "-riter's opinion,
hOll'ever, the most common mode of formation of intraclrrsts is by erosion oí írag-'
rnents of a widespread layer of semi·consolidated carbonate sediment, wilh ero­
sion reaching to depths of a fe\\' iuches IIp to a few feet in the bottom sediment_
somewhat irregular shapes, and the abradecl margin oi the intraclast cuts indis­
criminately across fossils, earlier intraclasts, ooliles, or pellets that ,,"ere contained
inside the intraclast. This indicates abrasion of illtraclasts that had become con­
solidated enough so that these inclucled objeets would \Year equally ",ith tbe
malrix. Tbese intraclasts eould be forOled either by submarille erosior! (such as
might be caused by storm ,,-aves or under\Yaler slicles), by mild tectonic up"-arps
oi the sea floor, or by low tides allowing wal'e attack on exposecl, mudcracked
fiats. Specifically excluded are fragments oi consolidated limestone eroded írom
ancient limt:;lone outcrops on an emergent !and area (see later under "calclilh­
ite;").
Intradasts cornrnonly range fmm very fine sand size to pebble or boulder
size, as in ¡he familiar "eclgewise" limestolle conglomera tes. Usually they are well
rounded, and the form varies from equant to highly discoidal. Less common!y
they may be suballgular to subround, and some may possess irregular protuber·
ances like the grapestone of Illing (1954). Intrac!asts may be composeel oi any
type of limes tone or dolo mi te, thus rnany have complex internal structure a·D.el
contain iossils, oolites, quartz silt, pellets, and previously forrned intraclasts; in
facl, these are their most U:nportant eliagnostie features. Howe\-er, some are com­
pased of bomogeneous rnicrocrystalline calcite (i.e., "Iitbographic" limestone) and
these are difficu!t to differentiate from pellets if lhey are srnaller than about 0.2
mm.
Tbe term "in traclast" is thus used to embrace the entire speclrum oi sedí­
meoted, aggregated, and then reworked particles, regardless of degree of cobesion ­
or time gap between deposition oi the originallayer of sediment and later rework­
ing of parts of it. Afler this paper ",as submitteel, Beales (1958) sholl'eel that t,hese
objects ""ere abundant in certain formatioos of Canada, ane! maintained tbat
mos¡ of tbem had formed like the Bahama material, i.e., by in si/u aggregation oi
pellets, somewhat analogous with lhe formation of lumps in a bowl of sugar. In­
deed, he aelvocated using the term <'bahamite" for tbe rock made of these parti­
eles. In this writer's opinion, use of the term "baharnite" implies that one knows
tbat tbe aggregates forrned like the grapestone of Illing (1954), hence has a \"ery
.;;.; . .;;C;~,-~.:"'f ~,,!,,~;;:.e-'-,,~ ."$~.i_t ...~·
4:'

.., .::.... ",..
..../ .><:~
.'
,~~~f-s~~:·<;;';";i'~¡~~''",M
6 Ro/nRT L. FOT-K
reslrieted generic meaning. usually, ho"'el'er, il would be almosl impossible to
prove lhat these objecls formeel by lhis e,act mechanism rather than reslllling
irom more ordinary modes oi ero:;ion, whieh this writer thinks oi as being more
common. EspecialIy wOllld lhis be difliclllt ailer abrasion has smoolhed off lheir
. characteristic "grapestone" outer sllrf<lee. Inasmuch as the descriptiH term "in­
t raclast" covers the "hole range of pa rtides regardless oi the precise method oi
:j origin, it is certainly preferablc. One can call an object an intraclast, then ii ele­
wiled stuc!y shows that they have in faet formed like grapes tone, it could be de­
signateel as the bahamite variety of úuraclasl-although, folIowing priori,)', it
ji
11
"'ould be both better and more specifie to eall it the grapestone ,'ariel)' of inlra­
clast and drap the term "bahamite."
2. O¡jliles.-These particles mllst show either radial and/or eoneentrie strue­
tllre (Figs. 9, la). Superficial oolites (I1ling, 195-!)-in whieh a large nuc]ells
(whith may be an intraclast, pellet, or fossil) is surrounded by a relatinly thin
oülile coat--are for point-eoullt purposes eonsidered as oolites. Spherieal masses
oi micraerystalIine ealcite devoid of internal strueture are usually either intra­
ciasts or pellets. risolites might also be includecl as a form of oolite, although they
1:
J are more probably to be crm,idered as algal aeeretions ami hence are geneticalIy
different.
3. Fnssils.-The petrography of fossils is an enormOllS subjeet in itseH and
l' the main ieatures oi the different phyla are covered in Johnson (1951). For pur­
1'¡ püses o[ this classiiicati0n, bOlh sedentary :tnd transponed fossils are grouped
1¡ túgether as allochemical constiluents, excepl 'for coral or algal structures growing
1
ill sil u and iorming relatively immobile resistant masses (those are eon:;idered as
i a separa te rock grollp later). It seems quite logieal to class transponed fossils as
allochems, beca use they have been current-sorted and are often broken and
abradecl just like oolites or intraclasts. But tbere is som~ question as to the ",is­
1 dom of inclllding sedentary fossils lVithin the same allochernieal categor,.-, ",hen
there is no evidenee that they have been transported or abraded. Yet it is '-ery
diflicult at1d probably of very litrle significance to determine whether an en tire
brachiopod embedded in carbonate mud was actually living and died in that posi­
tion or whether the animal was ralIecl ol'er several times after death. Conse­
Jl quently, for the praetieal reason that the distinetion is difficult to make and fur­
I
I 1
ther of dubious petrologie significanee, al1 iossils and fossil fragrnents are eon­
sidered together as alloehems. A, shown later, one can, if de5ired, speeify tbe
I sedentary nature of the iossils by using an adjeetival modifier of the main roek
j i na me. Sorne raeks contain fossils with gobbets oí carbonate sediment attacbed;
since it is llnfonunately necessary to draw lines, the writer eonsiders tbese as
intraclasts for eounting purposes inasmuch as they at one time "'ere part oi a
cohesive, deposited sediment­
.!, Pellels.- These hodies are rounded, spherical to elliptieal or ovoid aggre­
gates of microerystalline ea1cite ooze, devoid oi any interna! structure. In any one
roek they show a surprising uniformity of sbape and size (Figs. 20-22), ranging in
,
. ------- _...,., .. T;- _ r ". ". ~~:.,..
'. -'. .'
'-,,'
,,,,-
;:!
~~
-~-~- _.
e LASS {PICA TlO.'- OF L/JI ESTOY ES
different speeimens bel\\'een .03 mm. ancl abo:lt .15 mm., although the most eom­
mon size is .04-.08 mm. This writer follows fuceh, Rastall, and Rlac\; (1938) and
considers them as probably invenebrate fecal ;JeHe,s. They are clistingllished from
oolites by lac\; o[ radial or eoncentric structS'e, at1d jrom intracla~·ts b,' lack of
internal struetllre, ut1iformity of shape, extri';:nely guod sorting. and small size.
l-sually one has no clifficu!ty in iden¡ifying Lhc:n ..-ilh a slight arnounl of praetice;
hOlVever, lhe writer has seen some rocks in .hieh he fOllnd it imp05sible to lell
whether certain smalI rouncled homogeneoG objects "'ere tiny intraclasts 01:
large [,elIets.
Jt is possible that some pellel-Iooking Ob~é.:ts may iorrn by recrystaHization
processes, a sort oi auto-agglutination of once-bomogeneous ca!careous mud; of
such nature may be the "grllmeleuse" struer-:re of Cayeux (1935, p. 2/1). Ho\\'­
ever, neady all the pellets studied by the 'Yfil=r hal-e been obviously current-Iaid
grains beca use they are interbeddecl "'ith qwnz silt and usually are delieately
larninated and cross-bedded. Pellets with ''''ple bOllndaries are some¡irnes en­
eOllntered, the seeming vagueness of the borc,;rs is partly an optical efIect due to
the small size oi the near-spherieal pellets an-i the thickness of the lhin section,
bul l/l other roeks it is caused by recryslaUi:::.ltion of pellets, matrix or both to
produce mierospar, which blurs the bounill.ries. Pellets are usualIy richer in
organie matter than the sllfrollnding matef..:!l in Lhe slides, thus sho\\'ing as
brownish objects when convergent light is u;,c-':: in iaet that is very belpiui in ree­
ognizing them wben they are embedded in a ~crocrystalline ca1cite maUL\:o
5. Pseudo-atlochems.-This classification ~ssume:; that allochems, excepl for
eertain sedentary fossi1s, are transporled corc'ÍLuents. This is tme for [he great
majority oi carbonate raeks; however, son:,: lime:;tone:i may contain pseudo­
alloehems which are objeets tbat simlllate ~ appearance of intraclasts, ooEtes,
or pellets but wbieh have formed in place by :-ecrystallization processes. Sorne> oi
tbe vague-looking pellets mal' be examples ~: trus. Fllnher, tbe "riter bas seen
sorne thin seetions iu wbich it is logical to ~er that octites ba,'e gro"'n 'in sil"
wbile remairling stationafy, eompletely emkided in carbonate mlld. Dunbam
(personal eornmunication, 1955) has postula¡.td that sorne intraclast-looking ob­
jects may aetually be negatives from re.:ryscilization, i..e., a onee-bomogeneous
rack reerystallized in patehes to sparry ealci:e, and tbe remnants oi unaltered
rack may be cut off and thus mimie intraclassli one were lO ereet a classifieation
to include all these possibilities in separa te pigronho!es, it 1I'0uld be far more eom­
plex than it is now. The writer ieels yery strOl:PY [hat tbese pseudo-alloeherns are
rare exeeptions to the normal rule. Certainly QC.e must be alert to cateh sud:! un­
usual lithologie features and they sbould be "dequately described, bllt tbe basie
classifieation need not be greatly expanded CH distorted ioc tbe sake of su eh rare
eharaeteris tieso
IlI. Orthochemieal eonstituents or "on::ocbems." This term ineludes all
essentially normal precipita tes, formed with!:;; the basin of deposition or wirbin
the roek itself, and showing little or no e,ic'cnce of signifieant transponation.

.., .::.... ",..
..../ .><:~
.'
,~~~f-s~~:·<;;';";i'~¡~~''",M
6 Ro/nRT L. FOT-K
reslrieted generic meaning. usually, ho"'el'er, il would be almosl impossible to
prove lhat these objecls formeel by lhis e,act mechanism rather than reslllling
irom more ordinary modes oi ero:;ion, whieh this writer thinks oi as being more
common. EspecialIy wOllld lhis be difliclllt ailer abrasion has smoolhed off lheir
. characteristic "grapestone" outer sllrf<lee. Inasmuch as the descriptiH term "in­
t raclast" covers the "hole range of pa rtides regardless oi the precise method oi
:j origin, it is certainly preferablc. One can call an object an intraclast, then ii ele­
wiled stuc!y shows that they have in faet formed like grapes tone, it could be de­
signateel as the bahamite variety of úuraclasl-although, folIowing priori,)', it
ji
11
"'ould be both better and more specifie to eall it the grapestone ,'ariel)' of inlra­
clast and drap the term "bahamite."
2. O¡jliles.-These particles mllst show either radial and/or eoneentrie strue­
tllre (Figs. 9, la). Superficial oolites (I1ling, 195-!)-in whieh a large nuc]ells
(whith may be an intraclast, pellet, or fossil) is surrounded by a relatinly thin
oülile coat--are for point-eoullt purposes eonsidered as oolites. Spherieal masses
oi micraerystalIine ealcite devoid of internal strueture are usually either intra­
ciasts or pellets. risolites might also be includecl as a form of oolite, although they
1:
J are more probably to be crm,idered as algal aeeretions ami hence are geneticalIy
different.
3. Fnssils.-The petrography of fossils is an enormOllS subjeet in itseH and
l' the main ieatures oi the different phyla are covered in Johnson (1951). For pur­
1'¡ püses o[ this classiiicati0n, bOlh sedentary :tnd transponed fossils are grouped
1¡ túgether as allochemical constiluents, excepl 'for coral or algal structures growing
1
ill sil u and iorming relatively immobile resistant masses (those are eon:;idered as
i a separa te rock grollp later). It seems quite logieal to class transponed fossils as
allochems, beca use they have been current-sorted and are often broken and
abradecl just like oolites or intraclasts. But tbere is som~ question as to the ",is­
1 dom of inclllding sedentary fossils lVithin the same allochernieal categor,.-, ",hen
there is no evidenee that they have been transported or abraded. Yet it is '-ery
diflicult at1d probably of very litrle significance to determine whether an en tire
brachiopod embedded in carbonate mud was actually living and died in that posi­
tion or whether the animal was ralIecl ol'er several times after death. Conse­
Jl quently, for the praetieal reason that the distinetion is difficult to make and fur­
I
I 1
ther of dubious petrologie significanee, al1 iossils and fossil fragrnents are eon­
sidered together as alloehems. A, shown later, one can, if de5ired, speeify tbe
I sedentary nature of the iossils by using an adjeetival modifier of the main roek
j i na me. Sorne raeks contain fossils with gobbets oí carbonate sediment attacbed;
since it is llnfonunately necessary to draw lines, the writer eonsiders tbese as
intraclasts for eounting purposes inasmuch as they at one time "'ere part oi a
cohesive, deposited sediment­
.!, Pellels.- These hodies are rounded, spherical to elliptieal or ovoid aggre­
gates of microerystalline ea1cite ooze, devoid oi any interna! structure. In any one
roek they show a surprising uniformity of sbape and size (Figs. 20-22), ranging in
,
. ------- _...,., .. T;- _ r ". ". ~~:.,..
'. -'. .'
'-,,'
,,,,-
;:!
~~
-~-~- _.
e LASS {PICA TlO.'- OF L/JI ESTOY ES
different speeimens bel\\'een .03 mm. ancl abo:lt .15 mm., although the most eom­
mon size is .04-.08 mm. This writer follows fuceh, Rastall, and Rlac\; (1938) and
considers them as probably invenebrate fecal ;JeHe,s. They are clistingllished from
oolites by lac\; o[ radial or eoncentric structS'e, at1d jrom intracla~·ts b,' lack of
internal struetllre, ut1iformity of shape, extri';:nely guod sorting. and small size.
l-sually one has no clifficu!ty in iden¡ifying Lhc:n ..-ilh a slight arnounl of praetice;
hOlVever, lhe writer has seen some rocks in .hieh he fOllnd it imp05sible to lell
whether certain smalI rouncled homogeneoG objects "'ere tiny intraclasts 01:
large [,elIets.
Jt is possible that some pellel-Iooking Ob~é.:ts may iorrn by recrystaHization
processes, a sort oi auto-agglutination of once-bomogeneous ca!careous mud; of
such nature may be the "grllmeleuse" struer-:re of Cayeux (1935, p. 2/1). Ho\\'­
ever, neady all the pellets studied by the 'Yfil=r hal-e been obviously current-Iaid
grains beca use they are interbeddecl "'ith qwnz silt and usually are delieately
larninated and cross-bedded. Pellets with ''''ple bOllndaries are some¡irnes en­
eOllntered, the seeming vagueness of the borc,;rs is partly an optical efIect due to
the small size oi the near-spherieal pellets an-i the thickness of the lhin section,
bul l/l other roeks it is caused by recryslaUi:::.ltion of pellets, matrix or both to
produce mierospar, which blurs the bounill.ries. Pellets are usualIy richer in
organie matter than the sllfrollnding matef..:!l in Lhe slides, thus sho\\'ing as
brownish objects when convergent light is u;,c-':: in iaet that is very belpiui in ree­
ognizing them wben they are embedded in a ~crocrystalline ca1cite maUL\:o
5. Pseudo-atlochems.-This classification ~ssume:; that allochems, excepl for
eertain sedentary fossi1s, are transporled corc'ÍLuents. This is tme for [he great
majority oi carbonate raeks; however, son:,: lime:;tone:i may contain pseudo­
alloehems which are objeets tbat simlllate ~ appearance of intraclasts, ooEtes,
or pellets but wbieh have formed in place by :-ecrystallization processes. Sorne> oi
tbe vague-looking pellets mal' be examples ~: trus. Fllnher, tbe "riter bas seen
sorne thin seetions iu wbich it is logical to ~er that octites ba,'e gro"'n 'in sil"
wbile remairling stationafy, eompletely emkided in carbonate mlld. Dunbam
(personal eornmunication, 1955) has postula¡.td that sorne intraclast-looking ob­
jects may aetually be negatives from re.:ryscilization, i..e., a onee-bomogeneous
rack reerystallized in patehes to sparry ealci:e, and tbe remnants oi unaltered
rack may be cut off and thus mimie intraclassli one were lO ereet a classifieation
to include all these possibilities in separa te pigronho!es, it 1I'0uld be far more eom­
plex than it is now. The writer ieels yery strOl:PY [hat tbese pseudo-alloeherns are
rare exeeptions to the normal rule. Certainly QC.e must be alert to cateh sud:! un­
usual lithologie features and they sbould be "dequately described, bllt tbe basie
classifieation need not be greatly expanded CH distorted ioc tbe sake of su eh rare
eharaeteris tieso
IlI. Orthochemieal eonstituents or "on::ocbems." This term ineludes all
essentially normal precipita tes, formed with!:;; the basin of deposition or wirbin
the roek itself, and showing little or no e,ic'cnce of signifieant transponation.
 r------------------~- ~~ ....

8 ROBERT L. FOLK CLlSSIFlCATro.y Of LlMESTOSES 9

"~ Only lhree orthochemical constituents require discussion at lhis point, micro­
crystalline calcite ooze, sparry calcite, and other replacement or recrystallization
minerals.
l. MicrocryshllliJle cafeite ooze.-This type of calcite forms grains 1-4 microns
ill diameter, generally subtranslucenl \\'ith a fainl brOwllish cast in thin section
(figs. 17, 23, 2~). In hand specimen, lhis is the dull and opaque ultra-fine­
\'ery subjeclive in borderline cases II"hich, iortunately, are uncommon.
Spa rry calrite usuall)' íorms as a simple pore-filling cement, precipitated in
place lI"ilhill the sediment juSl a;: sall crystallizes 011 lhe walls of a beaker. Grain
size of lhe cr)'slals oí spar depends upon size of tite pore space and rate of cryslal­
lization; in mosllimestones, the spar avera;;e"ofrom .02 lo .10 mm. although crys·
utls of 1 mm. or more are 1I0l llncommon in limestones ,,·¡th Iarge pore >paces. [n
grained maleria! that forlllS the bulk of "Iithographic" limestones and the sorne rod:s, sparry calcite is not an original precipita te but has formecl by recrys­
"1 malrix of chalk, and ma)' var)' in color from white through gray, bluish and brolVn
tallization of liner carbonale grains or micracryslalline calcite.
ish gray, to nearly black. Single grains under the polarizing microscope appear lo
3. Otliers.-Orlhochemical constituents inelucle not only (1) seclimented ooze
be equanl and irregularly round, allhough electron microscope study by E. Hal
and (2) directly precipilated pore-fillings, such as the til"O '·arielies of calcite dis·
I Bogardus and J. Stuarl Pittman at The Uni\'ersity of Texas has sho\';n that some
cussed aboye, but also inclucle minerals formed by post-depositional replacemenl
or recrystallization. Recrystallized calcite belongs to this latter graup. The min­
microcrystalline calcite forms polyhedral blocks bounded by sub-planar (crys­

ta!') faces much like the surfaces of novaculite-type cherl (Folk anel \I'ea ver,
eral dolomite forms a series parallel "'ith calcite, inasmuch as it may also OCCllr
11 1952). i\[icrocrystalline calcile ooze is considered as fórming by rather rapid
as directly depositecI (?) ooze, and clireclly precipitated pore-fillings; ho\\'e"er, by
far the greatest amount of dolomite occurs as an orthochemical replacement.
chemical or biochemical precipitalio/\ in sea waler, sellliag to the botlom ar.d at

1 times suffering some laler drifting by IVeak currents. 'Ihis is analogous "'ilh the Like\\'ise sorne types oí quartz and chalcedony, evaporites, pyrite, etc. may occur
f mode of deposition of snolV which also is precipilaled in a fluid medium (the
atmosphere), then seltles down and eilher Iies where il fa lis, or may be swept into
as orthochemical pore-tillings or as replacement minerals in some limeslones.

CLASSIFIC.~TlO:-; OF CARBO:-TATE ROCKS

drifts. Tt is here cOllsi, 'ered as an orthochemical consllluent because it is a normal
lhemical precipita le, despite the fact that it may undergo slight drifting; further­
more, some of it muy form ¡u situ as a diagenetic segregation or concretion. Con­
sequently, lithographic limeslone is considered an orth'óchemical rock (Fig. 1).
Conceivably, some 1-4-micron calcite may be "dust" produced by abrasion of
Field vs.labo'YGtory use of d<1ss~ficutioll.-Carbonateracks are no different from
igneous rocks or sandstones in that on!y in lhin seclion can one fully describe, ac­
curately classif)', and interpret thern. Ho\\'e\'er, good approximations can be macle
\\"ith a binocular microscope or evell in the field if the specimeu has been elched

I shel! debris, hence would not be a chemical precipitate;)"et the wriler thinks tbat
this dusl is quantitatively negligible and in any case il behaves hydraulically as
ordinar)' ooze. As ),et no criteria are known whereby ir might be identified in thin
seclion; lherefore it is included with ordinar)', chernicaJ1y precipitated ooze in this
classiflcation. :\licrocrystalline ooze, in addirion to being the chiei constituent of
lithograpbic limestone, also forms the matrix of pood)' washed lirnestones and
forms pellets, intraciasts, and sorne oólites.
11 2. Spurry calcite cement.- 'Ihis type of caIcile generally forms graios or crys­
tals 10 microns or more io diameter, and is distinguished from rnicrocrystalline
opaque, wbereas sparry calcite is clear ...ith a vitreous luster. With this method,
,-¡ I calcite by ils ciarity as wel! as coarser crystal size (Figs. 7, 9, 11,13). The name
in weak (10 per cent) hydrochloric acid ior a íew minutes. 'Ihis cao be performed
on an outcrap by placing a drop oí acid oa the horizontal!y held surface oí the
specimen, letling the acirl ,pend itselí, then adding another drop in tbe same spot
and repeating this until about 5 clrops ha\'e been added. With practice, oue can
oame a rock in the field and be correct about two-thirds of the time. In the lab'o­
ratory, oí course, one can subrnerge thespecimen in weakacid forabout 5 minutes
or less anel examine lhe et'ched surface with a binocular rnicroscope (sawed faces
are clesirable but not at all necessary). :\[icrocrystalline calcite appears dull and

sp<1r alJudes to its relative ciarity both in thin section and hand specimens, paral­
jI! lelling the term as used by Sander (1951, pp.l, 3). It is difficult todra\\" a sharp
• boundary between tbese two types of calcite that are genetically different: the
{ one can altain about 80 per cent accuracy in classificatioo, subject to the difficulty
that it is hard to differentiate heavily abraded íossils from intraclasts, and
I furthermore, rocks cootaining abundant pellets (pelrnicrire and pelsparite) al­
I

I
rnost invariably look like pure rnicrocrystalline ooze rocks (micrites). Etchiug is

il ~
".riter bas vacillated at different times betll'een grain-size boulldaries oí 10, 5, and
finally 4 microns, but drawing the boundary strictly on grain size is not very
F'~.l satifaclory. Clarity is certainly a dislinguishiog feature between the two types,
but clarity in itself is partially a function of grain size and is almost impossible to
define quanlitatively for practical \York. :'Iorphology helps-for example, if the
calcite grains encrust allochems in racli:t1 fringes, the writer terros them sparry
calcite regardless of their precise crystaJ size-but the differentiatiou remains
superior to the thin section in that it brings out superbly the coutent aod"dis­
tribution oí silt, day, pyrite, dolomite, aod authigenic s¡¡ica. AII lirnestones sbould
be studied by etched surfaces as weH as thin sections.
The use of acelate peels (Buehler, 19-18) is of about the same leve! of accuracy
as etching; it is much betler for delermining grain size and texture of the ca!cite
particles, but does not reveal distribution oí insoluble coostituents. Once a "pilot
suite" of rocks has beea examined by thin section and the results correlated with

1:

-­ - ---,-----~-
 r------------------~- ~~ ....

8 ROBERT L. FOLK CLlSSIFlCATro.y Of LlMESTOSES 9

"~ Only lhree orthochemical constituents require discussion at lhis point, micro­
crystalline calcite ooze, sparry calcite, and other replacement or recrystallization
minerals.
l. MicrocryshllliJle cafeite ooze.-This type of calcite forms grains 1-4 microns
ill diameter, generally subtranslucenl \\'ith a fainl brOwllish cast in thin section
(figs. 17, 23, 2~). In hand specimen, lhis is the dull and opaque ultra-fine­
\'ery subjeclive in borderline cases II"hich, iortunately, are uncommon.
Spa rry calrite usuall)' íorms as a simple pore-filling cement, precipitated in
place lI"ilhill the sediment juSl a;: sall crystallizes 011 lhe walls of a beaker. Grain
size of lhe cr)'slals oí spar depends upon size of tite pore space and rate of cryslal­
lization; in mosllimestones, the spar avera;;e"ofrom .02 lo .10 mm. although crys·
utls of 1 mm. or more are 1I0l llncommon in limestones ,,·¡th Iarge pore >paces. [n
grained maleria! that forlllS the bulk of "Iithographic" limestones and the sorne rod:s, sparry calcite is not an original precipita te but has formecl by recrys­
"1 malrix of chalk, and ma)' var)' in color from white through gray, bluish and brolVn
tallization of liner carbonale grains or micracryslalline calcite.
ish gray, to nearly black. Single grains under the polarizing microscope appear lo
3. Otliers.-Orlhochemical constituents inelucle not only (1) seclimented ooze
be equanl and irregularly round, allhough electron microscope study by E. Hal
and (2) directly precipilated pore-fillings, such as the til"O '·arielies of calcite dis·
I Bogardus and J. Stuarl Pittman at The Uni\'ersity of Texas has sho\';n that some
cussed aboye, but also inclucle minerals formed by post-depositional replacemenl
or recrystallization. Recrystallized calcite belongs to this latter graup. The min­
microcrystalline calcite forms polyhedral blocks bounded by sub-planar (crys­

ta!') faces much like the surfaces of novaculite-type cherl (Folk anel \I'ea ver,
eral dolomite forms a series parallel "'ith calcite, inasmuch as it may also OCCllr
11 1952). i\[icrocrystalline calcile ooze is considered as fórming by rather rapid
as directly depositecI (?) ooze, and clireclly precipitated pore-fillings; ho\\'e"er, by
far the greatest amount of dolomite occurs as an orthochemical replacement.
chemical or biochemical precipitalio/\ in sea waler, sellliag to the botlom ar.d at

1 times suffering some laler drifting by IVeak currents. 'Ihis is analogous "'ilh the Like\\'ise sorne types oí quartz and chalcedony, evaporites, pyrite, etc. may occur
f mode of deposition of snolV which also is precipilaled in a fluid medium (the
atmosphere), then seltles down and eilher Iies where il fa lis, or may be swept into
as orthochemical pore-tillings or as replacement minerals in some limeslones.

CLASSIFIC.~TlO:-; OF CARBO:-TATE ROCKS

drifts. Tt is here cOllsi, 'ered as an orthochemical consllluent because it is a normal
lhemical precipita le, despite the fact that it may undergo slight drifting; further­
more, some of it muy form ¡u situ as a diagenetic segregation or concretion. Con­
sequently, lithographic limeslone is considered an orth'óchemical rock (Fig. 1).
Conceivably, some 1-4-micron calcite may be "dust" produced by abrasion of
Field vs.labo'YGtory use of d<1ss~ficutioll.-Carbonateracks are no different from
igneous rocks or sandstones in that on!y in lhin seclion can one fully describe, ac­
curately classif)', and interpret thern. Ho\\'e\'er, good approximations can be macle
\\"ith a binocular microscope or evell in the field if the specimeu has been elched

I shel! debris, hence would not be a chemical precipitate;)"et the wriler thinks tbat
this dusl is quantitatively negligible and in any case il behaves hydraulically as
ordinar)' ooze. As ),et no criteria are known whereby ir might be identified in thin
seclion; lherefore it is included with ordinar)', chernicaJ1y precipitated ooze in this
classiflcation. :\licrocrystalline ooze, in addirion to being the chiei constituent of
lithograpbic limestone, also forms the matrix of pood)' washed lirnestones and
forms pellets, intraciasts, and sorne oólites.
11 2. Spurry calcite cement.- 'Ihis type of caIcile generally forms graios or crys­
tals 10 microns or more io diameter, and is distinguished from rnicrocrystalline
opaque, wbereas sparry calcite is clear ...ith a vitreous luster. With this method,
,-¡ I calcite by ils ciarity as wel! as coarser crystal size (Figs. 7, 9, 11,13). The name
in weak (10 per cent) hydrochloric acid ior a íew minutes. 'Ihis cao be performed
on an outcrap by placing a drop oí acid oa the horizontal!y held surface oí the
specimen, letling the acirl ,pend itselí, then adding another drop in tbe same spot
and repeating this until about 5 clrops ha\'e been added. With practice, oue can
oame a rock in the field and be correct about two-thirds of the time. In the lab'o­
ratory, oí course, one can subrnerge thespecimen in weakacid forabout 5 minutes
or less anel examine lhe et'ched surface with a binocular rnicroscope (sawed faces
are clesirable but not at all necessary). :\[icrocrystalline calcite appears dull and

sp<1r alJudes to its relative ciarity both in thin section and hand specimens, paral­
jI! lelling the term as used by Sander (1951, pp.l, 3). It is difficult todra\\" a sharp
• boundary between tbese two types of calcite that are genetically different: the
{ one can altain about 80 per cent accuracy in classificatioo, subject to the difficulty
that it is hard to differentiate heavily abraded íossils from intraclasts, and
I furthermore, rocks cootaining abundant pellets (pelrnicrire and pelsparite) al­
I

I
rnost invariably look like pure rnicrocrystalline ooze rocks (micrites). Etchiug is

il ~
".riter bas vacillated at different times betll'een grain-size boulldaries oí 10, 5, and
finally 4 microns, but drawing the boundary strictly on grain size is not very
F'~.l satifaclory. Clarity is certainly a dislinguishiog feature between the two types,
but clarity in itself is partially a function of grain size and is almost impossible to
define quanlitatively for practical \York. :'Iorphology helps-for example, if the
calcite grains encrust allochems in racli:t1 fringes, the writer terros them sparry
calcite regardless of their precise crystaJ size-but the differentiatiou remains
superior to the thin section in that it brings out superbly the coutent aod"dis­
tribution oí silt, day, pyrite, dolomite, aod authigenic s¡¡ica. AII lirnestones sbould
be studied by etched surfaces as weH as thin sections.
The use of acelate peels (Buehler, 19-18) is of about the same leve! of accuracy
as etching; it is much betler for delermining grain size and texture of the ca!cite
particles, but does not reveal distribution oí insoluble coostituents. Once a "pilot
suite" of rocks has beea examined by thin section and the results correlated with

1:

-­ - ---,-----~-
 ",'

~~'""'~".....-;,,;'- ~~
r-:­ _~~_""'~ . .#".,I_. '• .lo ... ~ ..... _I..._1,o ,~¡J.k •••~,,¡;;. ' _ · 4 ' __ ~ ,. __ ~ _ _. _ _._

.... .,.
10 ROBERT FOLK í CL.-ISSIFIC.-ITIOX 01' LTMJ::STO.VES 11

etched surfaces or pecls, one soon ge[s the "íeel" Ol the rack sllite, and interpreta­
tion ol ne\\" specimens fram thc same suire bccomes mllch more rapiel and the
nUlllber of thin seclions can be cut do\\"n greatly.
Tltree lIIai" limes/oue jamilies.-.J...ln,nst all carbonate racks contain more than
•
~ 1f ¿; ~ ~~
~ ••
o a><"
~~

one type ol matenal; one may be a mixture of oolites, fossils, and sparry calcite
cement; anolher may consisl of qllartz silt, pcllets, and microcrystalline ooze JHJ H SANO
;: ~
~
~ ~
AlLOCHEM
partly re[1laced by dolomilC and chen. Thus lhe problem of classification beco mes GRAlr..:S GRAIN$
M'crooyS!OIl,n. ~oorr.' OllQcheml(ol
one ol syslemalizing these varialions of composilion ami dra\\"ing significant ·Cl~-Jn· allocl'l,!,""col. t

quanlitati\'e limits bet\\"ecll types. ~\ICrd

............. ll"">l!sr()fl!~::: t
hn>fitonu
;Cteon1y "'o5n~d)
.\~ (Ool! :norr'l) ~.":~.
Disregareling for a moment the content ol terrigenolls material or of later re­ M,crOCtySlolhnl!! .~· ..1· .-'
placement minerals, fracturc or ICug fillings, it is possible to basc a practical lime­
stone classification on thc relati\'c praponions of tluce end-mcmbers: (1) allo­
F.'
hmes=o'"'es
IM,cr,II!S) ur-­.: .. I

CLAY C.-¿I,.l¡CAL MICROC~YSTOLUNE S?aRRy CALelTE

chems, (2) microcrystalline oozc, and (3) sparry caleite cement. MATR1X C¿v::~T Co.LCITE MATRIX CE'''ENT
TERRIGENOUS ROCKS L1MESTONE5
Allochems represent the framework of [he rock and incluele lhe shells, oolites, (IQI'\O(U'9 ·!crysroT11lol,onl

carbonate pebbles, or pellets lhat rnake up the bulk of most limestones. Thus FrG. 2. Diagralll cornparing limestone c1assitication in this paper with analogo1l5 c1:l5sif¡cation of

I
they are analogOllS \Vith the quartz sand of a sandstone or the pcbbles of a con­
glomerate. :'Ificrocrystallinc ooze represents a clay-size "matrix" "'hose presence
signifies lack of vigorous cllrrents, jU3t as lhe presence of a clay mineral matrix in
a sanclstone indicates poor lVashing. Sparry calcite cement simply lills up por~
)1 spaces in the rock where microcryslalline oúze has been washed oul, just as
"
1 porous, non-clayey sandstones become cemented with ch~mical precipita tes, such
I
as caleilc or quartz cemento Thus the relative praportions of microcryslalline
ooze and sparry calcite cement are an important fealllre ol lhe rock, inasmuch as
they sho\\" lhe degree of "sorling" or Cllrrent slrength ol the ell\;ranmenl, anal­
ogous \Vith textural rnaturity in saodstones. If lVe plot these t\Vo constituents and
the allochemical "framelVork" as three poles of a triangular diagram (Fig. 2), the
field in wbich normallimestones occur is shown by the shaded area; divisions be­
tween the three major lextllral famiJies of limestone are also shown on this figure.
A similar field appears if one plOlS terrigenolls racks on a triangle with the three
analogous poles of sand plus silt, clay, and orthochemical cernent.
This dassification is predicated 00 the assumption tbat [he sparry calcite and
1 rnicrocrystalline calcite nolV visible in the rock are lhe original interallochem
i: I constituents-i.e., the sparry calcite has no[ formed by aggrading recrystalliza­
tion of a fine caleite ooze, and that microcrystalline calcile has no[ forroed by de­
!: grading recrystallization of coarser calei[e. rn most limeslones the writer has ex­
amined, this assurnption is believed to be correct and il is discussed more fully in
the final section of [his paper. :\e\"ertheless, lhe IVriter agrees that recrystalliza­
/,j, tion is a very important process in sorne limestone formations, and the c1assifica­
tion proposed bere does not apply to recryslallized rocks. Howe\'er, this c1assifi­
;:f
cation pro\~des a necessary foundalion for [he study of recrystallized racks be­
cause on original deposition these rocks al! IDllSt haye belonged to one of the
groups bere proposed.
Type 1 limestones (designated as Sparry .-\Ilochemical racks) consist chicEly
lcrrig~nous rcxk3. Shaded area3 are tho~ parts of composition trianglc which occur mast commonly.
Terrigenous rocks could be classified by proportions of sand grains (slructural frarnework frac­
tiooL cla)' matri.'{, and chemieal eemenr, th~ proportions of the Ja5t tn'O being an inclex to degree of
sOrling. Xon-~erystallized lime5tone eln be cla53ified by the proportion of allochems (structural
iraOl~\\"ork ¡raerion), microcrY'5talLine ca!cite rnatri'(, anJ svarry calcite cem~nt, tbe vroponiofls of
the last two al~ being an indü of sorting.
Tbree basic limestone iJmilies are: proposed: sparry allocbemical limt:stone (type IL rcpresent­
tJ ing gooo soning; microcrY3talline allo..:bemieallimestone (type JI), rt::prcscnting poorly winno\\'ed
st:diments; ai.ld microcr~""stalline lime5tone (typ..: IlI), anulogou::. witb c1aystone in terrig~nous tri­
angle. Just ~ one uses compo5ition of sand grains for further cla55ification of tcrrigenous rocks into
1 arkose, graY-;'-..lckc, orthoqu3rtzite , and calclithite, eaeh ranging frIJn\ clayey to non~c1ayey. so one
us~ eomposition of allochems for divüion of limestones into subvarieties slIch as intrasparite or hio­
1 micrite.
of aIlochem.ical cons[ituents cerncnted by sparry calcite cernent. These rack s are
equivalent !O tbe \yeIl sorted terrigenolls conglomera tes or sandstones in that
solid particles (here iotradasls, oolites, fossils, or pelle[s) have been heaped to­
1 ¡;e[her by currents powedu~ or persis[ent enollgh lO winnow away any microcrys­
talline ooze that other\\;se migbt have accurnulated as a matrix, and the ¡n[er­
J stitial pores have been fiJled by direc¡[y precipitated sparry caleite cemento These
.1
<
sparry limt5tones have tcxtures and structures similar to terrigenous rocks, e.g.,
crass-bedding and good grain orientation. The relalive praportions of sparry cal­
cite cement and allochems varies ",ithin rather restricted limits because of the
liroitations of packing.
1. There is a limi[ lO lhe tightness Wilh which aIlochems may be packed;. thus
there wiIl always be sorne pore space available for cement lO 61!.
2. There must be a certain minimum amount of aIlochems present in oreler to
sllpport the 5lructure--sparry caIcite cement gro\Vs only in pore spaces a¡ld in
general can not form a rock in ilS o\Vn right, unless recrystallization Dccurs.
Similarly sandstones require a minimum amollnt of sand grains, on the order of
60 per cem, to suppon the rock structure_ It may be..Jloted that carbonate rocks
on deposition may haye porasilY mucb greater tba¡:; sandstones or conglomera tes

1 -_~~_ _ ~"'''r'9...,..... ,+G'-::OC> ¡¿:e<. . 40(" f""4-'!S<,.,·-t-,V; ":f"'~\*O ....'" + '..r, 4f \)' P j w . ..-,. :# .'9' -~~'''''''J
 ",'

~~'""'~".....-;,,;'- ~~
r-:­ _~~_""'~ . .#".,I_. '• .lo ... ~ ..... _I..._1,o ,~¡J.k •••~,,¡;;. ' _ · 4 ' __ ~ ,. __ ~ _ _. _ _._

.... .,.
10 ROBERT FOLK í CL.-ISSIFIC.-ITIOX 01' LTMJ::STO.VES 11

etched surfaces or pecls, one soon ge[s the "íeel" Ol the rack sllite, and interpreta­
tion ol ne\\" specimens fram thc same suire bccomes mllch more rapiel and the
nUlllber of thin seclions can be cut do\\"n greatly.
Tltree lIIai" limes/oue jamilies.-.J...ln,nst all carbonate racks contain more than
•
~ 1f ¿; ~ ~~
~ ••
o a><"
~~

one type ol matenal; one may be a mixture of oolites, fossils, and sparry calcite
cement; anolher may consisl of qllartz silt, pcllets, and microcrystalline ooze JHJ H SANO
;: ~
~
~ ~
AlLOCHEM
partly re[1laced by dolomilC and chen. Thus lhe problem of classification beco mes GRAlr..:S GRAIN$
M'crooyS!OIl,n. ~oorr.' OllQcheml(ol
one ol syslemalizing these varialions of composilion ami dra\\"ing significant ·Cl~-Jn· allocl'l,!,""col. t

quanlitati\'e limits bet\\"ecll types. ~\ICrd

............. ll"">l!sr()fl!~::: t
hn>fitonu
;Cteon1y "'o5n~d)
.\~ (Ool! :norr'l) ~.":~.
Disregareling for a moment the content ol terrigenolls material or of later re­ M,crOCtySlolhnl!! .~· ..1· .-'
placement minerals, fracturc or ICug fillings, it is possible to basc a practical lime­
stone classification on thc relati\'c praponions of tluce end-mcmbers: (1) allo­
F.'
hmes=o'"'es
IM,cr,II!S) ur-­.: .. I

CLAY C.-¿I,.l¡CAL MICROC~YSTOLUNE S?aRRy CALelTE

chems, (2) microcrystalline oozc, and (3) sparry caleite cement. MATR1X C¿v::~T Co.LCITE MATRIX CE'''ENT
TERRIGENOUS ROCKS L1MESTONE5
Allochems represent the framework of [he rock and incluele lhe shells, oolites, (IQI'\O(U'9 ·!crysroT11lol,onl

carbonate pebbles, or pellets lhat rnake up the bulk of most limestones. Thus FrG. 2. Diagralll cornparing limestone c1assitication in this paper with analogo1l5 c1:l5sif¡cation of

I
they are analogOllS \Vith the quartz sand of a sandstone or the pcbbles of a con­
glomerate. :'Ificrocrystallinc ooze represents a clay-size "matrix" "'hose presence
signifies lack of vigorous cllrrents, jU3t as lhe presence of a clay mineral matrix in
a sanclstone indicates poor lVashing. Sparry calcite cement simply lills up por~
)1 spaces in the rock where microcryslalline oúze has been washed oul, just as
"
1 porous, non-clayey sandstones become cemented with ch~mical precipita tes, such
I
as caleilc or quartz cemento Thus the relative praportions of microcryslalline
ooze and sparry calcite cement are an important fealllre ol lhe rock, inasmuch as
they sho\\" lhe degree of "sorling" or Cllrrent slrength ol the ell\;ranmenl, anal­
ogous \Vith textural rnaturity in saodstones. If lVe plot these t\Vo constituents and
the allochemical "framelVork" as three poles of a triangular diagram (Fig. 2), the
field in wbich normallimestones occur is shown by the shaded area; divisions be­
tween the three major lextllral famiJies of limestone are also shown on this figure.
A similar field appears if one plOlS terrigenolls racks on a triangle with the three
analogous poles of sand plus silt, clay, and orthochemical cernent.
This dassification is predicated 00 the assumption tbat [he sparry calcite and
1 rnicrocrystalline calcite nolV visible in the rock are lhe original interallochem
i: I constituents-i.e., the sparry calcite has no[ formed by aggrading recrystalliza­
tion of a fine caleite ooze, and that microcrystalline calcile has no[ forroed by de­
!: grading recrystallization of coarser calei[e. rn most limeslones the writer has ex­
amined, this assurnption is believed to be correct and il is discussed more fully in
the final section of [his paper. :\e\"ertheless, lhe IVriter agrees that recrystalliza­
/,j, tion is a very important process in sorne limestone formations, and the c1assifica­
tion proposed bere does not apply to recryslallized rocks. Howe\'er, this c1assifi­
;:f
cation pro\~des a necessary foundalion for [he study of recrystallized racks be­
cause on original deposition these rocks al! IDllSt haye belonged to one of the
groups bere proposed.
Type 1 limestones (designated as Sparry .-\Ilochemical racks) consist chicEly
lcrrig~nous rcxk3. Shaded area3 are tho~ parts of composition trianglc which occur mast commonly.
Terrigenous rocks could be classified by proportions of sand grains (slructural frarnework frac­
tiooL cla)' matri.'{, and chemieal eemenr, th~ proportions of the Ja5t tn'O being an inclex to degree of
sOrling. Xon-~erystallized lime5tone eln be cla53ified by the proportion of allochems (structural
iraOl~\\"ork ¡raerion), microcrY'5talLine ca!cite rnatri'(, anJ svarry calcite cem~nt, tbe vroponiofls of
the last two al~ being an indü of sorting.
Tbree basic limestone iJmilies are: proposed: sparry allocbemical limt:stone (type IL rcpresent­
tJ ing gooo soning; microcrY3talline allo..:bemieallimestone (type JI), rt::prcscnting poorly winno\\'ed
st:diments; ai.ld microcr~""stalline lime5tone (typ..: IlI), anulogou::. witb c1aystone in terrig~nous tri­
angle. Just ~ one uses compo5ition of sand grains for further cla55ification of tcrrigenous rocks into
1 arkose, graY-;'-..lckc, orthoqu3rtzite , and calclithite, eaeh ranging frIJn\ clayey to non~c1ayey. so one
us~ eomposition of allochems for divüion of limestones into subvarieties slIch as intrasparite or hio­
1 micrite.
of aIlochem.ical cons[ituents cerncnted by sparry calcite cernent. These rack s are
equivalent !O tbe \yeIl sorted terrigenolls conglomera tes or sandstones in that
solid particles (here iotradasls, oolites, fossils, or pelle[s) have been heaped to­
1 ¡;e[her by currents powedu~ or persis[ent enollgh lO winnow away any microcrys­
talline ooze that other\\;se migbt have accurnulated as a matrix, and the ¡n[er­
J stitial pores have been fiJled by direc¡[y precipitated sparry caleite cemento These
.1
<
sparry limt5tones have tcxtures and structures similar to terrigenous rocks, e.g.,
crass-bedding and good grain orientation. The relalive praportions of sparry cal­
cite cement and allochems varies ",ithin rather restricted limits because of the
liroitations of packing.
1. There is a limi[ lO lhe tightness Wilh which aIlochems may be packed;. thus
there wiIl always be sorne pore space available for cement lO 61!.
2. There must be a certain minimum amount of aIlochems present in oreler to
sllpport the 5lructure--sparry caIcite cement gro\Vs only in pore spaces a¡ld in
general can not form a rock in ilS o\Vn right, unless recrystallization Dccurs.
Similarly sandstones require a minimum amollnt of sand grains, on the order of
60 per cem, to suppon the rock structure_ It may be..Jloted that carbonate rocks
on deposition may haye porasilY mucb greater tba¡:; sandstones or conglomera tes

1 -_~~_ _ ~"'''r'9...,..... ,+G'-::OC> ¡¿:e<. . 40(" f""4-'!S<,.,·-t-,V; ":f"'~\*O ....'" + '..r, 4f \)' P j w . ..-,. :# .'9' -~~'''''''J
 :,:/~" :
;...' .,
" .'
,.---------------~
_ ~ _
l
I:,
12 ROBERT L. FOLK
of equi\'alent size beca use of the irregular shapes of fossils and some intraclasts.
Coquinas like that sholl'n in Figure 13 may have approachcd 80-90 per cent
porosity prior to cemenration with spar.
Type II lirnestones (designated as l\Iicrocrystalline Al:ochemical rocks) con­
sist also of a considerable propon ion of allochems, but ',ere currents \Vere not
strong etlOllgh or persisrent enough to wiunow away the microcrystallinc ooze,
,\hich remains as a ruarrix; sparry calcite is very subordinate or lacking simply
beca use no pore space \\'as a \'a ilable in whieh it could íorm. These rocks are equ iv­
alent textllrally to the clayey sandsrones or Gonglomerates, which aiso tend to
I
ha\'e ¡illle chemical cement. In these rocks rhe restrictions of paeking imposc a
cenain maximurn on the amount ol alloehéms; yet there is no mi"irnurn, and
:\[icrocrystalline AJlochemieal rocks are íound with percentages of alloehems
/:
t:
(inlraclasts, oolites, íossils, or pellers) varying continuously from aboul SO per
cent dO\\'n to almost norhing. The reason ior this is that microcryslalline ooze
can form a rock in its own right (comparable with claystone in the terrigenous
series), and can accept any amount of ailoehem material lhat be"omes mixed
1 with il. Thus the boundary line between :\Iicroerystalline Allochemieal rocks and
t-I· ~ .:\1icrocrystalline rocks in entirely arbitrary. and has been si;[ at 10 [.la cent allo­
chems.
Type 1 limeslones inclicate stron;; or persistent currelllS and a high-energy
en\'ironment, whereas type n limestones indica te weak, short-li\'ed currenrs or
a rapid rate ol formation oi microcrystal]ine ooze . .:\1ost limestoncs can be as­
signed readily to one or rhe olher oí these two classes beeause usuaUy eitker
sparry calcite or microcrystalline c3lcile is c1early dominant. In some rocks there
are transitions inasmuch as washing may bé incomplete and rhe ooze may be only
partly removed. In normal1y calm environments wilh an abundance of ooze,
ruomentary episodes oi increased \Va ve or curren t energy may sort laminae onJy a
millimeter or so thick, whereas adjacent b::ers wil1 be fuU of ooze; or a quick
swash with rapid redepoóition of al!ochems and smal1 amounts of entrapped ooze
may resu!t in pores being partly and irregu!arly fil1ed with carbonate mud (Fig.
19). Funhermore, in sorne pellet cakilutite:; the pore spaces between pellets are so
tiny that the sparry cakite crystals are nry minute, and can be distinguished
from microcrystal1ine ()()ze only wil.h great clitliculty. AI1 these transitional types
can be designated by symbol I-II and given hybrid names (e.g., biomicrite-bio­
sparite, or interlaminated intrasparite-intrJmicrite). Recrystallization of part of
the ooze matrix to spar can mimic these <'poorJy washed" rocks and it is impor­
[JI
tant to recognize these cases.
Type In Iimestooes (the :\1icrocrystal!ine rocks) represent the opposire ex­
l¡
treme from type 1, inasmuch as they consist almost entirely of microcrystalline
ooze wirh little 01. no allochem material; "lithographic" limestone belongs to
'ir" this class. These rocks imply both a rapid rare of precipitation of micracrystal1ine
ooze logether with lad of persistenr strong currents. Textural1y, they correspond
with the claystones amoog the terrigenou> rocks; they may form either in deep
waters or in very shallow, sheltered areas.
\1
.- '\'.'~
....'011 ............ ..
4-':.:.:....;..:~~'-,~~ii:,~~l
CLASSIFICATION OF LlJfESTO,YLS 13
So me microcryslal1ine rocks ha\'e been dist\!rbed either by boring organisms
or by soit-sediment deformation, and the resu1ting ope;¡:ngs are tílled \Vith irrégu­
lar "eyes" or srringers oí sparry calcire. Other he-d" ol Olicrocryslalline ooze ha\'e
been partially torn up by bottom curreats auc npidly récleposited but without
J the produClion oí distinct int rac1asrs. These a,e considered as Disturbed :\1icro­
crystalline rocks, and a special sy~bol and roc),: term ("dismicrile") is used ior
them (Table I).
Pans of "ome limesrone are m3c1e up oi orgJ.nic structure growing in si/u ancl
forming a cah~rent, resislanl maS5 during gr\)~ih, as exernplifted by parts oE
roany bioherms (Cumings and Shrock, 1928). Tbe;.e rocks beeause of their unique
mode oi genesis are placed in a special class, T~-¡:-e n-. Formcrly the wriler called
this type "biohermite" but that lI'orcl \\'as objecrionable because it implied a
J1lound-like iorm, wbich was a comlllon but not uni\'ersal attribute. As a sub­
J sritute, Philip Braithwaile (student, Uni\'ersil:<- oi Texas) sllggesled "biolithite."
This is adapred from Grabau's (1913, pp. 2~), 3S-!) rerm "bi.olith," which he
I
applied ro rocks formed by organisms. This rock c!z.>s is \-ery eomplex and needs
much subdi,ision itself, but no attempt to do ~ jo; made in this paper other than
to suggest "algal biolilhite" or "coral biolirhile" as possibilites. lf these organic
srructures are broken up and redeposited tbe n;ulting rock is considered to be
made up of intraclasrs or biogenic debris, and :3DS in rype 1 or type II depending
f
on the interstitial material The name "bioli:hit,," should be applied only to the
1 rock made oi organic structures in gro\\·th posi:ion, nol to lhe debris broken ÍrOlTl
the bioherm and forming pocket-fdlings or r.a]us slopes associated with the reef.
1 Study in the field is llsually required to ascerl2in whether a specimen should be
lermed "bioherrnire."
S"bdirisiolls 01 major limeslone lamilies.-_'l.E;¿r rhe main division of limestones
I
into types 1, n, and III-based chieay on sorrng---it is mosl essential to reeQgni~e
whether the alloehemical part consists oí intracl2..sts, 06lites, fossils, or pellels. In
I terrigenous saodstones, one desires lO kno\V no. onIy whether the rock has a clay
matrix or not, but what the 'i:omposition of the s:md is; henee geologists recognize
arkoses, graywackes, aod orthoquartzites, all oi ..hich types may or mal' not con­
tain clay marrL~ (Fig. 2). It is just as import2.:ilt ro recognize the radically difier­
ent allochern types in limestones, and the scheme for classificalion is preseo[ed in
Table l.
There would be fel\' nomenclatural difficuheies ii all liroestones were made up
of only one allochemical coostitueot, such as 2.ll oolites or all intraclasts, for then
there would be no need to encumbér classifiatioll5 witb percentage bounda~ies.
_-\Jthough many limestooes are almost pure e.::d-members, most appear ro be
mistures nf severa! diiferent types of allochem.s in varying proportions. Coo­
sequently it is not sufficient to define a pe1spa:rite as a "rack consisting mostly of
pellets" or ao intTasparite as a "rock that con¡2.Íns abundant intraclasts." Classi­
fications that sidestep the admittedly disagreelble problem of setting precise
timits resulr in a triumph of vagueoess and are entirely inadequate for quantita­
ti\-e \York.

 :,:/~" :
;...' .,
" .'
,.---------------~
_ ~ _
l
I:,
12 ROBERT L. FOLK
of equi\'alent size beca use of the irregular shapes of fossils and some intraclasts.
Coquinas like that sholl'n in Figure 13 may have approachcd 80-90 per cent
porosity prior to cemenration with spar.
Type II lirnestones (designated as l\Iicrocrystalline Al:ochemical rocks) con­
sist also of a considerable propon ion of allochems, but ',ere currents \Vere not
strong etlOllgh or persisrent enough to wiunow away the microcrystallinc ooze,
,\hich remains as a ruarrix; sparry calcite is very subordinate or lacking simply
beca use no pore space \\'as a \'a ilable in whieh it could íorm. These rocks are equ iv­
alent textllrally to the clayey sandsrones or Gonglomerates, which aiso tend to
I
ha\'e ¡illle chemical cement. In these rocks rhe restrictions of paeking imposc a
cenain maximurn on the amount ol alloehéms; yet there is no mi"irnurn, and
:\[icrocrystalline AJlochemieal rocks are íound with percentages of alloehems
/:
t:
(inlraclasts, oolites, íossils, or pellers) varying continuously from aboul SO per
cent dO\\'n to almost norhing. The reason ior this is that microcryslalline ooze
can form a rock in its own right (comparable with claystone in the terrigenous
series), and can accept any amount of ailoehem material lhat be"omes mixed
1 with il. Thus the boundary line between :\Iicroerystalline Allochemieal rocks and
t-I· ~ .:\1icrocrystalline rocks in entirely arbitrary. and has been si;[ at 10 [.la cent allo­
chems.
Type 1 limeslones inclicate stron;; or persistent currelllS and a high-energy
en\'ironment, whereas type n limestones indica te weak, short-li\'ed currenrs or
a rapid rate ol formation oi microcrystal]ine ooze . .:\1ost limestoncs can be as­
signed readily to one or rhe olher oí these two classes beeause usuaUy eitker
sparry calcite or microcrystalline c3lcile is c1early dominant. In some rocks there
are transitions inasmuch as washing may bé incomplete and rhe ooze may be only
partly removed. In normal1y calm environments wilh an abundance of ooze,
ruomentary episodes oi increased \Va ve or curren t energy may sort laminae onJy a
millimeter or so thick, whereas adjacent b::ers wil1 be fuU of ooze; or a quick
swash with rapid redepoóition of al!ochems and smal1 amounts of entrapped ooze
may resu!t in pores being partly and irregu!arly fil1ed with carbonate mud (Fig.
19). Funhermore, in sorne pellet cakilutite:; the pore spaces between pellets are so
tiny that the sparry cakite crystals are nry minute, and can be distinguished
from microcrystal1ine ()()ze only wil.h great clitliculty. AI1 these transitional types
can be designated by symbol I-II and given hybrid names (e.g., biomicrite-bio­
sparite, or interlaminated intrasparite-intrJmicrite). Recrystallization of part of
the ooze matrix to spar can mimic these <'poorJy washed" rocks and it is impor­
[JI
tant to recognize these cases.
Type In Iimestooes (the :\1icrocrystal!ine rocks) represent the opposire ex­
l¡
treme from type 1, inasmuch as they consist almost entirely of microcrystalline
ooze wirh little 01. no allochem material; "lithographic" limestone belongs to
'ir" this class. These rocks imply both a rapid rare of precipitation of micracrystal1ine
ooze logether with lad of persistenr strong currents. Textural1y, they correspond
with the claystones amoog the terrigenou> rocks; they may form either in deep
waters or in very shallow, sheltered areas.
\1
.- '\'.'~
....'011 ............ ..
4-':.:.:....;..:~~'-,~~ii:,~~l
CLASSIFICATION OF LlJfESTO,YLS 13
So me microcryslal1ine rocks ha\'e been dist\!rbed either by boring organisms
or by soit-sediment deformation, and the resu1ting ope;¡:ngs are tílled \Vith irrégu­
lar "eyes" or srringers oí sparry calcire. Other he-d" ol Olicrocryslalline ooze ha\'e
been partially torn up by bottom curreats auc npidly récleposited but without
J the produClion oí distinct int rac1asrs. These a,e considered as Disturbed :\1icro­
crystalline rocks, and a special sy~bol and roc),: term ("dismicrile") is used ior
them (Table I).
Pans of "ome limesrone are m3c1e up oi orgJ.nic structure growing in si/u ancl
forming a cah~rent, resislanl maS5 during gr\)~ih, as exernplifted by parts oE
roany bioherms (Cumings and Shrock, 1928). Tbe;.e rocks beeause of their unique
mode oi genesis are placed in a special class, T~-¡:-e n-. Formcrly the wriler called
this type "biohermite" but that lI'orcl \\'as objecrionable because it implied a
J1lound-like iorm, wbich was a comlllon but not uni\'ersal attribute. As a sub­
J sritute, Philip Braithwaile (student, Uni\'ersil:<- oi Texas) sllggesled "biolithite."
This is adapred from Grabau's (1913, pp. 2~), 3S-!) rerm "bi.olith," which he
I
applied ro rocks formed by organisms. This rock c!z.>s is \-ery eomplex and needs
much subdi,ision itself, but no attempt to do ~ jo; made in this paper other than
to suggest "algal biolilhite" or "coral biolirhile" as possibilites. lf these organic
srructures are broken up and redeposited tbe n;ulting rock is considered to be
made up of intraclasrs or biogenic debris, and :3DS in rype 1 or type II depending
f
on the interstitial material The name "bioli:hit,," should be applied only to the
1 rock made oi organic structures in gro\\·th posi:ion, nol to lhe debris broken ÍrOlTl
the bioherm and forming pocket-fdlings or r.a]us slopes associated with the reef.
1 Study in the field is llsually required to ascerl2in whether a specimen should be
lermed "bioherrnire."
S"bdirisiolls 01 major limeslone lamilies.-_'l.E;¿r rhe main division of limestones
I
into types 1, n, and III-based chieay on sorrng---it is mosl essential to reeQgni~e
whether the alloehemical part consists oí intracl2..sts, 06lites, fossils, or pellels. In
I terrigenous saodstones, one desires lO kno\V no. onIy whether the rock has a clay
matrix or not, but what the 'i:omposition of the s:md is; henee geologists recognize
arkoses, graywackes, aod orthoquartzites, all oi ..hich types may or mal' not con­
tain clay marrL~ (Fig. 2). It is just as import2.:ilt ro recognize the radically difier­
ent allochern types in limestones, and the scheme for classificalion is preseo[ed in
Table l.
There would be fel\' nomenclatural difficuheies ii all liroestones were made up
of only one allochemical coostitueot, such as 2.ll oolites or all intraclasts, for then
there would be no need to encumbér classifiatioll5 witb percentage bounda~ies.
_-\Jthough many limestooes are almost pure e.::d-members, most appear ro be
mistures nf severa! diiferent types of allochem.s in varying proportions. Coo­
sequently it is not sufficient to define a pe1spa:rite as a "rack consisting mostly of
pellets" or ao intTasparite as a "rock that con¡2.Íns abundant intraclasts." Classi­
fications that sidestep the admittedly disagreelble problem of setting precise
timits resulr in a triumph of vagueoess and are entirely inadequate for quantita­
ti\-e \York.

 ..
~ ~~

! .~,-,.~
-~ ...... ---..

1-4 ROBERT L. FOLK CUSSJ FJCA UO.\' OF U.l1 ESTOY ES 15

11
Of all the allochemical particres, intraciasts He regarclccl as the most impor­
¡:1m bec<luse of their implication of lowered ",a,'e base or possible tectonic uplift.
I Therefore in this ciassilication a rock is called an in¡raciüstic rock if the úllochems
11
¡I
l:¡i
1 consist Ol more than 25 per cent intraciasts by. "olume (fig, ~) even if il contains
,O per cent l'ossils, pellels, or oblites, If the rock has le;; tban 25 per cent intr~­

¡ cl~SlS, next determine the praportion of ooliles; i¡ the rock contains more than 25
'1
~~::;­
per cent ooliles, it is here called an oolitic rack. Ti the rock has less than 25 per cent .
~}~
1,
i"i innac1asts and less than 25 per cent ooli¡es, then it cOl\sísts largely of ei¡hrr fos-
=
~. ~

11 J 1 ~ ~·2l.i
::...=:;~

1
I
,
.
--- IS~1~:
~:: l.~::
'E.!l"':>

~; I
(-hU) ""{I'lO!f[

(a:WlIP~l!J.J!WOIOa
'
=;,;';:
iUH
-§

~~.=~-;
l

1.,
-. ~• ..;: ';l1! W0IOP t\JP.lU!ld J! ~('1'XlllI10 ~1!l.J c.",:s.-= i j
~

•"
I FlG. 3.-Triangular diagram [O sho\\' melhod of cJJ~if);ng limestones bascd an vo!umetric
allo..::hem proportioD. lf allochenH con~ist af more (han 15 per cent by volume of lntradasu. (he
TIX"". i5 I!1tr·ada5tic (i) lim~tone. Ji lhere are tess (han 25 per cent intraclasls, then determin~ propor­
,­ (ion of ooliles; ir allochems consi5l oí mor~ than 25 p~r ceDt oolite3, rock is c!J.ssified a5 OtHi.tic (o)
lin;('Stone. Ir rock fits none of thes-e catcgories, it COnSi.5l5 either of pellels or oi fossils. ami linear
=-c.!e below tTi:::tngle is used to namC' tbem.]f íossil:pellet ratio is more than 3: t, rack is Biogenic (h)
g lL.":icHOOC, a.ld jf thls ratio isless rhan 1:.3 it is Pellet (p) lirn~tone. Intermediate SpeCl!flcn:: with sub­
equal pellet; and iosoils can be termed Siogenic Pellet limes tone; (bp).
g 1
~
:..;
~ .=v •o
o t
f
sils or pellet:', If the volume ratio of fossils to pellets is greater lban 3: 1, it 's a bio­
- :.:::: ~

:~3 genic rack; ii tbe ratio is les;; than 1 :3, it is a pellet rock; and ji the ¡os;:I: pel1ét

j~Ji
."
gS's3 '53 j
~
¡...
1:
11' ¿:; I -.:: ,
'.~i'.gi
o=<=­
I
JIU I
1i;...:
§-2'
:=::::. 1 ~'"
éo.
~­
ratio is between 3: 1 and 1 :3, it may 'be called a biogenic pellet rock (fig, 3).
\\nether a rock is intraciastic, oolitic, biogenic, o. pel1etic is inclicated by adcling
!
í ~
<.;;:
"o.,; o;~ I
~ I
, ,
.
I "i"', "o", "b", or "p" te the symbol I or II or TII, as in Sparry Intraciastic rocks
(lil, or .\Iicrocrystalline Biogenic rocks (IIb). The limils proposed bere are un­
•
l' ~ ~'~ ~~~'" I'~] S I
n ¡ j~j~ ~ ~

i a\-oic!ably determined by tbe r\"liter's experience and the rocks with wbicn he bas

UH
Jd~
:i
;1 ~ Hi~
'~

~3'

!~
1: ~

personal1y worked, There is no particularly valid re:lSOD for choosing a boun:lary

~=­
:1 ~! ~ ;;~ ¡ e""
;5-:.::. ~=­ at 25 per cent intraclasts as opposecl to 20 per cent or 33,3 per cent. However,

(
the ",riter feels that the limits proposed berein are close to the "natural" breaks,
q I (!) (O) (q) (dq) (d)
:, i iH"!P~Jltr[
~i;:<
S;¡l~ºO
%~l<
r:r< r: [-(:[' [':t> 355uming there are such, and tbere is no particular advantage in delaying a
clas5ification for 20 years while wOliting for enough data to 5,X divisions more
Sl~n;)d 01 S\!SS0.:l
1' JO O~ e'H: dwnl0.'\
precisely.
~1 f S;)l!IºO %I;,'Z>
So far, gross te_'dure (wbether Sparry _-\llocbemical, .\'Iicrocrystalline _-\110­

~~ ~ I
Sl"YPUlCI"[ %!:Z>
chemical, or .\Iicrocrystalline) and composition of allocbems (wbether intra­
c1asts, oolites, fossils, or pellets) have been inciuded in the ciassification, but
notbing has been said about graio size of tbe allochems. Ii tbe allocnemsOl\-erJ.ge
u0!1!sOllWOJ w_q:)O[lV "J!JuwnlO.\ COJ,rser than 1 mm., tbe rock is a calcirudite (or do:orudite); il they ¡ie between

1:

~
><

--~. -_ _-- _-- -_._- ---~ ~ :'...:'''+* ;~,# ••..,.~~.. .'hj%L't.W• R!;~,,":p=:zit*'I..""-.,o:. ~.~~":"~.,..~.,.-t("·""",*,,,.-_,A¡(:-·lfUF'-~
 ..
~ ~~

! .~,-,.~
-~ ...... ---..

1-4 ROBERT L. FOLK CUSSJ FJCA UO.\' OF U.l1 ESTOY ES 15

11
Of all the allochemical particres, intraciasts He regarclccl as the most impor­
¡:1m bec<luse of their implication of lowered ",a,'e base or possible tectonic uplift.
I Therefore in this ciassilication a rock is called an in¡raciüstic rock if the úllochems
11
¡I
l:¡i
1 consist Ol more than 25 per cent intraciasts by. "olume (fig, ~) even if il contains
,O per cent l'ossils, pellels, or oblites, If the rock has le;; tban 25 per cent intr~­

¡ cl~SlS, next determine the praportion of ooliles; i¡ the rock contains more than 25
'1
~~::;­
per cent ooliles, it is here called an oolitic rack. Ti the rock has less than 25 per cent .
~}~
1,
i"i innac1asts and less than 25 per cent ooli¡es, then it cOl\sísts largely of ei¡hrr fos-
=
~. ~

11 J 1 ~ ~·2l.i
::...=:;~

1
I
,
.
--- IS~1~:
~:: l.~::
'E.!l"':>

~; I
(-hU) ""{I'lO!f[

(a:WlIP~l!J.J!WOIOa
'
=;,;';:
iUH
-§

~~.=~-;
l

1.,
-. ~• ..;: ';l1! W0IOP t\JP.lU!ld J! ~('1'XlllI10 ~1!l.J c.",:s.-= i j
~

•"
I FlG. 3.-Triangular diagram [O sho\\' melhod of cJJ~if);ng limestones bascd an vo!umetric
allo..::hem proportioD. lf allochenH con~ist af more (han 15 per cent by volume of lntradasu. (he
TIX"". i5 I!1tr·ada5tic (i) lim~tone. Ji lhere are tess (han 25 per cent intraclasls, then determin~ propor­
,­ (ion of ooliles; ir allochems consi5l oí mor~ than 25 p~r ceDt oolite3, rock is c!J.ssified a5 OtHi.tic (o)
lin;('Stone. Ir rock fits none of thes-e catcgories, it COnSi.5l5 either of pellels or oi fossils. ami linear
=-c.!e below tTi:::tngle is used to namC' tbem.]f íossil:pellet ratio is more than 3: t, rack is Biogenic (h)
g lL.":icHOOC, a.ld jf thls ratio isless rhan 1:.3 it is Pellet (p) lirn~tone. Intermediate SpeCl!flcn:: with sub­
equal pellet; and iosoils can be termed Siogenic Pellet limes tone; (bp).
g 1
~
:..;
~ .=v •o
o t
f
sils or pellet:', If the volume ratio of fossils to pellets is greater lban 3: 1, it 's a bio­
- :.:::: ~

:~3 genic rack; ii tbe ratio is les;; than 1 :3, it is a pellet rock; and ji the ¡os;:I: pel1ét

j~Ji
."
gS's3 '53 j
~
¡...
1:
11' ¿:; I -.:: ,
'.~i'.gi
o=<=­
I
JIU I
1i;...:
§-2'
:=::::. 1 ~'"
éo.
~­
ratio is between 3: 1 and 1 :3, it may 'be called a biogenic pellet rock (fig, 3).
\\nether a rock is intraciastic, oolitic, biogenic, o. pel1etic is inclicated by adcling
!
í ~
<.;;:
"o.,; o;~ I
~ I
, ,
.
I "i"', "o", "b", or "p" te the symbol I or II or TII, as in Sparry Intraciastic rocks
(lil, or .\Iicrocrystalline Biogenic rocks (IIb). The limils proposed bere are un­
•
l' ~ ~'~ ~~~'" I'~] S I
n ¡ j~j~ ~ ~

i a\-oic!ably determined by tbe r\"liter's experience and the rocks with wbicn he bas

UH
Jd~
:i
;1 ~ Hi~
'~

~3'

!~
1: ~

personal1y worked, There is no particularly valid re:lSOD for choosing a boun:lary

~=­
:1 ~! ~ ;;~ ¡ e""
;5-:.::. ~=­ at 25 per cent intraclasts as opposecl to 20 per cent or 33,3 per cent. However,

(
the ",riter feels that the limits proposed berein are close to the "natural" breaks,
q I (!) (O) (q) (dq) (d)
:, i iH"!P~Jltr[
~i;:<
S;¡l~ºO
%~l<
r:r< r: [-(:[' [':t> 355uming there are such, and tbere is no particular advantage in delaying a
clas5ification for 20 years while wOliting for enough data to 5,X divisions more
Sl~n;)d 01 S\!SS0.:l
1' JO O~ e'H: dwnl0.'\
precisely.
~1 f S;)l!IºO %I;,'Z>
So far, gross te_'dure (wbether Sparry _-\llocbemical, .\'Iicrocrystalline _-\110­

~~ ~ I
Sl"YPUlCI"[ %!:Z>
chemical, or .\Iicrocrystalline) and composition of allocbems (wbether intra­
c1asts, oolites, fossils, or pellets) have been inciuded in the ciassification, but
notbing has been said about graio size of tbe allochems. Ii tbe allocnemsOl\-erJ.ge
u0!1!sOllWOJ w_q:)O[lV "J!JuwnlO.\ COJ,rser than 1 mm., tbe rock is a calcirudite (or do:orudite); il they ¡ie between

1:

~
><

--~. -_ _-- _-- -_._- ---~ ~ :'...:'''+* ;~,# ••..,.~~.. .'hj%L't.W• R!;~,,":p=:zit*'I..""-.,o:. ~.~~":"~.,..~.,.-t("·""",*,,,.-_,A¡(:-·lfUF'-~
 i.

,_-::::o.. '" ~. ;~~;¡.:W:j.~;,,~¿~~~~~_~,:_·iJ:i:~~~ _.~, ""¡~;j~~,,~;~~~' ....~,,~,

:­ _ "' .....-.,~ l<-'.
L. J._ ..... _ ........ ~ ... ji--'

{, 16 ..... ROBERT L. FOLK ~ ·CL.lSSfFIC.1TlOY OF I../l!ESrO.\'ES 17 ,.

~ I .0625 ancl 1 mm., the rOCK is a ca!carenite or dolarenire; if under .0625 mm., cal­
cilutile or dololutile ...\llhough the lraditional boundary belll'eón "rudite" and
"arenilc" has ueen 2.(lO mm. (Grauau, 1913; \Ventll'orth, 1922; Cdden, 19H) the
I
,
1,
material is ignored. Ii chis definirion is strietly applied, a rocK consisting of 20 per
cent brachiopod shells embee!e!ed in microcrystalline ooze ami quartz sand shollld
be c1assitied as a ca!cirue!ile, jllst as much a, a rock consisting of SO per (ent lim,·­
\Hiter preiers to use 1.0 mm. beca use thisappears to be a more meaningful b. und- stone pebbles cel11ented by sparr)' calcite. Thus the word "ca!cirudite" is in­
~ tene!ed lo be used strictly ill a descriptin ~ense. Genet;cally lhere 1I'0uld be a
T J vast difference between the lll'o rocKs jllst cited. for this re<ison the \\Titer seldorn
Transported
Constitue:ncs
Authigenie
Consticuents
f in practice uses the term "rudite" to describe an assemblage of large fossils in an
ooze matrix, beca'.tse this usage imparts a rather misleading iclea as to the iorma:
I Very coarse calcirudite f tion of the rocK.
¡r,i 64 ¡
Coa rEe calei rudiCe
In theory, the three-fole! size c1assilication of ca!cirudile, ca!carenite, and
Extreme1y coar.:;cly
j 16
Medic.m ca1cirudiee
c rysealline ! calci!utire just given is valid, but in praclice, rocKs w'ith allochems averaging in
the ca!cillltite range are very rareo The only allochemical rock types wilh rep·
~I
i
1
Fine ea1cirudite Veryeoaoely
crystaUine
i
¡
resentatives in this size c1ass are peller rocks or sorne rare biogenic rocks (tbose
made of tiny foraminiiera, for example) and in both oí tbese the pellets or fossil
i fragmenls a\'erage no smaller than .03-.06 mm., just barely under the limil of

0.5 mm I
Coars¿ calearerüee
I eOil nely e rys tallioe
ti ca!carenire; pellet rack> nearly al\\'ays hOHr on the borderiine belween ca!cillltile
and ca!carenite (since the average pellet size is between .04 and .OS mm.). Setting
.1 Medium ca1carenite
a nell' rock c1ass aparl on such an artificial and insignificant boundary seems to he
0.25 mm
-+- Fine calcarenite
I I 0.25 mm
an unnecessary complication; hence the ",riter has lumped lhese raré allochem
0.125 mm ca!cilutites together lI'ith the calcarenites in tbe c1assification scheOle. The only
Medium crystalli:le
~~ Very fine calcarenite
common true ca!cilutires are the "pure" rnicrocrystal!ine oozes, altbough many
1
0.062 mm I I I 0.062 mm
pellet racks appear to be ca!cilutites in the beld and under a binocular microscope.
¡,
I

0.031 mtT'
Coa rse ca1cilutite
Finely crystalline
Rack names.-AIl the rocK characteristics discussed aboye can be combined in
a single llame, shown in Table 1 aod diagrarnmatically in Figure 4. At brst the
í Med..iu:-n calci1utiee
0.016 mm I ,I 1-0. 01 6 mm
writer used such cumbersome terms as "sparry intraclastic ca!carenite" for intra­
Fine calcilutite sparite, "microcrystalline biogenic ca!cirudite" for biomicrudite, etc.; but these
1 0.008 r:ur:
Very finely cryscalline names, although self-explanatory, \Vere SOOtl found to be too awkward to us;in
I 0.004 mm descriptions. As an alternative the introducrion of locality nomenclalure was
Ye ry fine calcilutite I I
f' Aphanoc rys calline
0.004 mm
considered, but the localities 1V0uld be diflicult to choose and formidable to
"1'¡ , TABLE 1I. GR.=,SLZE SCA.r.E FaR CARBO".uE Roc¡,:s
mernorize. Final1y, it "'as decided to use a composite vrord, tbe fuSL part of which
refers to tbe allochern cornposition: thus "intra-" for intraclastic rocks, "00-" for
I
J'
Carbonate racks contain both pbysically transported particlos (oolites, intraclasts, f05..<ils, and 06litic ones, "bio-" for biogenic types, and "pel-" for pellet rocks. \Vbether the
peUets) and chemically precipitated rninerals (eitber as pore·filling cernenr., primary ooze, or as
products of recrystallizatiOD and reptacemeot). TbereforeJ the size scale must l:>e a double cne: 50 that rack is type 1 or type II is sholl-u by tbe second pan of the name, "-spari te" for
one can distinguish which cOD.:)titueot is being considered (e.g., coarse calcirudite.~ may be cemented
11: \\;tb very fineJy crystalline dolomite, and fine calcarenites may be cemented vdt.h coarsely c:r:--s talline
calcite). The size sCJ.le for transported cODstituenls uses tbe tenns of Grabau but retains the finer
those witb sparry ca!cite cement and "-micrite" (pronounced "mick-rite") for
those with rnicrocrystalline ooze ma trix. Tbe tIVO word segrnents are combined to
divisions of \\-entworth except in the calcirudite range; ror dolomites af obviously allochemical origiD, designate tbe eight lypes of allochemical limes tone, for example, hiomicrite,

j,", '
me terrns "do!orudite," Hdolarenite," and Hdololutite J1 are substituted for those shm'o'D. The IDOS!
common crys{a{ size ror dolomite app~rs to be between .062 and .25 mm. a..'1d for this rea.sou tbat
interval was masen as tbe amedium crystalline" cJass.
I
ary in the size distributioo not ooly of saodstooes but also of limestooes. For de.
:1 tailed grain size terminology in carbonates, Table II is suggested. In determining
the grain-size name, ooly the size of tbe allocbems is considered; perceotage or
crystal size of microcrystalline ooze or sparry calcite and grain size of terrigenous
pelsparite, or 06sparite. Type III limestones, almost entirely ooze, are designated
simply as "micrite" without any allocbem prefi..~. Inasmuch as most limes tones
L I
are calcarenites, no furtber syllabie is added if tbe size falls in tbat category, and
\11
as explained, the rare and some"hat artificial ca!cilutites are lumped together
with the calcarenites in this table. However, ji it is felt important to differeotiate
tbe calcirudites, the word segment "rudite" rnay be added if the size falls in tbat
c1ass, e.g., "intramicrudite" (pronounced '·intra-mick'·rude·ite"). Examples, to­

\ ~.. • .l(__ ,!*""c-""4* 9~~"j..!<-IJ'""'

 i.

,_-::::o.. '" ~. ;~~;¡.:W:j.~;,,~¿~~~~~_~,:_·iJ:i:~~~ _.~, ""¡~;j~~,,~;~~~' ....~,,~,

:­ _ "' .....-.,~ l<-'.
L. J._ ..... _ ........ ~ ... ji--'

{, 16 ..... ROBERT L. FOLK ~ ·CL.lSSfFIC.1TlOY OF I../l!ESrO.\'ES 17 ,.

~ I .0625 ancl 1 mm., the rOCK is a ca!carenite or dolarenire; if under .0625 mm., cal­
cilutile or dololutile ...\llhough the lraditional boundary belll'eón "rudite" and
"arenilc" has ueen 2.(lO mm. (Grauau, 1913; \Ventll'orth, 1922; Cdden, 19H) the
I
,
1,
material is ignored. Ii chis definirion is strietly applied, a rocK consisting of 20 per
cent brachiopod shells embee!e!ed in microcrystalline ooze ami quartz sand shollld
be c1assitied as a ca!cirue!ile, jllst as much a, a rock consisting of SO per (ent lim,·­
\Hiter preiers to use 1.0 mm. beca use thisappears to be a more meaningful b. und- stone pebbles cel11ented by sparr)' calcite. Thus the word "ca!cirudite" is in­
~ tene!ed lo be used strictly ill a descriptin ~ense. Genet;cally lhere 1I'0uld be a
T J vast difference between the lll'o rocKs jllst cited. for this re<ison the \\Titer seldorn
Transported
Constitue:ncs
Authigenie
Consticuents
f in practice uses the term "rudite" to describe an assemblage of large fossils in an
ooze matrix, beca'.tse this usage imparts a rather misleading iclea as to the iorma:
I Very coarse calcirudite f tion of the rocK.
¡r,i 64 ¡
Coa rEe calei rudiCe
In theory, the three-fole! size c1assilication of ca!cirudile, ca!carenite, and
Extreme1y coar.:;cly
j 16
Medic.m ca1cirudiee
c rysealline ! calci!utire just given is valid, but in praclice, rocKs w'ith allochems averaging in
the ca!cillltite range are very rareo The only allochemical rock types wilh rep·
~I
i
1
Fine ea1cirudite Veryeoaoely
crystaUine
i
¡
resentatives in this size c1ass are peller rocks or sorne rare biogenic rocks (tbose
made of tiny foraminiiera, for example) and in both oí tbese the pellets or fossil
i fragmenls a\'erage no smaller than .03-.06 mm., just barely under the limil of

0.5 mm I
Coars¿ calearerüee
I eOil nely e rys tallioe
ti ca!carenire; pellet rack> nearly al\\'ays hOHr on the borderiine belween ca!cillltile
and ca!carenite (since the average pellet size is between .04 and .OS mm.). Setting
.1 Medium ca1carenite
a nell' rock c1ass aparl on such an artificial and insignificant boundary seems to he
0.25 mm
-+- Fine calcarenite
I I 0.25 mm
an unnecessary complication; hence the ",riter has lumped lhese raré allochem
0.125 mm ca!cilutites together lI'ith the calcarenites in tbe c1assification scheOle. The only
Medium crystalli:le
~~ Very fine calcarenite
common true ca!cilutires are the "pure" rnicrocrystal!ine oozes, altbough many
1
0.062 mm I I I 0.062 mm
pellet racks appear to be ca!cilutites in the beld and under a binocular microscope.
¡,
I

0.031 mtT'
Coa rse ca1cilutite
Finely crystalline
Rack names.-AIl the rocK characteristics discussed aboye can be combined in
a single llame, shown in Table 1 aod diagrarnmatically in Figure 4. At brst the
í Med..iu:-n calci1utiee
0.016 mm I ,I 1-0. 01 6 mm
writer used such cumbersome terms as "sparry intraclastic ca!carenite" for intra­
Fine calcilutite sparite, "microcrystalline biogenic ca!cirudite" for biomicrudite, etc.; but these
1 0.008 r:ur:
Very finely cryscalline names, although self-explanatory, \Vere SOOtl found to be too awkward to us;in
I 0.004 mm descriptions. As an alternative the introducrion of locality nomenclalure was
Ye ry fine calcilutite I I
f' Aphanoc rys calline
0.004 mm
considered, but the localities 1V0uld be diflicult to choose and formidable to
"1'¡ , TABLE 1I. GR.=,SLZE SCA.r.E FaR CARBO".uE Roc¡,:s
mernorize. Final1y, it "'as decided to use a composite vrord, tbe fuSL part of which
refers to tbe allochern cornposition: thus "intra-" for intraclastic rocks, "00-" for
I
J'
Carbonate racks contain both pbysically transported particlos (oolites, intraclasts, f05..<ils, and 06litic ones, "bio-" for biogenic types, and "pel-" for pellet rocks. \Vbether the
peUets) and chemically precipitated rninerals (eitber as pore·filling cernenr., primary ooze, or as
products of recrystallizatiOD and reptacemeot). TbereforeJ the size scale must l:>e a double cne: 50 that rack is type 1 or type II is sholl-u by tbe second pan of the name, "-spari te" for
one can distinguish which cOD.:)titueot is being considered (e.g., coarse calcirudite.~ may be cemented
11: \\;tb very fineJy crystalline dolomite, and fine calcarenites may be cemented vdt.h coarsely c:r:--s talline
calcite). The size sCJ.le for transported cODstituenls uses tbe tenns of Grabau but retains the finer
those witb sparry ca!cite cement and "-micrite" (pronounced "mick-rite") for
those with rnicrocrystalline ooze ma trix. Tbe tIVO word segrnents are combined to
divisions of \\-entworth except in the calcirudite range; ror dolomites af obviously allochemical origiD, designate tbe eight lypes of allochemical limes tone, for example, hiomicrite,

j,", '
me terrns "do!orudite," Hdolarenite," and Hdololutite J1 are substituted for those shm'o'D. The IDOS!
common crys{a{ size ror dolomite app~rs to be between .062 and .25 mm. a..'1d for this rea.sou tbat
interval was masen as tbe amedium crystalline" cJass.
I
ary in the size distributioo not ooly of saodstooes but also of limestooes. For de.
:1 tailed grain size terminology in carbonates, Table II is suggested. In determining
the grain-size name, ooly the size of tbe allocbems is considered; perceotage or
crystal size of microcrystalline ooze or sparry calcite and grain size of terrigenous
pelsparite, or 06sparite. Type III limestones, almost entirely ooze, are designated
simply as "micrite" without any allocbem prefi..~. Inasmuch as most limes tones
L I
are calcarenites, no furtber syllabie is added if tbe size falls in tbat category, and
\11
as explained, the rare and some"hat artificial ca!cilutites are lumped together
with the calcarenites in this table. However, ji it is felt important to differeotiate
tbe calcirudites, the word segment "rudite" rnay be added if the size falls in tbat
c1ass, e.g., "intramicrudite" (pronounced '·intra-mick'·rude·ite"). Examples, to­

\ ~.. • .l(__ ,!*""c-""4* 9~~"j..!<-IJ'""'

 -;~

I
·t·· .... -~---.: . • . . . . . . _­ . ......,.:-4 "'\.~4.~"~

I
i 18 ROBERT L. rOL;: CLASS/F1c.l TIO.I' OF UJILSTOXES 11)

'j
,
.
~;
1-
ALLOCHEMICAL
ROCKS
ORTHOCHEMICAL

ROCKS

specitied at lhe discrelion oi t·he worker, such as iossiliferalls oOsparite 10(0),

oolilic inlramicrlldile IIi(o). etc. Biogenic rocks, if composed largely of one typ"
of organism, should akays be described as brachiopod biomicrudite, gastropod
1 Ir . biosparile, algal biomicrile, etc. Ir desirable, and if diITerentiation i·, possible,
ID
SPARRY CALCITE MCRCCRYSTAlU NE MICROCRYSTAlUNE CALCITE
rocks containing iossils in growlh positiorr may be speciflcally des:gnated a5
CEMENT CALCITE MATRIX LACKIN::; ALLOCHEMS

"aulochlhonolls brachiopod biomicritc" etc.

M7:;;;:,;

~
.:: ..::.1W..:.:

INTRACLASTS
Carbol/tlle cOlllposiliol/.--AII of lhe rock lypes described, ane! listed iél the tahle,

z
(¡)
r¿¡ ~2:·>· can occur either as limestone or· dolomitized limestone, and some may possibly
occur as primary (directly deposited) dolomite. Over-al! texture is combined with
o
INTRASP.1RITEII.} INTRA1o'ICRI TEW:.) MICRITE!JJL,J carbonate composilion in a clollble symbol linked with a colon, as shown in the
t::
.:
-­
(f) tahle. Ir the rock is a limestone, the rack name (e.g., oosparite or pelmicrite) is

f~~:'i1 ~

o .~ .. :<::: ;.. used unmoclified and lhe symbol applied is Lr or La (ior calcirudites and calcare­
~.:::
OOllTES
¡j O.­
(o) .... \
nites, respectively). Iotrasparrudite, for exam¡.¡le, 1I'0uld be Ii:Lr, biomicrile,
2 : ::\@.:::
P
¡J o
u OOSPARITéaoJ
"
IIb:La. Ir the rock contains more than 10 per cent replacement dolomite, "dolo­
OOMICRI rEar.) OISMICRI TE {[III"I X} mitized" is preflxed lo the maln rock name and lhe symbols DLa or DLr are used
r (e.g., dolomitizecl oosparile lo: DLa, or dolomltizecl pelmicrite IIp: OLa). If the

~
2
\ w dolomite is of unc:ert:lin origin, the term "dolo mi tic" ancl lhe symbols dLr anel
I
U
"",,,
(b) .< :..._ AUTOCHTHONOUS
dLa are suggested, using a lower-case "d" lO distinguish from known re:,lacement
o B/OSPARITECIII BIOio'ICRlrECJI.1
REEF ROCKS
dolomite. Ti the rack is a primary (early, non-replacemenl) dolomite, this ter m is
-.J prefLxed to tbe rock name and Or or Da are used for lhe symbol (e.g., primary
Il[
_J

'"~e"~, ~
. . . . : ..

~ ~

<{ dolo mi te intramicrudite IIi: Or). Primar}' dolomite 00ze may be call"d "dolo­

(r) /~:
.~.
'r
:.:: •...
...••..:.:
micrite," IIIro: D (name suggesteu by Thomas W. Todd).
Limestones that ha,-e been completely replaced by dolomite oEfer considerable
PELSPARITEa,1 PEL1"CR, TEra-) BIO!..fTHITEfm difficulty since in many specimens the original slructure is partly obliteratee!.
Fine-graioed clastic particles such as pellets or finely braken fossils are especially
~S,..,r"C"!C'h prone to ,-aoish during dolomitization. Likewise, one does not know the original
Dw,croc"OIClU¡Uc •. cIII proportion of microcrystalline ooze versus sparry calcite cement. In such c~.'es
it is very difficult if not impossible to allot a dolomite lo either classes 1, n, or TII,
FIC. 4.--Graphic c1assification table oí limestooes. For determining allochem compositioo see
Fig'Jre 3 ¡ [or full details o[ c1assificatioa. including metbod of denoting grain size and dolomite ane! it seems best to arbitrarily lump all such completely melasomatized rocks
coatent , se.:: Table 1. into a distinct clas>, type V; if ghost oolites, fossils, intraclasts, or pellets are
present, tbar fact can be indicated by a symbol such as Vo, Vb, Vi, or Vp, respec­
gelher with the symbols used, are presenred in Table 1. On first acquaintance, tively, and if no allochem ghosts are recognizable, it is simply listed as class V.
such names as biosparite, intrasparite or pelmicrite sound odd, but so do gabbro, The crystal size of tbe:e rocks is a very important characteristic and should be
tourmaline, and brachiopod to the beginning geologist! Further, the names pro­ shown by the following terms and symbols, using divisions based on the Went­
posed here have the advantages of not requiring memorization because they can worth scale (Went"'ortb, 1922) bu! witb a constant ratio of <l between divisions.
be deciphered by a simple syllabic codeo _\pbanocrystalline DJ under .0039 mm.
Yery findy crystalline D2 .0039-.0U6 mm.
¡1 The principies of the classification are feh to be far more important than the
Finel)' crystalline D3 .OI5f>--.0625 mm.
use of the names, however, and SOrne of the "riter's colleagues prefer to use de­ ~[ed.ium crvstailine D4 .0625-.25 mm.
l: scriptive pbrases like "sparry oolitic calcarenite" instead of "oosparite"; either Coarsely cr},talline
Very coarsely C0,talJine
D5
D6
.25-1.00 mm.
l.()()--4_oo mm.
:1 metbod of nomenclature is complete!y functional ano acceptable within the
framework of tbe classi.fication.
EItremely coor;<ly crystaltine Di over 4.00 mm.
E.,amples of rack names in type Vare medium crystalline intraclastic dolornite
Sorne racks c!assified as oosparite, intramicrudite, etc. may h:l\-e significant (Yi:D4), fine!y crystalline biogenic dolomite (Vb:D3), or for a rack witb no
amounts of other allochems which do not appear in the name. These may be visible allochems, coar:ely crystalline dolomite (V: D5)_

, ------..-.-...~,4 iP'. ce $S.). Ut':tf< S:.'S_W __ -.~ ... ')11,; ... _ !02'.. i q _, ttry:
 -;~

I
·t·· .... -~---.: . • . . . . . . _­ . ......,.:-4 "'\.~4.~"~

I
i 18 ROBERT L. rOL;: CLASS/F1c.l TIO.I' OF UJILSTOXES 11)

'j
,
.
~;
1-
ALLOCHEMICAL
ROCKS
ORTHOCHEMICAL

ROCKS

specitied at lhe discrelion oi t·he worker, such as iossiliferalls oOsparite 10(0),

oolilic inlramicrlldile IIi(o). etc. Biogenic rocks, if composed largely of one typ"
of organism, should akays be described as brachiopod biomicrudite, gastropod
1 Ir . biosparile, algal biomicrile, etc. Ir desirable, and if diITerentiation i·, possible,
ID
SPARRY CALCITE MCRCCRYSTAlU NE MICROCRYSTAlUNE CALCITE
rocks containing iossils in growlh positiorr may be speciflcally des:gnated a5
CEMENT CALCITE MATRIX LACKIN::; ALLOCHEMS

"aulochlhonolls brachiopod biomicritc" etc.

M7:;;;:,;

~
.:: ..::.1W..:.:

INTRACLASTS
Carbol/tlle cOlllposiliol/.--AII of lhe rock lypes described, ane! listed iél the tahle,

z
(¡)
r¿¡ ~2:·>· can occur either as limestone or· dolomitized limestone, and some may possibly
occur as primary (directly deposited) dolomite. Over-al! texture is combined with
o
INTRASP.1RITEII.} INTRA1o'ICRI TEW:.) MICRITE!JJL,J carbonate composilion in a clollble symbol linked with a colon, as shown in the
t::
.:
-­
(f) tahle. Ir the rock is a limestone, the rack name (e.g., oosparite or pelmicrite) is

f~~:'i1 ~

o .~ .. :<::: ;.. used unmoclified and lhe symbol applied is Lr or La (ior calcirudites and calcare­
~.:::
OOllTES
¡j O.­
(o) .... \
nites, respectively). Iotrasparrudite, for exam¡.¡le, 1I'0uld be Ii:Lr, biomicrile,
2 : ::\@.:::
P
¡J o
u OOSPARITéaoJ
"
IIb:La. Ir the rock contains more than 10 per cent replacement dolomite, "dolo­
OOMICRI rEar.) OISMICRI TE {[III"I X} mitized" is preflxed lo the maln rock name and lhe symbols DLa or DLr are used
r (e.g., dolomitizecl oosparile lo: DLa, or dolomltizecl pelmicrite IIp: OLa). If the

~
2
\ w dolomite is of unc:ert:lin origin, the term "dolo mi tic" ancl lhe symbols dLr anel
I
U
"",,,
(b) .< :..._ AUTOCHTHONOUS
dLa are suggested, using a lower-case "d" lO distinguish from known re:,lacement
o B/OSPARITECIII BIOio'ICRlrECJI.1
REEF ROCKS
dolomite. Ti the rack is a primary (early, non-replacemenl) dolomite, this ter m is
-.J prefLxed to tbe rock name and Or or Da are used for lhe symbol (e.g., primary
Il[
_J

'"~e"~, ~
. . . . : ..

~ ~

<{ dolo mi te intramicrudite IIi: Or). Primar}' dolomite 00ze may be call"d "dolo­

(r) /~:
.~.
'r
:.:: •...
...••..:.:
micrite," IIIro: D (name suggesteu by Thomas W. Todd).
Limestones that ha,-e been completely replaced by dolomite oEfer considerable
PELSPARITEa,1 PEL1"CR, TEra-) BIO!..fTHITEfm difficulty since in many specimens the original slructure is partly obliteratee!.
Fine-graioed clastic particles such as pellets or finely braken fossils are especially
~S,..,r"C"!C'h prone to ,-aoish during dolomitization. Likewise, one does not know the original
Dw,croc"OIClU¡Uc •. cIII proportion of microcrystalline ooze versus sparry calcite cement. In such c~.'es
it is very difficult if not impossible to allot a dolomite lo either classes 1, n, or TII,
FIC. 4.--Graphic c1assification table oí limestooes. For determining allochem compositioo see
Fig'Jre 3 ¡ [or full details o[ c1assificatioa. including metbod of denoting grain size and dolomite ane! it seems best to arbitrarily lump all such completely melasomatized rocks
coatent , se.:: Table 1. into a distinct clas>, type V; if ghost oolites, fossils, intraclasts, or pellets are
present, tbar fact can be indicated by a symbol such as Vo, Vb, Vi, or Vp, respec­
gelher with the symbols used, are presenred in Table 1. On first acquaintance, tively, and if no allochem ghosts are recognizable, it is simply listed as class V.
such names as biosparite, intrasparite or pelmicrite sound odd, but so do gabbro, The crystal size of tbe:e rocks is a very important characteristic and should be
tourmaline, and brachiopod to the beginning geologist! Further, the names pro­ shown by the following terms and symbols, using divisions based on the Went­
posed here have the advantages of not requiring memorization because they can worth scale (Went"'ortb, 1922) bu! witb a constant ratio of <l between divisions.
be deciphered by a simple syllabic codeo _\pbanocrystalline DJ under .0039 mm.
Yery findy crystalline D2 .0039-.0U6 mm.
¡1 The principies of the classification are feh to be far more important than the
Finel)' crystalline D3 .OI5f>--.0625 mm.
use of the names, however, and SOrne of the "riter's colleagues prefer to use de­ ~[ed.ium crvstailine D4 .0625-.25 mm.
l: scriptive pbrases like "sparry oolitic calcarenite" instead of "oosparite"; either Coarsely cr},talline
Very coarsely C0,talJine
D5
D6
.25-1.00 mm.
l.()()--4_oo mm.
:1 metbod of nomenclature is complete!y functional ano acceptable within the
framework of tbe classi.fication.
EItremely coor;<ly crystaltine Di over 4.00 mm.
E.,amples of rack names in type Vare medium crystalline intraclastic dolornite
Sorne racks c!assified as oosparite, intramicrudite, etc. may h:l\-e significant (Yi:D4), fine!y crystalline biogenic dolomite (Vb:D3), or for a rack witb no
amounts of other allochems which do not appear in the name. These may be visible allochems, coar:ely crystalline dolomite (V: D5)_

, ------..-.-...~,4 iP'. ce $S.). Ut':tf< S:.'S_W __ -.~ ... ')11,; ... _ !02'.. i q _, ttry:
 :1 ¡;

. L~ 1 ............. , ..
.

'
..I,~'0_:i.~~t)I~""";':'
~'-~J ...¡,:~• 'l'l;~ ". ._.,", ..~

.­
!
i
r e L.I!:J:' / F le I Tia \. 01' LI \/ fSTr.\ ES 21
20 ROBER'I' 1. FOLK

Terrigenolls admi;;;;llre.-So lar in this paper, the conlént 01 tcrrigenous par­

tieles has been ignor",:I. If the rock contains morc than SO per cent terrigt:nou;;
material, it is a TerrigéIlous rack and not furlher discussed hefe. If it contains Icss
than 10 per cent ter¡:genous material, it is 3. Pure Chemical rack and the terrig­
enous content is so 11).,- that it is flot mention~d in the c!a,sification (Fig 1).
Howe"er, ii the rOé!, contains bet\\"een 10ane! 50 per cenl terrigenous material,
that is regardecl as ir::.portant enough to be rnenlioned in the ll3me and in the
e1assification symboJ. These rack s as a e1ass are kilOlI-n as [mpurc Chemical rocks;
a specimcn oi this tY-:Je is e1assitled jUSt as previousl)" clescribecl (i.e., as a bio­
micrite, oosparite, etc.', but to idenliiy it as an Impure Chemical rock the follo\\'­
ing letter; are prefixé'd to the symboi: 1's ior racks in \\"hich the terrigenous (T)
i I malerial is dominantly ami, 1'2 for those in \\"hich silt prcvails, and Tc for rocks
with e1ay as the most important terrigenous constituenl.
The follo\\"ing list >~OIl'S examples of this usage.
Claye)' biopdmicrite, TcI[b~:La
Silty coarsely crystalli=-~ dololllite, Tz\': Dj
Sandy dolomicrite, T,IUm:Dl
Sandy dolomitized int;-..:.:;.parite, 1s[i: DLa
i:
The e1assitication used he re is determined necessarily by relatite rales of iorma­
tion of each constituer.:, not on absolute rates. Thus an abunclance oi terrigetlOUs
material in a limestooe ma)' mean (1) thal upliit or proximity of the so urce arta
caused a more rapicl i:ú!.ux oi detritus, (2) a change oi conclili'ltlS in the deposi­
tional basin suppresse-: chemical activity, so that terrigenou5 minerals accumu­
latecl by deiault; or (3' current velocities ''"ere such as to concentra te terrigenous
material oi a certain f.Le in preference to allochemical material of different size.

CH.\R.\-CTER!STICS OF ROCK TYPES

It is not possible yet to give any quantitative estima te of the relative propor­
1: tions of all the limestC':'.e types in the stratigraphic section as a whole. HOlI'ever,
~
1: within each allocheroic.! divisio[l it is possible to estima te, basee! on slides so far
¡ pelmicrite. B,:~ luge int.!,l.clasts oc:cur smaller incncia5ts, commoo-pe!let"', and a rew fO:iSil fragme::lts, Lo ..... er Ordo\,;cian
examined, whether imr.lsparite is more abundant than intramicrite, and to give
I sorne idea as to the us;::l1 petrography of these rack types. This summary, again,
?LATE 1
ftG. j. X6. [nC';l.3parruditt', Ii:Lr;'iarger intrac~ts ilicmse.lves ol..."'t' composed oí pdsparite;:1 few f055il.s and sroaller
rnic~ite i.ntrac~t3 oceur between largo: inlrac!asts. Packing of al1oc.h~ is o.ormat for ..",eU wash~ limestones. and sparr)
calate cement 1.5.,.e!l developed. Lo~er Otrlovician ,\",cmaa.n lirn~too<:. Centre Couo.ty, Pennsylv'a~.
FrG.6. Xó. Pelletü~rous int::raip.L-rudite Ii(p): Lr; intrac.la.st3.. eloc.z:lte ~u::-t= oi beddinl{. cODsist oi miente (cb.rk) and
Ellenburger lirnc;tone. Blanco COWlty, Texas. Col!e.::ted by J. St:U.Ut. Pitmla!).
FIG. 7. XtO.lntrasparite, Ii:u.; "'eU sorted. sand~size incrada'sl:5 compo):ied chieBvof miente but with some pel..rn.icnt.e
' .

_\ feo",.. su~rficial oúlites are pre:;.ent. P.J.d:ing is normal for this roLk tnle; spart'y caicite 1.<; weU shown. Permian Ca pitaD
~[exico.
:'1 is basecl almost entir"'~- on the writer's personal e.~perience with some supple­ reef. Eddy Cou.o.tr. Sew CollectM by Rob.::o:t]. Dunham-
FIG, 8. X23. Intramicrite, IIi:L1; intraclasG oi \-arious size>, ';i.xuing'-· in aD ooze matri't; pad:ing irregubr ·.\,th
l.

P,,'
1
mentation froro publiDed descriptious of limestones. larg-e areas of '"pu.--e" ooze.lntrach3ts are themselve:S compo,;ed oi mkritr. Lo'ó"er Ordovidan EUenhurger umestone. Blanco
9. xtO. ~--parile, Io:1.:l.; "iIid.1 sorted oolites, clo:iely pad:¿ in sparry ca1cite cement. _\ few fossü fragmen ,
Fte;. Tens.
Coune}", ts
Intraciastic rocks,-The great roajority' of intraclastic rocks have a sparry
f ." somHoated wim ,-e.ry thin oOlitic ri.rtu. Lower PenrGylvan..ian W3¡)iUC':-U liroestoae, Jobnston Count)·, OklaboIDa.

tI1
j
_,1,
caleite cement, inasro1t.:h as currents that are strang enough to transport faidy
la.rge carbonate rack fr'agments are also usually capable oi washing away any
microcrystalline ooze uatrix. Thus intrasparite (type Ii, Figs. 5-7) is much more
FIG. 10. X!Q. Oómicrite, lTo:.L:!; oolite'S witb w~U de\"elo~ ntf;llstructure in ao ooze matrU:. E·';dence hum blhe¡
parts al thü sliJe Jlo'WS that these "'ootites" m.a~' actu:illy ha,-l": ~T¡l in place. Uppcr Cambrian Point Peak limestone
BU!!let Countr, Teus..
FIG. 11. X25. Brachiopod-crinlJiJ biosparite. Ib:L..1.. Fos-w m!J.ch 3.bnded. weLl ....'rted. J.nd -athcr tigbtIy paci.<::J
E.rceI.lent sparrr alote. ~{iddle Ordo..-ician Trenton limesLo!le, &rT..=o:m Cooorv. Kentúcky.
FIC. 12. X6_ Crinoid biosparite, Ib:La. Crinoid ir:lgmeats tight.'T ~cked becall5e oC the!r more equidiroen~on.::ll shape

n·· common than intramicrite (type IIi, Fig. 8) which is relatively rare. Texturally, (compare pelecypüd bio:;parite. Fig. 13). Sparry C3lcite forms ,we:"'l:'Ofi.hs in optical continuity <;ñth criDOid p;eces, ~1i~
~ippi:ln ~tis.=-¡lliD. CanyoD limestDne,. \-alley Couoty, :}loatana. Collerted by Daniel )j' . .)tiller, Jr.

n
-
intraelastic roc.ks are about equally divided between calcirudites and calcarenites, di.",:':';~~~eXo~ ~J;;~1";t,[j':~~~~~·'~~·atdJ,i~I!hh~~~;;7,,:'~fci~:teR~~keO~,'~~
bigh pvrosity ~:::1U_.-e oí ~-ay whidl OlrVed sheUs ....·ere·cuppeci
in
:::'d~~~~
to9Qi each other during deposition. Loose paek.ing pn>­
~c:;,~~~~~~~: ~~~o~l\\,~:;~,';;.,',tB~e~,;::~té~~~t~. ~k:rit"'eo..<ions the ;hells"" seU-suppo,ting and ne'" had
00
and few occur beyond me size rauge of fine calearenite thraugh coarse calcirudite
(Table lI). Small amo:mts of iossils, oiilites, or pellets with terrigenous sand or

I silt may occur betll'ee.:l the intraclasts; thus sorting is variable. So-called "edge­

t 1
\
... --v.-~~.",.-.s:-:""""~~.~~~!''''''''
i
,*. . . ~)f,P;¡;~·.*lfl'~.l7I'!'!~"'!"
 :1 ¡;

. L~ 1 ............. , ..
.

'
..I,~'0_:i.~~t)I~""";':'
~'-~J ...¡,:~• 'l'l;~ ". ._.,", ..~

.­
!
i
r e L.I!:J:' / F le I Tia \. 01' LI \/ fSTr.\ ES 21
20 ROBER'I' 1. FOLK

Terrigenolls admi;;;;llre.-So lar in this paper, the conlént 01 tcrrigenous par­

tieles has been ignor",:I. If the rock contains morc than SO per cent terrigt:nou;;
material, it is a TerrigéIlous rack and not furlher discussed hefe. If it contains Icss
than 10 per cent ter¡:genous material, it is 3. Pure Chemical rack and the terrig­
enous content is so 11).,- that it is flot mention~d in the c!a,sification (Fig 1).
Howe"er, ii the rOé!, contains bet\\"een 10ane! 50 per cenl terrigenous material,
that is regardecl as ir::.portant enough to be rnenlioned in the ll3me and in the
e1assification symboJ. These rack s as a e1ass are kilOlI-n as [mpurc Chemical rocks;
a specimcn oi this tY-:Je is e1assitled jUSt as previousl)" clescribecl (i.e., as a bio­
micrite, oosparite, etc.', but to idenliiy it as an Impure Chemical rock the follo\\'­
ing letter; are prefixé'd to the symboi: 1's ior racks in \\"hich the terrigenous (T)
i I malerial is dominantly ami, 1'2 for those in \\"hich silt prcvails, and Tc for rocks
with e1ay as the most important terrigenous constituenl.
The follo\\"ing list >~OIl'S examples of this usage.
Claye)' biopdmicrite, TcI[b~:La
Silty coarsely crystalli=-~ dololllite, Tz\': Dj
Sandy dolomicrite, T,IUm:Dl
Sandy dolomitized int;-..:.:;.parite, 1s[i: DLa
i:
The e1assitication used he re is determined necessarily by relatite rales of iorma­
tion of each constituer.:, not on absolute rates. Thus an abunclance oi terrigetlOUs
material in a limestooe ma)' mean (1) thal upliit or proximity of the so urce arta
caused a more rapicl i:ú!.ux oi detritus, (2) a change oi conclili'ltlS in the deposi­
tional basin suppresse-: chemical activity, so that terrigenou5 minerals accumu­
latecl by deiault; or (3' current velocities ''"ere such as to concentra te terrigenous
material oi a certain f.Le in preference to allochemical material of different size.

CH.\R.\-CTER!STICS OF ROCK TYPES

It is not possible yet to give any quantitative estima te of the relative propor­
1: tions of all the limestC':'.e types in the stratigraphic section as a whole. HOlI'ever,
~
1: within each allocheroic.! divisio[l it is possible to estima te, basee! on slides so far
¡ pelmicrite. B,:~ luge int.!,l.clasts oc:cur smaller incncia5ts, commoo-pe!let"', and a rew fO:iSil fragme::lts, Lo ..... er Ordo\,;cian
examined, whether imr.lsparite is more abundant than intramicrite, and to give
I sorne idea as to the us;::l1 petrography of these rack types. This summary, again,
?LATE 1
ftG. j. X6. [nC';l.3parruditt', Ii:Lr;'iarger intrac~ts ilicmse.lves ol..."'t' composed oí pdsparite;:1 few f055il.s and sroaller
rnic~ite i.ntrac~t3 oceur between largo: inlrac!asts. Packing of al1oc.h~ is o.ormat for ..",eU wash~ limestones. and sparr)
calate cement 1.5.,.e!l developed. Lo~er Otrlovician ,\",cmaa.n lirn~too<:. Centre Couo.ty, Pennsylv'a~.
FrG.6. Xó. Pelletü~rous int::raip.L-rudite Ii(p): Lr; intrac.la.st3.. eloc.z:lte ~u::-t= oi beddinl{. cODsist oi miente (cb.rk) and
Ellenburger lirnc;tone. Blanco COWlty, Texas. Col!e.::ted by J. St:U.Ut. Pitmla!).
FIG. 7. XtO.lntrasparite, Ii:u.; "'eU sorted. sand~size incrada'sl:5 compo):ied chieBvof miente but with some pel..rn.icnt.e
' .

_\ feo",.. su~rficial oúlites are pre:;.ent. P.J.d:ing is normal for this roLk tnle; spart'y caicite 1.<; weU shown. Permian Ca pitaD
~[exico.
:'1 is basecl almost entir"'~- on the writer's personal e.~perience with some supple­ reef. Eddy Cou.o.tr. Sew CollectM by Rob.::o:t]. Dunham-
FIG, 8. X23. Intramicrite, IIi:L1; intraclasG oi \-arious size>, ';i.xuing'-· in aD ooze matri't; pad:ing irregubr ·.\,th
l.

P,,'
1
mentation froro publiDed descriptious of limestones. larg-e areas of '"pu.--e" ooze.lntrach3ts are themselve:S compo,;ed oi mkritr. Lo'ó"er Ordovidan EUenhurger umestone. Blanco
9. xtO. ~--parile, Io:1.:l.; "iIid.1 sorted oolites, clo:iely pad:¿ in sparry ca1cite cement. _\ few fossü fragmen ,
Fte;. Tens.
Coune}", ts
Intraciastic rocks,-The great roajority' of intraclastic rocks have a sparry
f ." somHoated wim ,-e.ry thin oOlitic ri.rtu. Lower PenrGylvan..ian W3¡)iUC':-U liroestoae, Jobnston Count)·, OklaboIDa.

tI1
j
_,1,
caleite cement, inasro1t.:h as currents that are strang enough to transport faidy
la.rge carbonate rack fr'agments are also usually capable oi washing away any
microcrystalline ooze uatrix. Thus intrasparite (type Ii, Figs. 5-7) is much more
FIG. 10. X!Q. Oómicrite, lTo:.L:!; oolite'S witb w~U de\"elo~ ntf;llstructure in ao ooze matrU:. E·';dence hum blhe¡
parts al thü sliJe Jlo'WS that these "'ootites" m.a~' actu:illy ha,-l": ~T¡l in place. Uppcr Cambrian Point Peak limestone
BU!!let Countr, Teus..
FIG. 11. X25. Brachiopod-crinlJiJ biosparite. Ib:L..1.. Fos-w m!J.ch 3.bnded. weLl ....'rted. J.nd -athcr tigbtIy paci.<::J
E.rceI.lent sparrr alote. ~{iddle Ordo..-ician Trenton limesLo!le, &rT..=o:m Cooorv. Kentúcky.
FIC. 12. X6_ Crinoid biosparite, Ib:La. Crinoid ir:lgmeats tight.'T ~cked becall5e oC the!r more equidiroen~on.::ll shape

n·· common than intramicrite (type IIi, Fig. 8) which is relatively rare. Texturally, (compare pelecypüd bio:;parite. Fig. 13). Sparry C3lcite forms ,we:"'l:'Ofi.hs in optical continuity <;ñth criDOid p;eces, ~1i~
~ippi:ln ~tis.=-¡lliD. CanyoD limestDne,. \-alley Couoty, :}loatana. Collerted by Daniel )j' . .)tiller, Jr.

n
-
intraelastic roc.ks are about equally divided between calcirudites and calcarenites, di.",:':';~~~eXo~ ~J;;~1";t,[j':~~~~~·'~~·atdJ,i~I!hh~~~;;7,,:'~fci~:teR~~keO~,'~~
bigh pvrosity ~:::1U_.-e oí ~-ay whidl OlrVed sheUs ....·ere·cuppeci
in
:::'d~~~~
to9Qi each other during deposition. Loose paek.ing pn>­
~c:;,~~~~~~~: ~~~o~l\\,~:;~,';;.,',tB~e~,;::~té~~~t~. ~k:rit"'eo..<ions the ;hells"" seU-suppo,ting and ne'" had
00
and few occur beyond me size rauge of fine calearenite thraugh coarse calcirudite
(Table lI). Small amo:mts of iossils, oiilites, or pellets with terrigenous sand or

I silt may occur betll'ee.:l the intraclasts; thus sorting is variable. So-called "edge­

t 1
\
... --v.-~~.",.-.s:-:""""~~.~~~!''''''''
i
,*. . . ~)f,P;¡;~·.*lfl'~.l7I'!'!~"'!"
 _To
'1 "J ,.
.¡,,; . *
~~¡. • -~~ ::.i:~_.'" ~,¿ ..... 0,0.-' • __ .... :i.o. :..
';.
:;, . ... '_........,:_ :'...... ~-;;.~ ..... oI~_:....."':::...:-- ..'~ ... ._ .'_ ~~ .~.~;J:~*.
~ j~~~
.'(".;..~, "" _ ..... ,J. ...',l~

ir 21 ROHERT L FOLK CL.!:'S/flCITfOVor LfMESrG\LS

)'
_J

J
i I ,,·ise conglomera te" or "ilat-pebble conglomerate," so comrnon in IO"ér Paleo­

.1
t'
zoic limestones, almosr "ithout exception has a sparry calcite cemelll and may
he classed as inlrasparrudile. The discoidal pebbles (intraclasrs) of these lime­
;. stones are very ofren composed of pelsparie (F'ig. 5) "itb thill laminae oi quarlz
silt, this lamination is responsible íor the.extremely discoidal shape.
J n trasparite specimens imply a t"·o-ph·: -e genesis: (1) a fine-grn ined calcareous
sediment, usually microcrystalline calcile fJoze, pellelo, or fine-graineu iossils, \\as
,
Y: cleposited in a protected, cal m-water enl-ironment, probabll' at shallo\\ depths,
! and hecame "-eakl:i co~solic1ateel or cohe,il-e, (2) a suelelen change, such as causeel
\¡ by either a storrn or relalive lo"-ering oi sea-Iel-el, lo"·ereel wa,-e base anrl tore up
the prel-ious sediment; the intraclasls "ere then ul timately elepositeel il' the new
1; high-energy environment_ Such environments of prolongeel calm-water conditions
¡l interrupted by suelden pulses of greatly slrenglhened ,ya '-e or curren l energy
¡ "-oulel seem to require shallo"--I\ater cleposilion. The signiticance of illtramicrite
I
1 is not yet clear; it illal' íorm ii the intraclasts are proelucedin a high-energy en­

! ,-ironmeIlt and then cHrieel by environmenlal accidcllts and elumpeel into other
(deeper anel calmer) areas where there is an abunelance of microcrystalline ooze.

Volltlc rocks.-- These rocks ,,-ith their high degree oí soning imply íaidy '-igor­

ous current action; therefore as one would expect oosparite (type lo, Fig_ 9) is

much more abundant than oomicrite (type IIo, Fig 10)_ Texturally both tYl'es

are alm"st ah'-ays tille to coarse calcarenites, althollgh rare calcirLldites may

occur ií the oolites are larger than 1.0 mm_ Oosparite frequently contains no other

allochem in significant amounts except for oolites, but in sorne strala intraclasrs,

i05Sils, and pellels are present. Oosparite formo in high-cnergy enl-ironments such

:'1
,I
as ridal ch2nnels (Illing, 195-1), or the oolite5 may bc drifted into submarine elunes

and sholl- cross-bedding near or in the loci oi strong offshore currents. In oosparite,

\_. tbe sparry calcite cement__ oiten grows in radialfringes in continuity \Vith the
radial calcite crystals oi the oolite itseli. Oomicrite, like intramicrite, is an excep­ Pl.4. rr 2
tional rock type implying formation of the oolites in a high-el1ergy environment biomicri~e. Ifb: Lr. Bracniupod!:l ralh~r dü~ly packeJ

l:
rIC.. t..¡.. X5. Brachiopod t-oul ranJomly ooeoteJ: a fell' rou.odeJ
and their "accidental" transportation into a low-energy enl'ironment; perhaps quarFt~~af55. p~e~tC~~idt~f~mi~t~, ~libl~~~i~r7:~l~~C:;1~~~h~~;;°ti~bti;l~J'~\~~S~~~~ttu_ Miwss1Pptan
these would be faidy common in zones of mixture where tidal channels with ~bdbOQ l.rnestooe, Búnneville County, Idaho. CoUe.:t~l b) lienry R. Gray
flc. 16. X20. O>tr"J.cod biomic!ite, IIb: La; fos.6ils very loosely pllcked olnd i'aDdoml} oneoted in OOLe cna.tri..~ s."m~
ros.3ils lr',rulated, ot.hers greatly brokeu. Articulated fossils nave geopetal acc'!Jl1u13tion" af oou. and upper part oi s.beJ
1" swift currents aeljoined shallo,,- protected marine flats. The writer has seen rare (originall .. ¡xlre 3p:l.ce) is ilOW filled v,ith spar. Devonian Runlon limestool:, Murray Counry, Oklahoma.
fIlo 17, XZQ, ForJ,m bioo:Ucrite. IIb: La (aLmo5t a foraminifera! micritt" as rod cootaias only about tO pe: ceo.t
oomicrite specimens in which the "oolites" ha ve grown in place while suspendeel rossils) ~o ...sils ver:y loosely pac.kt:d. in carbonate mud matrix. Middle Cretal e.'lls limeotonf". San Luis Pot05i. Muico_
JI" tbrollghout a microcrl'::ótalline matrix_ fu:.. 18. XtO..-\1.g:IJ biomicrite. [lb: La. Angular chunks of spar represenl fragmented algal plates..\t 6tst tb.is rod
~.
might 'u,JTIulate dlsmic.rite. PenllSyh-aniao (Alleghen).-) tim~talle, Buúer Countv, Pen.n.sylvania.
F[(, lQ, XIO. Crinoid biosparite.biomicnte tra:nsition, I-Ilb:u. Thi~ .~ interp~~ a" poorlr washed limestooe iD
Just as sorne we!l sorted sandstones contain occasional clay stringers, similarly whkh \'urrents were u.o.able to w\n..now out al! the OOLe.:\. few inuacl2sts. an ooUte, and soml" otber fossil fragroents p~l;
rod:. is ughuy packfil and rathee well oriented. Lower PennSjl ... aOla{l ,Marble F... Jls limestolll'. LalT'pa...a" County, Te:o.'t. Col­
some oosparite specimens contain scattereel slringers of oomicrite, representing a
1, '1.·
lected b) Daniel)\. ~liller, le.
FIC, !D. Xl:;. Siley pelspa.ntt:, TzIp:La. Roek conta.lns la~~l". rur ...rl. braro1npod ~f'll wh .... b llill conca.ve-slde do"Wi1J 00

~
'i¡
yery brief slackening oi current velocity_ Tlccse ma)' have been causeel when wave
'"
bed of rY'l\ets, a.nd reiUlLing sPQce underneath is noVó tilled '>IMb ,001 Ruck al"-J cootaill" .;amI" ..mall fossil fragmeoG.1Dd
quartz .dl.. Lime:stooe stri.ng~ in upper Silurian Bloomsburg formatioo, Wa~blDgtOn COUDt)", Maryla.od.
agitatjon ceaseel for a short period (huurs LO days) anel suspeneleel oaze settled F [u 21. XiO. Pe.lsparite, Ip: La. PeUelS sbow typk-al e..'tcellenl u.n.íIorm!ty of size (.05 mm I a.nd iliap;:. and b.3~ CVC·

¡I out to form a thin blanket on the oólitic sediment.

Pisolitic rocks, lile oOlitic ones, usually nave sparry cernent anel ii one wisheel
malJy tlgrot packing. Sparry cakite(~mentis very finely crystallint: beeausr. ot 'imaUsíze oC availAOlp. DOn::::;. ~Gddle Ordo\-i<:::a.n
'{rentan hmestoae, C~tre CoUQty.. Pennsylvania.
flG. ~Z. XJO. Pel.micrite. Up:u. PeUet5 very loo~ly pad:ed in ooze matrix that has parth' re. rrst:l.llize.J in pl.a.ces lo

;l, to be consisten t, could be calleel pisosparite_

Biogellic rocks_- These occur just as cornmonly with a rnicrocrystalline ooze
microspar. .Middle On:iovician Tn:=.ntoo limestone, Centre CQunty, Penn!i'yhania

,
,, matrix (biornicrite, type IIb) as with a sparry calcite cement (biosparite, type

,
~ ¡'PC;::¡¡;;:.tu ... t -:-:~,,<'i'¡' ·hf.,·fpe_ri:, ... ·,,·.;.~?'~J'O!~~:--!"'~ .. 't· ''H .. ,*'I+'.~ f:.:;'P.!" -~
'~'::;-.
 _To
'1 "J ,.
.¡,,; . *
~~¡. • -~~ ::.i:~_.'" ~,¿ ..... 0,0.-' • __ .... :i.o. :..
';.
:;, . ... '_........,:_ :'...... ~-;;.~ ..... oI~_:....."':::...:-- ..'~ ... ._ .'_ ~~ .~.~;J:~*.
~ j~~~
.'(".;..~, "" _ ..... ,J. ...',l~

ir 21 ROHERT L FOLK CL.!:'S/flCITfOVor LfMESrG\LS

)'
_J

J
i I ,,·ise conglomera te" or "ilat-pebble conglomerate," so comrnon in IO"ér Paleo­

.1
t'
zoic limestones, almosr "ithout exception has a sparry calcite cemelll and may
he classed as inlrasparrudile. The discoidal pebbles (intraclasrs) of these lime­
;. stones are very ofren composed of pelsparie (F'ig. 5) "itb thill laminae oi quarlz
silt, this lamination is responsible íor the.extremely discoidal shape.
J n trasparite specimens imply a t"·o-ph·: -e genesis: (1) a fine-grn ined calcareous
sediment, usually microcrystalline calcile fJoze, pellelo, or fine-graineu iossils, \\as
,
Y: cleposited in a protected, cal m-water enl-ironment, probabll' at shallo\\ depths,
! and hecame "-eakl:i co~solic1ateel or cohe,il-e, (2) a suelelen change, such as causeel
\¡ by either a storrn or relalive lo"-ering oi sea-Iel-el, lo"·ereel wa,-e base anrl tore up
the prel-ious sediment; the intraclasls "ere then ul timately elepositeel il' the new
1; high-energy environment_ Such environments of prolongeel calm-water conditions
¡l interrupted by suelden pulses of greatly slrenglhened ,ya '-e or curren l energy
¡ "-oulel seem to require shallo"--I\ater cleposilion. The signiticance of illtramicrite
I
1 is not yet clear; it illal' íorm ii the intraclasts are proelucedin a high-energy en­

! ,-ironmeIlt and then cHrieel by environmenlal accidcllts and elumpeel into other
(deeper anel calmer) areas where there is an abunelance of microcrystalline ooze.

Volltlc rocks.-- These rocks ,,-ith their high degree oí soning imply íaidy '-igor­

ous current action; therefore as one would expect oosparite (type lo, Fig_ 9) is

much more abundant than oomicrite (type IIo, Fig 10)_ Texturally both tYl'es

are alm"st ah'-ays tille to coarse calcarenites, althollgh rare calcirLldites may

occur ií the oolites are larger than 1.0 mm_ Oosparite frequently contains no other

allochem in significant amounts except for oolites, but in sorne strala intraclasrs,

i05Sils, and pellels are present. Oosparite formo in high-cnergy enl-ironments such

:'1
,I
as ridal ch2nnels (Illing, 195-1), or the oolite5 may bc drifted into submarine elunes

and sholl- cross-bedding near or in the loci oi strong offshore currents. In oosparite,

\_. tbe sparry calcite cement__ oiten grows in radialfringes in continuity \Vith the
radial calcite crystals oi the oolite itseli. Oomicrite, like intramicrite, is an excep­ Pl.4. rr 2
tional rock type implying formation of the oolites in a high-el1ergy environment biomicri~e. Ifb: Lr. Bracniupod!:l ralh~r dü~ly packeJ

l:
rIC.. t..¡.. X5. Brachiopod t-oul ranJomly ooeoteJ: a fell' rou.odeJ
and their "accidental" transportation into a low-energy enl'ironment; perhaps quarFt~~af55. p~e~tC~~idt~f~mi~t~, ~libl~~~i~r7:~l~~C:;1~~~h~~;;°ti~bti;l~J'~\~~S~~~~ttu_ Miwss1Pptan
these would be faidy common in zones of mixture where tidal channels with ~bdbOQ l.rnestooe, Búnneville County, Idaho. CoUe.:t~l b) lienry R. Gray
flc. 16. X20. O>tr"J.cod biomic!ite, IIb: La; fos.6ils very loosely pllcked olnd i'aDdoml} oneoted in OOLe cna.tri..~ s."m~
ros.3ils lr',rulated, ot.hers greatly brokeu. Articulated fossils nave geopetal acc'!Jl1u13tion" af oou. and upper part oi s.beJ
1" swift currents aeljoined shallo,,- protected marine flats. The writer has seen rare (originall .. ¡xlre 3p:l.ce) is ilOW filled v,ith spar. Devonian Runlon limestool:, Murray Counry, Oklahoma.
fIlo 17, XZQ, ForJ,m bioo:Ucrite. IIb: La (aLmo5t a foraminifera! micritt" as rod cootaias only about tO pe: ceo.t
oomicrite specimens in which the "oolites" ha ve grown in place while suspendeel rossils) ~o ...sils ver:y loosely pac.kt:d. in carbonate mud matrix. Middle Cretal e.'lls limeotonf". San Luis Pot05i. Muico_
JI" tbrollghout a microcrl'::ótalline matrix_ fu:.. 18. XtO..-\1.g:IJ biomicrite. [lb: La. Angular chunks of spar represenl fragmented algal plates..\t 6tst tb.is rod
~.
might 'u,JTIulate dlsmic.rite. PenllSyh-aniao (Alleghen).-) tim~talle, Buúer Countv, Pen.n.sylvania.
F[(, lQ, XIO. Crinoid biosparite.biomicnte tra:nsition, I-Ilb:u. Thi~ .~ interp~~ a" poorlr washed limestooe iD
Just as sorne we!l sorted sandstones contain occasional clay stringers, similarly whkh \'urrents were u.o.able to w\n..now out al! the OOLe.:\. few inuacl2sts. an ooUte, and soml" otber fossil fragroents p~l;
rod:. is ughuy packfil and rathee well oriented. Lower PennSjl ... aOla{l ,Marble F... Jls limestolll'. LalT'pa...a" County, Te:o.'t. Col­
some oosparite specimens contain scattereel slringers of oomicrite, representing a
1, '1.·
lected b) Daniel)\. ~liller, le.
FIC, !D. Xl:;. Siley pelspa.ntt:, TzIp:La. Roek conta.lns la~~l". rur ...rl. braro1npod ~f'll wh .... b llill conca.ve-slde do"Wi1J 00

~
'i¡
yery brief slackening oi current velocity_ Tlccse ma)' have been causeel when wave
'"
bed of rY'l\ets, a.nd reiUlLing sPQce underneath is noVó tilled '>IMb ,001 Ruck al"-J cootaill" .;amI" ..mall fossil fragmeoG.1Dd
quartz .dl.. Lime:stooe stri.ng~ in upper Silurian Bloomsburg formatioo, Wa~blDgtOn COUDt)", Maryla.od.
agitatjon ceaseel for a short period (huurs LO days) anel suspeneleel oaze settled F [u 21. XiO. Pe.lsparite, Ip: La. PeUelS sbow typk-al e..'tcellenl u.n.íIorm!ty of size (.05 mm I a.nd iliap;:. and b.3~ CVC·

¡I out to form a thin blanket on the oólitic sediment.

Pisolitic rocks, lile oOlitic ones, usually nave sparry cernent anel ii one wisheel
malJy tlgrot packing. Sparry cakite(~mentis very finely crystallint: beeausr. ot 'imaUsíze oC availAOlp. DOn::::;. ~Gddle Ordo\-i<:::a.n
'{rentan hmestoae, C~tre CoUQty.. Pennsylvania.
flG. ~Z. XJO. Pel.micrite. Up:u. PeUet5 very loo~ly pad:ed in ooze matrix that has parth' re. rrst:l.llize.J in pl.a.ces lo

;l, to be consisten t, could be calleel pisosparite_

Biogellic rocks_- These occur just as cornmonly with a rnicrocrystalline ooze
microspar. .Middle On:iovician Tn:=.ntoo limestone, Centre CQunty, Penn!i'yhania

,
,, matrix (biornicrite, type IIb) as with a sparry calcite cement (biosparite, type

,
~ ¡'PC;::¡¡;;:.tu ... t -:-:~,,<'i'¡' ·hf.,·fpe_ri:, ... ·,,·.;.~?'~J'O!~~:--!"'~ .. 't· ''H .. ,*'I+'.~ f:.:;'P.!" -~
'~'::;-.

. ...."
,~
í
1 2.\ ROBERT L. FOLK
1
lb). Biomicrite (Figs. H-18) signifies eilher that the fossils \\"ere see!ent3r}' or
else lhat currents \\"ere calm in lhe depositional area and lhe microcryslalline
"
.!-. oOle \I'as not \\"inno\\"ee! out from lhe shell material SUlh a condilion could pre­
yail either in deep \\"alérs or in 5ha[lo\l', pnl[ectee! arcas. B,osparil~ (Figs. 11-13)
usual!y forms in en\'ironments with more \Oigurolls currenl action where the nlicro­
crystal[ine oOle is washee! a\\"ay; thus fossil, ane! fossi¡ fragrneni.s generally sho\\"
some abrasion Riosparile may íorm abo if no (O,)ze is being produced in the en­
" \'irollmenL :\5 both the intraclastic racks ane! the oblitjc racks require \-igorau5
current aClion in orc!er lo form, lhey are alnl()st invariably -spariles; hO\\"c\'er,
shellee! animals ma.,· live and beco me c!epositec! unda a \Vide "ariety of current
conditiol1s arld thus marlY have either oOle matrix or srarry cement \\"ith abour
1'
1, equal frequency. Biogenic rocks range in grain si7.e fram coarse caIcilutites, sllch
l' as some foraminiferallime5tone5, to coarse calcirudiles, but most appear [Q lie in
tbe meclium caIcarenite to fine calcirudile range. The cemenl of biosparite sho\\"s
diverse morphologies: araund certain fossi!s (braehiopods, ostracods, and ¡rilo­
bites) the sparry caIcite quite comroorlly forms rac!ially oriented stubby fibers in
continuity with the fibrous caIcile of the fossi!, in some trilobile biosparites,
growth of the caIcite libers may actually spread the fos>ils apart perpendicubr to
tbe bedding, expanding the sediment to more than double its originai bulk \'01­
ume! This dilatant precipitatian of caki:e is similar !O the mechanism of Írost­
heaving. Around echinoid fragments, large o"ergroll'ti" o[ clear calote de'·e!op.ls
singly orientee! clear crystals in optical continuily with the fragment, and in many
lhe original boundary of the fossil is \-ery hard to see (Fig. 12). These rocks (crinoie!­
al biosparites) are ofren termed "recrystal1ized" by the field geologists though
actual1y it is a simple matter of pore-fi.l1ing overgrowths, exactly aúalogous with
'J growth of quartz eement in continuity with detrilal quartz grains in sandslOne5.
\ Biomicrite and biosparite specimens in which algal fragments are abundant com­
monly produce puzzling racks (Fig. 18) beca use roan y types of algae recrysral1ize
·1
I
readi!y to sparry calcite and the racks look as if they had angular chunks or curv­
ing plates oi spar embedded in a micrite matrix. Other types of alga! struclures
I may resemble intraclasts.
.¡
Biosparite and biomicrite sho'y great variation in grain size, sorting, and
orientation of fossil fragments. Sorting and orientatiorl (Fig. 14) are normally
poorer in biomicrites than biosparites beca use of the difference in energy oi lhe
en viranment5 under which they accumulate. There are n'umerous e...l :ceptions to
~tI trus generalization; if the fossils are alJ of one type (e.g., all foraminifera or alJ
crinoids, Figs. 1.5, 1 i), then they will be welJ sorted even in biomicrite. .If many
di"erse types of fossils occur in one specimen (e.g., a mixture of bryozoans, foram­
inifera, brachiopods, and crinoids), then even the most winnowed biosparites
will be poorly sorted considering the size dislribution of the f05Sil fragment5. The
degree of damage to the fossils is another important characteristic ro be noted in
the description of biogenic racks: whether the fossils are stil1 articulated, or
whether they are disarticulated or braken; and, if the fossils are fragmented, the
--_._~_ .. ~---- -..• ;; ---"­
~ ....';
r,¡
.4 t; :~ .; "!-~
,.:. " , • -
, ~~,!.,,-.
.~~~~....}:.~
~.~._''''''''_''i.o..
..... ..... - ,..";,,.""
25
CLA55IFICATION or LIME5TO.YE5
de:;ree of rounding of the particles. l"ormally, rounded and hea\'ily abraded fossi\s
occur in the high-energy biosparites (Fig. 11), ,l'\lereas the best preservation of
delicate strllctures is found in biomicrites (FiJ,. 16). Broken fossil5 oCClIr com­
monly in both \imestone types.
Some biomicrite has only a smal1 proportio¡, (10-.\0 per ccnt) of iossils (Figs.
16,17), and there is a complele gradation betll'cen this rock type and Fossil"erous
:'ficrite. The oounc\ary line is entirelv arbitrary, bul \\'ith more thin-section dala­
\I'e may able to set a more "natural" boundary. HO\l'eYer, it is po;..;ible lhat no
natural boundary exists, beca use it seems logical that any amount oi i05sil male­
rial from 1 lo 80 per cent could fal! on and beco me incorporated in a calcareou5
mue! oot tomo Sorne biomicrite contains considerable clay, because of toe hydraulic
similarity of clay flakes and micracrystalline calcite particles. :'fost chalk is here
termed foraminiferal biomicrite.
Thc reac!er may ask what is lI'rong wittl using such comruonly-understooc!
\\"ords as "coquind ," "encrinite/' flrudistid limestone," etc. In this writer's opin­
ion. such lI'ords are definitely useful bul only in a rather broad and ,-ague sense,
similar to the llsage of "trap," "grit," or "puddillgstone." They certainly COll\'ey
meaning, but are not speciflr. enough; "coquina" might be pe'ecypod biosparite, or
brachi0l'0d biomicruc!ite, and "encrinite" does not tell ane the imp')ftant bct
\1 lie~her the rock has an ooze matri" or is cemented 1':ilO spa .. Further, these are
i;ülated and unquantified words, set off by themselves beY0rld the palc of a syS­
tematie scheme of nomenclature, and typical o[ the eady nomenclatural oislory
ol lhe sciences
Pelle! rvcks.-·-These are common, especially in lower Pa!eozoic limestones.
However, they are so fine-grained that in the fielc! they are almost v.ithout excep­
tion mistaken for micrite, and even "ith the binocular microscope under the mósl
iavorable ohserving crditions and highest pOII'er, this writer \\Tongly identifies
most pellet racks as roicrite. 1'0 identify thero ",ith any confidence takes an ace­
tate peel or a thin section, although one can make a shrewd guess at their identity
by knocking a small chip off the comer of a hand specirnen, placing me thin chip
in index oil under a petrographic microscope and turning up the conyerger; if
pellets are present they can be seen easily.
Usually pellet racks bave a very fine!y crystalline sparry calcite cement; thus
most are pelsparite (type Ip, Figs. 20, 21), although sorne h"ve a microcrystalline
matrix (peimicrite, type IIp, Fig. 22). In many instances, the sparry calcite i,s so
fine that it is difficlllt ro decide whether it shauld be caBed pelsparite or pel­
roicrite; iurthermore, pelmicrite is sometime; diflicult to distinguish irom micrite
e,-en in thin section because it consists of small aggregates oi microcrystaJline
ooze in a matrLx of roicrocrystalJine ooze. But the con\'ergent lens he!ps bring out
the pellets beca use they usually have more organic mattee.
Texturally, pelmicrite and pelsparate are bordedine between coaróe calcilutite
and very fine calcarenite. They may contain significant amounts oí quanz silt,
which is hydraulically equivalent to the peJlets; furthermore, they lCually show
,
j
i
I
--.1.

. ...."
,~
í
1 2.\ ROBERT L. FOLK
1
lb). Biomicrite (Figs. H-18) signifies eilher that the fossils \\"ere see!ent3r}' or
else lhat currents \\"ere calm in lhe depositional area and lhe microcryslalline
"
.!-. oOle \I'as not \\"inno\\"ee! out from lhe shell material SUlh a condilion could pre­
yail either in deep \\"alérs or in 5ha[lo\l', pnl[ectee! arcas. B,osparil~ (Figs. 11-13)
usual!y forms in en\'ironments with more \Oigurolls currenl action where the nlicro­
crystal[ine oOle is washee! a\\"ay; thus fossil, ane! fossi¡ fragrneni.s generally sho\\"
some abrasion Riosparile may íorm abo if no (O,)ze is being produced in the en­
" \'irollmenL :\5 both the intraclastic racks ane! the oblitjc racks require \-igorau5
current aClion in orc!er lo form, lhey are alnl()st invariably -spariles; hO\\"c\'er,
shellee! animals ma.,· live and beco me c!epositec! unda a \Vide "ariety of current
conditiol1s arld thus marlY have either oOle matrix or srarry cement \\"ith abour
1'
1, equal frequency. Biogenic rocks range in grain si7.e fram coarse caIcilutites, sllch
l' as some foraminiferallime5tone5, to coarse calcirudiles, but most appear [Q lie in
tbe meclium caIcarenite to fine calcirudile range. The cemenl of biosparite sho\\"s
diverse morphologies: araund certain fossi!s (braehiopods, ostracods, and ¡rilo­
bites) the sparry caIcite quite comroorlly forms rac!ially oriented stubby fibers in
continuity with the fibrous caIcile of the fossi!, in some trilobile biosparites,
growth of the caIcite libers may actually spread the fos>ils apart perpendicubr to
tbe bedding, expanding the sediment to more than double its originai bulk \'01­
ume! This dilatant precipitatian of caki:e is similar !O the mechanism of Írost­
heaving. Around echinoid fragments, large o"ergroll'ti" o[ clear calote de'·e!op.ls
singly orientee! clear crystals in optical continuily with the fragment, and in many
lhe original boundary of the fossil is \-ery hard to see (Fig. 12). These rocks (crinoie!­
al biosparites) are ofren termed "recrystal1ized" by the field geologists though
actual1y it is a simple matter of pore-fi.l1ing overgrowths, exactly aúalogous with
'J growth of quartz eement in continuity with detrilal quartz grains in sandslOne5.
\ Biomicrite and biosparite specimens in which algal fragments are abundant com­
monly produce puzzling racks (Fig. 18) beca use roan y types of algae recrysral1ize
·1
I
readi!y to sparry calcite and the racks look as if they had angular chunks or curv­
ing plates oi spar embedded in a micrite matrix. Other types of alga! struclures
I may resemble intraclasts.
.¡
Biosparite and biomicrite sho'y great variation in grain size, sorting, and
orientation of fossil fragments. Sorting and orientatiorl (Fig. 14) are normally
poorer in biomicrites than biosparites beca use of the difference in energy oi lhe
en viranment5 under which they accumulate. There are n'umerous e...l :ceptions to
~tI trus generalization; if the fossils are alJ of one type (e.g., all foraminifera or alJ
crinoids, Figs. 1.5, 1 i), then they will be welJ sorted even in biomicrite. .If many
di"erse types of fossils occur in one specimen (e.g., a mixture of bryozoans, foram­
inifera, brachiopods, and crinoids), then even the most winnowed biosparites
will be poorly sorted considering the size dislribution of the f05Sil fragment5. The
degree of damage to the fossils is another important characteristic ro be noted in
the description of biogenic racks: whether the fossils are stil1 articulated, or
whether they are disarticulated or braken; and, if the fossils are fragmented, the
--_._~_ .. ~---- -..• ;; ---"­
~ ....';
r,¡
.4 t; :~ .; "!-~
,.:. " , • -
, ~~,!.,,-.
.~~~~....}:.~
~.~._''''''''_''i.o..
..... ..... - ,..";,,.""
25
CLA55IFICATION or LIME5TO.YE5
de:;ree of rounding of the particles. l"ormally, rounded and hea\'ily abraded fossi\s
occur in the high-energy biosparites (Fig. 11), ,l'\lereas the best preservation of
delicate strllctures is found in biomicrites (FiJ,. 16). Broken fossil5 oCClIr com­
monly in both \imestone types.
Some biomicrite has only a smal1 proportio¡, (10-.\0 per ccnt) of iossils (Figs.
16,17), and there is a complele gradation betll'cen this rock type and Fossil"erous
:'ficrite. The oounc\ary line is entirelv arbitrary, bul \\'ith more thin-section dala­
\I'e may able to set a more "natural" boundary. HO\l'eYer, it is po;..;ible lhat no
natural boundary exists, beca use it seems logical that any amount oi i05sil male­
rial from 1 lo 80 per cent could fal! on and beco me incorporated in a calcareou5
mue! oot tomo Sorne biomicrite contains considerable clay, because of toe hydraulic
similarity of clay flakes and micracrystalline calcite particles. :'fost chalk is here
termed foraminiferal biomicrite.
Thc reac!er may ask what is lI'rong wittl using such comruonly-understooc!
\\"ords as "coquind ," "encrinite/' flrudistid limestone," etc. In this writer's opin­
ion. such lI'ords are definitely useful bul only in a rather broad and ,-ague sense,
similar to the llsage of "trap," "grit," or "puddillgstone." They certainly COll\'ey
meaning, but are not speciflr. enough; "coquina" might be pe'ecypod biosparite, or
brachi0l'0d biomicruc!ite, and "encrinite" does not tell ane the imp')ftant bct
\1 lie~her the rock has an ooze matri" or is cemented 1':ilO spa .. Further, these are
i;ülated and unquantified words, set off by themselves beY0rld the palc of a syS­
tematie scheme of nomenclature, and typical o[ the eady nomenclatural oislory
ol lhe sciences
Pelle! rvcks.-·-These are common, especially in lower Pa!eozoic limestones.
However, they are so fine-grained that in the fielc! they are almost v.ithout excep­
tion mistaken for micrite, and even "ith the binocular microscope under the mósl
iavorable ohserving crditions and highest pOII'er, this writer \\Tongly identifies
most pellet racks as roicrite. 1'0 identify thero ",ith any confidence takes an ace­
tate peel or a thin section, although one can make a shrewd guess at their identity
by knocking a small chip off the comer of a hand specirnen, placing me thin chip
in index oil under a petrographic microscope and turning up the conyerger; if
pellets are present they can be seen easily.
Usually pellet racks bave a very fine!y crystalline sparry calcite cement; thus
most are pelsparite (type Ip, Figs. 20, 21), although sorne h"ve a microcrystalline
matrix (peimicrite, type IIp, Fig. 22). In many instances, the sparry calcite i,s so
fine that it is difficlllt ro decide whether it shauld be caBed pelsparite or pel­
roicrite; iurthermore, pelmicrite is sometime; diflicult to distinguish irom micrite
e,-en in thin section because it consists of small aggregates oi microcrystaJline
ooze in a matrLx of roicrocrystalJine ooze. But the con\'ergent lens he!ps bring out
the pellets beca use they usually have more organic mattee.
Texturally, pelmicrite and pelsparate are bordedine between coaróe calcilutite
and very fine calcarenite. They may contain significant amounts oí quanz silt,
which is hydraulically equivalent to the peJlets; furthermore, they lCually show
,
j
i
I
--.1.
 ,
~
~·t.~
:Í
--..-...;.;;....: ... -,,~

I
..;::..
- -".
.­ 'u..<,>-"""--' ~~ .......... 4.1. ..

,........

j
f i 2;
;- II 26 ROBERT L FOLK
C/l:,SIf/( IT/,¡\- 01- I/III.!:>TO\/S

'-ery fine laminalion and sometimes delicate cross-bedding bul they rarely contain
any clay Tbe extremely discoidal pebbles oi "edge"-ise conglomera te" are u,ually
composed oi silly pelsparite (Fig, 5)_
The etl\-ironment oi deposition of pelsparire is n0l kJ1o,q\. The laminaliofl
\\'ould seem to require an environment ol gentle, persislent currenlS probably in
"'aler of modera te c1epth, If the pellels are lru!y fecal, ancl lhe "-riter belil'\-es they
are, then mucl-feeding organisms rnust ha'-e been cornmon i:1 ¡he ell\-ironment
Pelmicrile may form ir occasional burro\\'ing animals c1derale sporadically ",ithin
the calcareous mud, or if calcile ooze is sul5jectecl to a genlle rain of inialling
pellels, in either case il indicates a very calm, current-iree ell\-ironment. :\lter­
natcly, it ma)- perhaps origina te by partial recrystall¡zalion oi the calcareous
mud_
~ I A raidy cornmon rock lype in the Silurian limestones oi eastem "-est Yirginia
is composed of a subequa! mixture of fossils ancl prllets_ Il is not kno\\'n ,,-hether
tbis is a valicl rock class or not, but lhe \Voter has tentati'-ely callecl these common
bybrids '-biopelsparite" (Ibr) and "biopelmicrite" (JIbp)_ Ir js quite iogica! that
pellets and iossils shoulcl commanly be associated_
Microcryst<1l/ille rocks_-AII rocks \Vith less than 10 per cem allochems, that is,
those that consist ,-ery largely oi microc-rystalline calcit~, are classed as micro­
crystalline rack s (type 111). This group itse!f shou!c1 be split, ho"e'-er, to sepa­
rate the rock> ,,-ith less than 1 per cent allochems-the_"lithograpbic limestone"
of long usagc, here called simply "micrite" (Hlm, Fig_ 23)-from racks "ith 1-10
per cent allochems_ The writer feels that ior the sake oi precise usage it is berter
to introduce a quamitati"ely defined ne"- w-ord ("micrite") rather than trying ro
redefine the former words for this rock rype like "lithographic lirnesrone,"
"vaughanite," or "calcilutite" which are used cbiefly in a 100se megascopic sense_
The term "micrite" should be reserved strictly for those rocks that, ulIda Ihe
pelrographic rnicroscope, are seen to consist almosr entirely of microcrystalline ',- PL\IT 3
calcite_ 1Iany rocks tbat in the field appear like micnte actually turn out upon Ftc. 23. XLO. ~licrite
(Ulcn:LI). Homogeneou:; ooz.e ;r.ith bed oi Sl.lty pelsparitz \clea.r) al top af ilide. (Jpp.t:" Süurian
WiU::i Creek forma lioe , Washington County, ~t.J.ryh:l.d.
closer exarnination to be very fine-grained biomicrite, pelmicrite, or pelsparite. fIG. 24. XIS. Fo:>Siliierous micritt:, I11b:La. Cont::lin.s about': pu ctnt af dive:e 6ne-gr.lined fossU frogmenl3 ~ly
paded in carbonate mudo CreUceous Buda limesLOn~ TerreU Cxnty, Te.~a;;.
It might be better for preliminary field usage, during tbe measuremenr oi strati­ FrG. 25. X20 Di:imicrite {11.ún-\::LI) ',l.;th i.rregular patches oi =~. Their ori;P.n is ool LoOWQ. ~iddle. OrOoviciaJl

graphic sections, to continue to cal! these aphanitic rocks calcilurites unril they IllTle:'itone,
FIG.26. Franklin Illm-\:: LI. Here "eyes~ oc sparry c:OCite a.re
County, Kentucky.
X30. DiiO'licrite, crude.l~" .:1'ündrical and ob\;ous.!y ~~Ilt bor­
~ly COOCe.!ltI1C zooc: surroun~
::::~~'::::;lb~~~~;~':::'~l¡~~:'O':'d:J~~%':;:r.f~co".:og~~'t~= of >oupy S<ffiH:ongdod carbo­
mgs, probably Qf worros. Appareot compactioo oi oo:.e (dario.eaing) in burro'ft",.. Sc::¡a!ler
can be properl)' named under the microscope or by acetate peeling_
e'
¡i Rocks consisting of microcrystal1ine ooze with 1-10 per cent scattered fossils fIG. 27. XI0. Salldy dismic:ite, TslIlm..'<: Ll.lrr~.ili.r
are::s..5 oi s:pe..r teod to ha"'e.crudely borizontalorieoUtioa.. Gdloeti­
caUy, thi.s is probab1r 3.D a.1g'J.l red (Ham, 195-4), there?ore & more proper came '",ould be sandy alga! biolithite. Appeara.DC!
(termed "iossiliierous micrite," Ulb, Fig_ 2-1,) are quite cornmon, and as noted be­ ,_ orac:ticaUy idenrical witb Recent lamillated (alp.! ID:lt,')) sedim~t.fig. 28. Up~ Ordo'';áao. Mc.Li!ib limesoone., Ponto-­
p. fore, gr<1de cominuousiy into biornicrite (Ub); this rock type is cornmon in chalk_ x. 10. Tb.iD :><'" livO ,r Re..:eot üthified. l..3...oi..'\3ted (~mal?) sedime!!t traro Florida. ters. ti t.be pore5 ""'e~~
FIG !8 OU~boma.
LOI. COUOl),

r. 1 If the fossils are dominantly of one type, tbis should be specified, e_g., roraminif­
eral micrite, crinoida! micrite_ Pel1etiferous micrite (Il1p, 1-10 per cent pellets:
transitional to pe!micrite, IIp) is not uncornmon, but micrite "itb 1-10 per cent
intrac!asts or 06lites is rareo
11 '" AH the microcrystalline rocks presurnably indicate calm-,\ater conditions be­
cause of the very fine grain size of the constituent particJes_ These rocks could
accumulate either in shallolV, protected sbeh-es or lagoons as in the Babarnas, or
hUed W\th sparry cajete, tlus rQ(.!.: ,,"QuId simulate dismicrite (coJD.PL,re fig. 27). Cc&cted by Roben Ginsburg.
FtG. 29. X12. A1g:l.I bioüthite, rV:L. Very compitl rod with ~ ooze, entrapyed s:rnall fos.;;.ils, pdle.ts. ud irreg'.l!.u
patc.hes recrystallized to microspar. Cambrian 5o.ollr}- R..:l.age {orm.-s.coo, Park Cour.ry, Mootana. CoU~te-d by Ric.hard E.
Grant.
. Fm.30. Xl0 ..-\lg3t bioüth¡te. rv:L. Algal stn!c!:ll1"es Itrith ior=ec pore space. edrapped poc.I.l:t3 oi peUets., &.!ld "I.""e.ry
Irregular beddiog. Perm.i:ln Capiun red, Eddy CO'llH)', Xc:w h,le.ó..-o. Cot1e.:ted by Ro~rt J. Dunn.am.
Fte>. ~t. .XtO. :\..Ig:¡.l biolithite, N:L. Irregular aJg31 structure;. syar partiy OCOi;:rlb port~ spaces and paruy i.s result ..Ii
recmtallí..zatlon. Pennsylvaoian (\-¡rgilian) reeí, Ot.e.."o Coo.nty,).;('Y ~{e.x:ico.

~ 1
~___ '''' -~_.- "'".~ ~"""'~'f""'f,"*, .. ,,,-,,,ot'!""'l
 ,
~
~·t.~
:Í
--..-...;.;;....: ... -,,~

I
..;::..
- -".
.­ 'u..<,>-"""--' ~~ .......... 4.1. ..

,........

j
f i 2;
;- II 26 ROBERT L FOLK
C/l:,SIf/( IT/,¡\- 01- I/III.!:>TO\/S

'-ery fine laminalion and sometimes delicate cross-bedding bul they rarely contain
any clay Tbe extremely discoidal pebbles oi "edge"-ise conglomera te" are u,ually
composed oi silly pelsparite (Fig, 5)_
The etl\-ironment oi deposition of pelsparire is n0l kJ1o,q\. The laminaliofl
\\'ould seem to require an environment ol gentle, persislent currenlS probably in
"'aler of modera te c1epth, If the pellels are lru!y fecal, ancl lhe "-riter belil'\-es they
are, then mucl-feeding organisms rnust ha'-e been cornmon i:1 ¡he ell\-ironment
Pelmicrile may form ir occasional burro\\'ing animals c1derale sporadically ",ithin
the calcareous mud, or if calcile ooze is sul5jectecl to a genlle rain of inialling
pellels, in either case il indicates a very calm, current-iree ell\-ironment. :\lter­
natcly, it ma)- perhaps origina te by partial recrystall¡zalion oi the calcareous
mud_
~ I A raidy cornmon rock lype in the Silurian limestones oi eastem "-est Yirginia
is composed of a subequa! mixture of fossils ancl prllets_ Il is not kno\\'n ,,-hether
tbis is a valicl rock class or not, but lhe \Voter has tentati'-ely callecl these common
bybrids '-biopelsparite" (Ibr) and "biopelmicrite" (JIbp)_ Ir js quite iogica! that
pellets and iossils shoulcl commanly be associated_
Microcryst<1l/ille rocks_-AII rocks \Vith less than 10 per cem allochems, that is,
those that consist ,-ery largely oi microc-rystalline calcit~, are classed as micro­
crystalline rack s (type 111). This group itse!f shou!c1 be split, ho"e'-er, to sepa­
rate the rock> ,,-ith less than 1 per cent allochems-the_"lithograpbic limestone"
of long usagc, here called simply "micrite" (Hlm, Fig_ 23)-from racks "ith 1-10
per cent allochems_ The writer feels that ior the sake oi precise usage it is berter
to introduce a quamitati"ely defined ne"- w-ord ("micrite") rather than trying ro
redefine the former words for this rock rype like "lithographic lirnesrone,"
"vaughanite," or "calcilutite" which are used cbiefly in a 100se megascopic sense_
The term "micrite" should be reserved strictly for those rocks that, ulIda Ihe
pelrographic rnicroscope, are seen to consist almosr entirely of microcrystalline ',- PL\IT 3
calcite_ 1Iany rocks tbat in the field appear like micnte actually turn out upon Ftc. 23. XLO. ~licrite
(Ulcn:LI). Homogeneou:; ooz.e ;r.ith bed oi Sl.lty pelsparitz \clea.r) al top af ilide. (Jpp.t:" Süurian
WiU::i Creek forma lioe , Washington County, ~t.J.ryh:l.d.
closer exarnination to be very fine-grained biomicrite, pelmicrite, or pelsparite. fIG. 24. XIS. Fo:>Siliierous micritt:, I11b:La. Cont::lin.s about': pu ctnt af dive:e 6ne-gr.lined fossU frogmenl3 ~ly
paded in carbonate mudo CreUceous Buda limesLOn~ TerreU Cxnty, Te.~a;;.
It might be better for preliminary field usage, during tbe measuremenr oi strati­ FrG. 25. X20 Di:imicrite {11.ún-\::LI) ',l.;th i.rregular patches oi =~. Their ori;P.n is ool LoOWQ. ~iddle. OrOoviciaJl

graphic sections, to continue to cal! these aphanitic rocks calcilurites unril they IllTle:'itone,
FIG.26. Franklin Illm-\:: LI. Here "eyes~ oc sparry c:OCite a.re
County, Kentucky.
X30. DiiO'licrite, crude.l~" .:1'ündrical and ob\;ous.!y ~~Ilt bor­
~ly COOCe.!ltI1C zooc: surroun~
::::~~'::::;lb~~~~;~':::'~l¡~~:'O':'d:J~~%':;:r.f~co".:og~~'t~= of >oupy S<ffiH:ongdod carbo­
mgs, probably Qf worros. Appareot compactioo oi oo:.e (dario.eaing) in burro'ft",.. Sc::¡a!ler
can be properl)' named under the microscope or by acetate peeling_
e'
¡i Rocks consisting of microcrystal1ine ooze with 1-10 per cent scattered fossils fIG. 27. XI0. Salldy dismic:ite, TslIlm..'<: Ll.lrr~.ili.r
are::s..5 oi s:pe..r teod to ha"'e.crudely borizontalorieoUtioa.. Gdloeti­
caUy, thi.s is probab1r 3.D a.1g'J.l red (Ham, 195-4), there?ore & more proper came '",ould be sandy alga! biolithite. Appeara.DC!
(termed "iossiliierous micrite," Ulb, Fig_ 2-1,) are quite cornmon, and as noted be­ ,_ orac:ticaUy idenrical witb Recent lamillated (alp.! ID:lt,')) sedim~t.fig. 28. Up~ Ordo'';áao. Mc.Li!ib limesoone., Ponto-­
p. fore, gr<1de cominuousiy into biornicrite (Ub); this rock type is cornmon in chalk_ x. 10. Tb.iD :><'" livO ,r Re..:eot üthified. l..3...oi..'\3ted (~mal?) sedime!!t traro Florida. ters. ti t.be pore5 ""'e~~
FIG !8 OU~boma.
LOI. COUOl),

r. 1 If the fossils are dominantly of one type, tbis should be specified, e_g., roraminif­
eral micrite, crinoida! micrite_ Pel1etiferous micrite (Il1p, 1-10 per cent pellets:
transitional to pe!micrite, IIp) is not uncornmon, but micrite "itb 1-10 per cent
intrac!asts or 06lites is rareo
11 '" AH the microcrystalline rocks presurnably indicate calm-,\ater conditions be­
cause of the very fine grain size of the constituent particJes_ These rocks could
accumulate either in shallolV, protected sbeh-es or lagoons as in the Babarnas, or
hUed W\th sparry cajete, tlus rQ(.!.: ,,"QuId simulate dismicrite (coJD.PL,re fig. 27). Cc&cted by Roben Ginsburg.
FtG. 29. X12. A1g:l.I bioüthite, rV:L. Very compitl rod with ~ ooze, entrapyed s:rnall fos.;;.ils, pdle.ts. ud irreg'.l!.u
patc.hes recrystallized to microspar. Cambrian 5o.ollr}- R..:l.age {orm.-s.coo, Park Cour.ry, Mootana. CoU~te-d by Ric.hard E.
Grant.
. Fm.30. Xl0 ..-\lg3t bioüth¡te. rv:L. Algal stn!c!:ll1"es Itrith ior=ec pore space. edrapped poc.I.l:t3 oi peUets., &.!ld "I.""e.ry
Irregular beddiog. Perm.i:ln Capiun red, Eddy CO'llH)', Xc:w h,le.ó..-o. Cot1e.:ted by Ro~rt J. Dunn.am.
Fte>. ~t. .XtO. :\..Ig:¡.l biolithite, N:L. Irregular aJg31 structure;. syar partiy OCOi;:rlb port~ spaces and paruy i.s result ..Ii
recmtallí..zatlon. Pennsylvaoian (\-¡rgilian) reeí, Ot.e.."o Coo.nty,).;('Y ~{e.x:ico.

~ 1
~___ '''' -~_.- "'".~ ~"""'~'f""'f,"*, .. ,,,-,,,ot'!""'l

l'
-:""'~. ..-:~,
28 ROBERT L FOLli.
in calm, deep waters. In tl"'ll1sekes, therefore, they do llOt scem to be a deplh
~I
inclicator; clepth should be ine!icated by the rock lypes thal are interbede!ed with
the micrile, faunal assemblages, bee!e!ing, or olher featllres.
Allhough many micrite s¡.¡ecimens contain "cry !itlle insolub!e resiclue, others
contain abundant clay. Silt and sane!, ho·.'·e,·er, are uncommon in the micrite
specimen;; the writer has examinee!. This appears lo be simply a maller of hy
clraulic equiva!ence. Silurian limestones in \\'est \-irginia commonl_,- contain
micrite ane! pelsparile interbee!e!ecl on a sca!e oi 1 cm. or less (fig. 23) and lhe pel­
sparites contatn abundant silt ancl no clay whereas lhe micrites contain abundant
cla)' ane! ver)' li¡tle or no si!t_
DiSlllicrite (IlImX, clisturbee! micrite) is a sack tern¡ for a group of rack types
of e!iverse and obscure origin (figs_ 25-28). These rocks a!1 consist e!ominantly
of microcrystalline ca!cile, but conlain irregular patches, tubules, or leoses of
sparry caicite, almosl invariably ,,-ilh sharp boundaries. This t'-pe of limestone
has been called "bire!seye" by many geologists. It seems to iorm in at'leasl si);
ways. (1) Anima!s (worms, mo!lusks, etc.) bmro'" in ane! "che"- up" what was
origina!lya soft, homogeneous carbonate mucl (Fig;. 25, 26), spar is later chem­
ica!ly precipitated in the resulting tubu!es ane! irregu!:lr openings. The resulting
openings (laler fdlee! by chemical!y precipitaled spar) range from a ie'" distinee,
cylindrica! tubes (commonly ,,-ith fecal pe!lets accumulated at inten-als along
lhe botlorns of the tubes) to sediments tbat are ridd!ed ,,-ieh comp!ete!y irregular
openings showing no tubular aspect, possibly the result of collapse of 50ft sedi­
rnent into larger burro,,"s. (2) Sorne dismicrite specimens are apparently aneienr
algal mats, such as the birdseye ~IcLish limestone described by Ham (195-1); a
thin section of the :\fcLish look; almost identical '''itb a thin section of recent
lithified larninated sediment from Florida (Figs. 21, 28), thought by Robert N.
Cinsburg (personal communication, 1951) to be bound by the action of b!ue­
green algae in the intertidal zone. Here the spar lies in irregular patches paralle!
"ith lhe bedding, and apparently represenls interspaces bet"-een irregularly
shapecl subhorizonlal algal-bound layers. If ir is cerrain tbat the rock origina tes
in this \\'ay, it is preferable to call it by the genetie term "algal biolithite"
rather than the purely descripti'-e "dismicrire." Vertically trending algal grolVths
1.H can also gi"e rise to racks simulating dismicrite, as can accumu!ations oi reerys­
ta!lized algal plates in ca\careous mudo (3) Olher dismicrite5 are the re5ull of soft­
~: sedimenl slumping or mudcracking, which crea les openings ha\ing more tbe
Ji
l' appearances of fractures, although lbe walls are common!y deformed by tlo\\'age
in tbe plastic sedimenl. These should not be confused witb tectonica!ly induced
1l.í.
j 1 fractures. (-1) Sorne dismicrite speeimens contain irregular vertical patcbes oi
ti I spar, which may represent openings in semi-coherem caleareous mud caused by
i'
¡i I
!
passage of gas bubbles_ (5) If a 50ft, unconsolidated caleareous mud is partly torn
up by an lncrease of current veloeity, and tben rapidly redeposited, lbe result is a
lr
rack \Vith very vaguely defined proto-intraclasts, semi-coherent clouds of caleare­
ous mud, and irregular palcbes of spar. This type oi disrnicrite is bence transi­
\
'---....,. ,===-=-=_==--..- ~ :;¡ ...... ;E:~r~~
.,
.....:.,. ..z . .....,.~-,~ .....
.
' _....... _~_~'Io_ .. _ ... ,.j,Jk
29
CLl5SIFIC--ITW,Y o/· LlJIE5TO-\'E5
tional ",ith, and somelimes hare! lO cli5linguish from, inlrasparite. (6) lf a cal­
carcous mue! begins to recrysta!líze in palches, the resu!tillg rock would simulale
a dismicrile- Although an entirely possible rnechallism, the wriler kno"'s of no
sllch examples.
In many c!ismicrite specimens the origin of thc spar-fil!ee! openings is IlOt
kllo\Vn. •
Biolilhile (type I\-) is another sack term_ Inasrnuch as these rocks ha ve been
stue!ied very little by ¡his writer, he propo;es no detailed eias,ification other thar,
to suggest tbat they be specified as algal bio!ithite, coral bio!ithite, etc. Thc llame
should be used on!y ior these spccimens tbat are ln gro\Vth position ane! it cloes
not inelucle broken-ofi fragments of corals or algae. These are allochemical con­
stltuents and a rock composed of them would be alga! or coral biosparite or bio­
micrite, depending on the matris. ::\umerous specirnens of alga! biolithite (Figs.
29-31), espécia!ly in !ower Paleozoic rocks, are very comple, with crurnpled band­
ing, irregular pockets of "'inno"'ed pe!!els, scatteree! animalian iossi!s, and
patches of sparry caleite, sorne of it iorrned by recrysta!!¡zation and sorne repre­
senling fi!!ings of hO!!01l'5 and burrolrs. Certain biolithites mal' al50 simula te e!is­
micrile.
RLCR\:ST.\.LLIZ.HIO); 1); LDtESTü:"ES
In order to a void introducing unnecessary complica lions while discussing the
classification, the writer has purposely evaded ¡he role Ol recrysea!!ization i[l lime­
stones. But to ignore this important proces5 enlire!y would gi,-e a mis!eadingly
\ simple picture of Iimestone petrography; therefore, brief e!iscussion of this phenom­
enon appear:; to be necessary. \Yhen a minera! undergoes "recryst,,!!ization,"
this term signifies that original crystal units of a particular size and morphology
become cou,-erted into crystal units \Vilh difierenl grain size or morpho!ogy, but
the mineral species remains identical before and after recrystallization- Suéh
cbanges ,,-ouId be the alteration of 3-micron, equant grains of microcrystalline
ca!cite to 20-50 mieron, -équant mosaie crystals of sparry caleite; change of the
same microcrystalline calcite'to fibers of calcite 100 microns long; or (theoretically
possib!e) cou\-ersion oi large crystals of spar, such as are found in sparry caleite
cement or echinoderm fragments, to very fine-grained calcite- It would not in­
elude conversion of caleite to dolomite, ,,-hich is properly termed replace ment;
and \Vou!d al50 not include solution of one type of ca!cite, !eaving an open cavity
exisring for:l significant time interval, and later or much !ater filling of that cav­
iry with a difIerent type of ca!cite- RecrY5tallization is really a special case of
metasomatisrn or replacement in which the original and the "replacing" mineral
are identical minera\ogically, although difIerent in grain size, morphology, and
orientation- In common usage, the conversion of unstable aragonite to calcite is
loosely ca!!ed recrystallization, although this process is more properly termed in­
version ina;much as these two minerals are not the same, e!iffering in ionic la ttice,
crystal system, densit)', and other propertieó_
~~_~~."'f.ii","""-H a_(. __·~:"*tt."~·"Y ~.",.:"
,...-.,..,.....%3 . . ' ; ~ ..... _~c.PI' .. -.".. -.:::;».

l'
-:""'~. ..-:~,
28 ROBERT L FOLli.
in calm, deep waters. In tl"'ll1sekes, therefore, they do llOt scem to be a deplh
~I
inclicator; clepth should be ine!icated by the rock lypes thal are interbede!ed with
the micrile, faunal assemblages, bee!e!ing, or olher featllres.
Allhough many micrite s¡.¡ecimens contain "cry !itlle insolub!e resiclue, others
contain abundant clay. Silt and sane!, ho·.'·e,·er, are uncommon in the micrite
specimen;; the writer has examinee!. This appears lo be simply a maller of hy
clraulic equiva!ence. Silurian limestones in \\'est \-irginia commonl_,- contain
micrite ane! pelsparile interbee!e!ecl on a sca!e oi 1 cm. or less (fig. 23) and lhe pel­
sparites contatn abundant silt ancl no clay whereas lhe micrites contain abundant
cla)' ane! ver)' li¡tle or no si!t_
DiSlllicrite (IlImX, clisturbee! micrite) is a sack tern¡ for a group of rack types
of e!iverse and obscure origin (figs_ 25-28). These rocks a!1 consist e!ominantly
of microcrystalline ca!cile, but conlain irregular patches, tubules, or leoses of
sparry caicite, almosl invariably ,,-ilh sharp boundaries. This t'-pe of limestone
has been called "bire!seye" by many geologists. It seems to iorm in at'leasl si);
ways. (1) Anima!s (worms, mo!lusks, etc.) bmro'" in ane! "che"- up" what was
origina!lya soft, homogeneous carbonate mucl (Fig;. 25, 26), spar is later chem­
ica!ly precipitated in the resulting tubu!es ane! irregu!:lr openings. The resulting
openings (laler fdlee! by chemical!y precipitaled spar) range from a ie'" distinee,
cylindrica! tubes (commonly ,,-ith fecal pe!lets accumulated at inten-als along
lhe botlorns of the tubes) to sediments tbat are ridd!ed ,,-ieh comp!ete!y irregular
openings showing no tubular aspect, possibly the result of collapse of 50ft sedi­
rnent into larger burro,,"s. (2) Sorne dismicrite specimens are apparently aneienr
algal mats, such as the birdseye ~IcLish limestone described by Ham (195-1); a
thin section of the :\fcLish look; almost identical '''itb a thin section of recent
lithified larninated sediment from Florida (Figs. 21, 28), thought by Robert N.
Cinsburg (personal communication, 1951) to be bound by the action of b!ue­
green algae in the intertidal zone. Here the spar lies in irregular patches paralle!
"ith lhe bedding, and apparently represenls interspaces bet"-een irregularly
shapecl subhorizonlal algal-bound layers. If ir is cerrain tbat the rock origina tes
in this \\'ay, it is preferable to call it by the genetie term "algal biolithite"
rather than the purely descripti'-e "dismicrire." Vertically trending algal grolVths
1.H can also gi"e rise to racks simulating dismicrite, as can accumu!ations oi reerys­
ta!lized algal plates in ca\careous mudo (3) Olher dismicrite5 are the re5ull of soft­
~: sedimenl slumping or mudcracking, which crea les openings ha\ing more tbe
Ji
l' appearances of fractures, although lbe walls are common!y deformed by tlo\\'age
in tbe plastic sedimenl. These should not be confused witb tectonica!ly induced
1l.í.
j 1 fractures. (-1) Sorne dismicrite speeimens contain irregular vertical patcbes oi
ti I spar, which may represent openings in semi-coherem caleareous mud caused by
i'
¡i I
!
passage of gas bubbles_ (5) If a 50ft, unconsolidated caleareous mud is partly torn
up by an lncrease of current veloeity, and tben rapidly redeposited, lbe result is a
lr
rack \Vith very vaguely defined proto-intraclasts, semi-coherent clouds of caleare­
ous mud, and irregular palcbes of spar. This type oi disrnicrite is bence transi­
\
'---....,. ,===-=-=_==--..- ~ :;¡ ...... ;E:~r~~
.,
.....:.,. ..z . .....,.~-,~ .....
.
' _....... _~_~'Io_ .. _ ... ,.j,Jk
29
CLl5SIFIC--ITW,Y o/· LlJIE5TO-\'E5
tional ",ith, and somelimes hare! lO cli5linguish from, inlrasparite. (6) lf a cal­
carcous mue! begins to recrysta!líze in palches, the resu!tillg rock would simulale
a dismicrile- Although an entirely possible rnechallism, the wriler kno"'s of no
sllch examples.
In many c!ismicrite specimens the origin of thc spar-fil!ee! openings is IlOt
kllo\Vn. •
Biolilhile (type I\-) is another sack term_ Inasrnuch as these rocks ha ve been
stue!ied very little by ¡his writer, he propo;es no detailed eias,ification other thar,
to suggest tbat they be specified as algal bio!ithite, coral bio!ithite, etc. Thc llame
should be used on!y ior these spccimens tbat are ln gro\Vth position ane! it cloes
not inelucle broken-ofi fragments of corals or algae. These are allochemical con­
stltuents and a rock composed of them would be alga! or coral biosparite or bio­
micrite, depending on the matris. ::\umerous specirnens of alga! biolithite (Figs.
29-31), espécia!ly in !ower Paleozoic rocks, are very comple, with crurnpled band­
ing, irregular pockets of "'inno"'ed pe!!els, scatteree! animalian iossi!s, and
patches of sparry caleite, sorne of it iorrned by recrysta!!¡zation and sorne repre­
senling fi!!ings of hO!!01l'5 and burrolrs. Certain biolithites mal' al50 simula te e!is­
micrile.
RLCR\:ST.\.LLIZ.HIO); 1); LDtESTü:"ES
In order to a void introducing unnecessary complica lions while discussing the
classification, the writer has purposely evaded ¡he role Ol recrysea!!ization i[l lime­
stones. But to ignore this important proces5 enlire!y would gi,-e a mis!eadingly
\ simple picture of Iimestone petrography; therefore, brief e!iscussion of this phenom­
enon appear:; to be necessary. \Yhen a minera! undergoes "recryst,,!!ization,"
this term signifies that original crystal units of a particular size and morphology
become cou,-erted into crystal units \Vilh difierenl grain size or morpho!ogy, but
the mineral species remains identical before and after recrystallization- Suéh
cbanges ,,-ouId be the alteration of 3-micron, equant grains of microcrystalline
ca!cite to 20-50 mieron, -équant mosaie crystals of sparry caleite; change of the
same microcrystalline calcite'to fibers of calcite 100 microns long; or (theoretically
possib!e) cou\-ersion oi large crystals of spar, such as are found in sparry caleite
cement or echinoderm fragments, to very fine-grained calcite- It would not in­
elude conversion of caleite to dolomite, ,,-hich is properly termed replace ment;
and \Vou!d al50 not include solution of one type of ca!cite, !eaving an open cavity
exisring for:l significant time interval, and later or much !ater filling of that cav­
iry with a difIerent type of ca!cite- RecrY5tallization is really a special case of
metasomatisrn or replacement in which the original and the "replacing" mineral
are identical minera\ogically, although difIerent in grain size, morphology, and
orientation- In common usage, the conversion of unstable aragonite to calcite is
loosely ca!!ed recrystallization, although this process is more properly termed in­
version ina;much as these two minerals are not the same, e!iffering in ionic la ttice,
crystal system, densit)', and other propertieó_
~~_~~."'f.ii","""-H a_(. __·~:"*tt."~·"Y ~.",.:"
,...-.,..,.....%3 . . ' ; ~ ..... _~c.PI' .. -.".. -.:::;».
 "';' ..~;,II
'-0

\"'~'~~''''''r.Jo,t.. rIi

1
I
1I
JI
(' LIS'; II'/C I T /(/\' ()f Lltl F..\ ro\' r.S
Jll RORI.kT l. rnu,"

'\

" Pl,\ft 5
1 PLAn: I
rtc,. 35. X+!. C0('31 hiomic:'t>SPllrite, Rllb: La.~tlcrospar.n.ows gradual coarserung 10 crysul sin towi1rd lo.e lett part

1 FtG. 31. )IIc::;"CD--parite, R.mm:L R(\, l. I\as lormdr bomoge.o..:ous mo..r(ol r')stalline calcite ooze ~·b¡cb recrysuHized to
1~-I}t~~C~.~ X~~~a:~'c~~o~~ ~¡:~~~:r;~e~R~~b~r.:: J~5a~·J>Jl·r:ai~;~b~ ~i:~~~;¡~ :~~o ~~hD~r~;~di~ting
1Ploge,? ol ~cro5par. and origin:J.l Ql)ze matr.x ha:; btoen compl<ete!y recrystalüud. l¡me:-.toue w ~1:Is.5WlppUlO BarDell forma­
01 pictur~. t"ppe (lnioviciaa (Rkhmond) Iimestooe. Green r,:,."mty. Onio.
Fl(~. X~:. ,)ri~Y
~ns::'Fi.~~ti~;;mó,.~~;~=1~~nti~~~::. r.~~~ a~~;,'p~:;'~t~~,11IUSln'" compl,tinn oí -= ,..hicb
j". Rock pd.mkrite, bUI: former OOd" matri.'t has comp{etely recrysblliz.e:d lO 15--20-;nicoo micFO'"

lllln'fl~~ it.b~/i;s;~uf¡f~sC:L~::a~[ce~R7Ü!b~{t5~¡~~le'i (~anJ lo"..ritudinal.~,tioas) ori~oally '.Vere depo"ite<t lraglra~ots: oO~D.own

:S-o~.
ftc. Ji. X!-3_ Rod: formerlt.CQotaiDc:d. abuoda..at (?) fossil ...,bether il oriJ,ri.nally bad ooLC: mat:rix
or llOt. ccm;1ddy ra:rysullized te roedillm crysulline (.10-.15 lI11I\.) spa.TTY ca.1cite, aod fOMils bave be-t:l all but obü¡­
OQze matr1X, .... ~kn nas recr...sta.lliz..-d rn lO-micron microspar. Pcn.nsylval'l'd.f1 .\Iarble falls time::.tone. San Saha CO'lotV.
,"l. ef3.r.ed. Rare roes: ryJ)( teotath-e1y designat.ed "pseudosparite." Upper Cambrian Point Peak. limestooe, Bur=.et COllOn",
l'l"as .
Te.t:l.S.
rtc.38. X U..3.lnttamicritt in proces:iof re<:ry.;ulliring. Rock-originaUy COOSlSted ol illuadasts, fo'SIDs, aod p¿!cts loosel,.
:~;1.~~~~;To=j:~(;:~~:;pl:li:;:'';~;:~~';~~.f
\)~ be ~ ~an ~ba
~~lci ~~.~ ill~.%'5~~;¡:'~~~~~~
fl¡; R~crystalliza I ion
and lnv~rsion maniies[ [h~m,elve, in diver,e lYay, in lime· ate. Tbis roo.:.k bd.ieved to Couacr,
Upper Úmh"13.o limestooe. Btao.co Tuas.

,1
Ston~,. Sorne [ypes of recrY'laI1iza[ion lea'"e obviou:, clue, bebind, olhers are e~"
lrerntly difficult w prove or dispro,"e. The latter kinJ of recrystallizalion d5 a
j{ con,e-quence gives rise [O heated and often insoluble controver,y. As in the granit­
menls such as Slatistical associations, "common-sense," and other lines oi rea­
soning that carely give iron"clad prof)f. The four major types of recrystallizatio
n
11
1, ization argument, the criteria foc pro,"ing a recrystallization or replacement and inver5ion are depicted in figure 39 and are ranked in the fol!owing paragrapbs
r origin are usually simple, obvious, and incontrovertible ii found; the defender of a in the approximate order of increasing difficulty of proof.
primary (direct-precipi[ation), non-replacernent, or non-recrystallization origin 1. I nc~rsion 01 originally aragollilic lossils lo calcile.-.\ragonitic shell material
has no such fum ground [O stand on, but is iorced to fall back upon vague argu­

~\
"
 "';' ..~;,II
'-0

\"'~'~~''''''r.Jo,t.. rIi

1
I
1I
JI
(' LIS'; II'/C I T /(/\' ()f Lltl F..\ ro\' r.S
Jll RORI.kT l. rnu,"

'\

" Pl,\ft 5
1 PLAn: I
rtc,. 35. X+!. C0('31 hiomic:'t>SPllrite, Rllb: La.~tlcrospar.n.ows gradual coarserung 10 crysul sin towi1rd lo.e lett part

1 FtG. 31. )IIc::;"CD--parite, R.mm:L R(\, l. I\as lormdr bomoge.o..:ous mo..r(ol r')stalline calcite ooze ~·b¡cb recrysuHized to
1~-I}t~~C~.~ X~~~a:~'c~~o~~ ~¡:~~~:r;~e~R~~b~r.:: J~5a~·J>Jl·r:ai~;~b~ ~i:~~~;¡~ :~~o ~~hD~r~;~di~ting
1Ploge,? ol ~cro5par. and origin:J.l Ql)ze matr.x ha:; btoen compl<ete!y recrystalüud. l¡me:-.toue w ~1:Is.5WlppUlO BarDell forma­
01 pictur~. t"ppe (lnioviciaa (Rkhmond) Iimestooe. Green r,:,."mty. Onio.
Fl(~. X~:. ,)ri~Y
~ns::'Fi.~~ti~;;mó,.~~;~=1~~nti~~~::. r.~~~ a~~;,'p~:;'~t~~,11IUSln'" compl,tinn oí -= ,..hicb
j". Rock pd.mkrite, bUI: former OOd" matri.'t has comp{etely recrysblliz.e:d lO 15--20-;nicoo micFO'"

lllln'fl~~ it.b~/i;s;~uf¡f~sC:L~::a~[ce~R7Ü!b~{t5~¡~~le'i (~anJ lo"..ritudinal.~,tioas) ori~oally '.Vere depo"ite<t lraglra~ots: oO~D.own

:S-o~.
ftc. Ji. X!-3_ Rod: formerlt.CQotaiDc:d. abuoda..at (?) fossil ...,bether il oriJ,ri.nally bad ooLC: mat:rix
or llOt. ccm;1ddy ra:rysullized te roedillm crysulline (.10-.15 lI11I\.) spa.TTY ca.1cite, aod fOMils bave be-t:l all but obü¡­
OQze matr1X, .... ~kn nas recr...sta.lliz..-d rn lO-micron microspar. Pcn.nsylval'l'd.f1 .\Iarble falls time::.tone. San Saha CO'lotV.
,"l. ef3.r.ed. Rare roes: ryJ)( teotath-e1y designat.ed "pseudosparite." Upper Cambrian Point Peak. limestooe, Bur=.et COllOn",
l'l"as .
Te.t:l.S.
rtc.38. X U..3.lnttamicritt in proces:iof re<:ry.;ulliring. Rock-originaUy COOSlSted ol illuadasts, fo'SIDs, aod p¿!cts loosel,.
:~;1.~~~~;To=j:~(;:~~:;pl:li:;:'';~;:~~';~~.f
\)~ be ~ ~an ~ba
~~lci ~~.~ ill~.%'5~~;¡:'~~~~~~
fl¡; R~crystalliza I ion
and lnv~rsion maniies[ [h~m,elve, in diver,e lYay, in lime· ate. Tbis roo.:.k bd.ieved to Couacr,
Upper Úmh"13.o limestooe. Btao.co Tuas.

,1
Ston~,. Sorne [ypes of recrY'laI1iza[ion lea'"e obviou:, clue, bebind, olhers are e~"
lrerntly difficult w prove or dispro,"e. The latter kinJ of recrystallizalion d5 a
j{ con,e-quence gives rise [O heated and often insoluble controver,y. As in the granit­
menls such as Slatistical associations, "common-sense," and other lines oi rea­
soning that carely give iron"clad prof)f. The four major types of recrystallizatio
n
11
1, ization argument, the criteria foc pro,"ing a recrystallization or replacement and inver5ion are depicted in figure 39 and are ranked in the fol!owing paragrapbs
r origin are usually simple, obvious, and incontrovertible ii found; the defender of a in the approximate order of increasing difficulty of proof.
primary (direct-precipi[ation), non-replacernent, or non-recrystallization origin 1. I nc~rsion 01 originally aragollilic lossils lo calcile.-.\ragonitic shell material
has no such fum ground [O stand on, but is iorced to fall back upon vague argu­

~\
"
 ~

i.
.......:..'ho." __.

33
CLASSIFICATJO,V 01' Uil"f-STOXES
31 ROBERT L. FOLK
nite
that it m"y be due to an original'difference in the ratio oí ca1cite ooze to arago
(most pelecypods, many gastropods) inverts lo caleite lVith tir.'c, aiic: lhe original
OOle, to the influence oi trace elemcnts or clay minerals in the en,'ironm~nt, or
delicatelv fibrous or prisma tic structure of the shell is replaced by a strucrureless,
1. interlocking, serni-equigranular mosaie of anhedral sparry caleire, apparenrly of to other as yet unre,'ealed factors.
"
.! 3. Recryslallizalion IraJlsecli"llg allochell/s,-This uncommon type of recrys­
the samc appearance ancl crystal size as orclinary ¡Jore-filling sparry caleite (Fig
tallizalion occurs when parts af allocllems (c",g., inlraclasts, non-¿ragoniúc i05­
13). Some algae also recryslallize or im'ere tu sparry nlci,e e~sily (fig. 18). \Vorn
si\;) are recryslallized to sparry caleite, Ol" \\'hcn allochems and matrix are a¡­
or rOLlnded fragments of algal slructures or pelecyporl shells ofren are ctifftculr to
tacked indiscriminately. 1'he areas recryslalliled to spar may take lhc form oi­
identiíy beca use after in vcrsion they look like roundect allochcms oi mosaic
irregular patches, ad,'ancing massi,'e fronts which ma)' Icayc unrecrystallizccl
sparry caleite ancllack any internal struclure as a clue to their lrue organic origino
re1ics behind, or vein-like areas of recrystalli,ation, transecting: both allúchem;
In\"Crsion is generally regarclecl as a fuaction of lime, but many aragonite shells of
and matri:" The criteria for recognition of lhi:; [)tocess are the ;.:¡me as those ior
Pleistocene or Recent age have already inv~rted to caleite, IVhile so me aragonüe
recognizing any type of irregular replacement such as dolomitiZ2tion or silicilica­
shells ha"e persisted un-inverted since lhe late Paleo 7 (Jie. This type of im'ersion
lion. In extreme examples, the entire rack may be convcrted to 3par so th3t no
can be recognized simply by knowing "'hich types of fossi!s ha "e aragonite shells
vestige of original structure remains (fig, 31). These ha\'e beén tentati\'ely
in life.
¡ I 2 Recr)"Slallioalioll (O., im'ersiol/) oI all origil/al lIlicrocr)'slallille calcite (O., terrned "p3eudosparitc,"
-1. Rccrysta/lizalioll 01 original ooze lIIalrix lo COllrse spar, /e.::illg a/lo(lu"'s

cssenliaU}' lwa!fected.-The preceding examples of recry:;tallizal~on are relati\'el~

arugOllik) oo:e lIIalrix lo microspar.-1'his appears to form a common Iimestone

type de\'eloped fram rocks that would ha\'e been originally classified as micrile,
non-controversial, inasmuch as they lca ,'e unimpeachahle eviden.:e behincl. In lhis

type IH, or biomicrite, type IIb (i.e., nearly pure microcrystalline OOle, or
type of reerystallization-thought lO be rather rare by rhis ",riter but considered

fossils in an OOle m2.trix, respecti,'ely) lVere it not for the faet that the microcrys­
very common by man)' others-most of ¡he rocks that no'" ha\'e;;. 3prry ealcile

cenlent are thought to have accum;,¡lated as J. serlirnent (oll~i5tiL~ (.: aHuchem51 i:'l
talline cakite is coarser than normal-a\'eraging 5-15 microns instead of 1--1
microns, althougb tbc grai[ls are still equidimensional and uniio,m in size (Figs.
a microcrystalline ooze rnc.trix, alJlI the spar bter de\'c\operl by ri":rY5tallizalion
31-36). Because thi.; relati\'ely coarser material occupies large areas or makes Uf>
oí the ooze (Fig. 38), This recrysralli,ation spar supposedly imilales e,actly lhe
lhe enlire specirnen, lbe looseness of packing of the emb~dded allochems réquires
morphology of pore,ft]ling spar. Ii this hypothesis \Vere general!y true, it would
that it can not ha \'e formed as a cement, and probably represents aggrading re­
completely destroy the genetic principie of the classiiication pro?0<eJ herein, by
Cl"ystallizarion of a "normal" micracrystalline ooze matrix, These rocks the "-riter
denying the role of hydraulic action in proclucing the c1eanly wJ.3hed (type 1)
has designated as microsparite (correspondi[lg with mierite) and biomicrosparite
versus tbe non-winnowed oOle-ricb limestones (eypes 11 and IIl); inslead, this
(corresponding "'ith biomicrile), "ith symbols respectively RTIIrn allJ RUb, In
difference would be ascribed to recrystallization in the iormer and l2.ck of it in dle
.I these rack>, rhe ailochems seem to remain unaffected by reerystallizatioll, barring
lhe pre"ious existence of aragonitic shells. Unfortunately, microsparite looks latter limestone families,
!i exactly like micrite in band specimen, but it is easily identifiable in thin section or
by chipping off a sli\'er oi limes tone and examining in oiL
This hypothesis is a very serious challenge, 1'0 meet it, the wáter offers tbe
following argument, In most limestúnes the presence or absence oi 3par is simply
a iunction of packing (Fig_ 40). Where a\locbems are c10sely packed (and es¡x­
Ho\\' do \Ve kno\\' that the microspar did not accumulate as an originally de,
cially if they are well sorted), there is sparry calcite cementj wbere aUochems are
posited ooze, \\'hich because of unusual physico-chemiea! condi¡ions (speed of
· JI

~I

loosely packed like iruits in a fruit cake, then a microcrystalline ooze mat rix i5
crystallization, saturarion, ete.) simply grew !arger particles than "normal"
present; and where lhere are no a\lochems, the rack consists oi GOze, This is ex­
ooze' In many microsparite specimens, the microspar occurs as irregular patches
actly the relation that one \Vould expect if current action accounred ior the pre'­
ence or absenee of ooze, just as is the case ",ith terrigenous sanllitones, cla~'ey
grading by continual decrease of grain size inro areas of "normal" rnierocrystalline
calcite (Fig, 35), Furrhermore, the microspar may begin to crystallize about allo­
sandstones, and claysrones. Ti sparr)' ca\cite ",ere usually the re3ult oi recrystal­
cbems (or eyen quartz grains) as an outwardly advancing aureole of recrysta\Jiza­
ji tion, In sorne samples tbe grains oi microspar caleite in these recrystallization
lization, then tbe presenee or absence of spar should have no relation to packing:
racks with allochems spread far aput in a sparr)' calcite matri., (wbich ,,'as orig­
iTinges ha \'e a vaguely rod-like to radial-fibrous form, oriented perpendicula r to
1tI1 the allochem surface (fig. 33), In most micrasparites, tbe matrix has be en con­
inally an ooze matri.-,,) sbould be abundant, ancl many patches oi reuystalliza­
tion spar should be present in sections ol dominant micrite, If thc ooze recrysral­
yerted completely; tberefore in these there is no direct evidence of its origin (Figs,
lizes in the closely packed, "'ell sorted ca\carenites, lhen it sbou\d aL'O recrystallize
32,3-1), The reason \\'hy some micrite or biomicrite specimens are partly or en­
in racks made largely or entirely of ooze, Yet il is a monotonous rJ..!e that one C2.!l
tirely con\'erred to microsparite is unknown; one can only advance the truism

it -..h #2' &_. ! ... i'~ ~~1!""""r; ';+9f"'_~.~-~'.4 _!~Tif4ti_t'."W:ljg. swo=rJ{~~~":f'I"-'''''''-C;-''''''''"-''-~''''''~ -,~, ..
\
 ~

i.
.......:..'ho." __.

33
CLASSIFICATJO,V 01' Uil"f-STOXES
31 ROBERT L. FOLK
nite
that it m"y be due to an original'difference in the ratio oí ca1cite ooze to arago
(most pelecypods, many gastropods) inverts lo caleite lVith tir.'c, aiic: lhe original
OOle, to the influence oi trace elemcnts or clay minerals in the en,'ironm~nt, or
delicatelv fibrous or prisma tic structure of the shell is replaced by a strucrureless,
1. interlocking, serni-equigranular mosaie of anhedral sparry caleire, apparenrly of to other as yet unre,'ealed factors.
"
.! 3. Recryslallizalion IraJlsecli"llg allochell/s,-This uncommon type of recrys­
the samc appearance ancl crystal size as orclinary ¡Jore-filling sparry caleite (Fig
tallizalion occurs when parts af allocllems (c",g., inlraclasts, non-¿ragoniúc i05­
13). Some algae also recryslallize or im'ere tu sparry nlci,e e~sily (fig. 18). \Vorn
si\;) are recryslallized to sparry caleite, Ol" \\'hcn allochems and matrix are a¡­
or rOLlnded fragments of algal slructures or pelecyporl shells ofren are ctifftculr to
tacked indiscriminately. 1'he areas recryslalliled to spar may take lhc form oi­
identiíy beca use after in vcrsion they look like roundect allochcms oi mosaic
irregular patches, ad,'ancing massi,'e fronts which ma)' Icayc unrecrystallizccl
sparry caleite ancllack any internal struclure as a clue to their lrue organic origino
re1ics behind, or vein-like areas of recrystalli,ation, transecting: both allúchem;
In\"Crsion is generally regarclecl as a fuaction of lime, but many aragonite shells of
and matri:" The criteria for recognition of lhi:; [)tocess are the ;.:¡me as those ior
Pleistocene or Recent age have already inv~rted to caleite, IVhile so me aragonüe
recognizing any type of irregular replacement such as dolomitiZ2tion or silicilica­
shells ha"e persisted un-inverted since lhe late Paleo 7 (Jie. This type of im'ersion
lion. In extreme examples, the entire rack may be convcrted to 3par so th3t no
can be recognized simply by knowing "'hich types of fossi!s ha "e aragonite shells
vestige of original structure remains (fig, 31). These ha\'e beén tentati\'ely
in life.
¡ I 2 Recr)"Slallioalioll (O., im'ersiol/) oI all origil/al lIlicrocr)'slallille calcite (O., terrned "p3eudosparitc,"
-1. Rccrysta/lizalioll 01 original ooze lIIalrix lo COllrse spar, /e.::illg a/lo(lu"'s

cssenliaU}' lwa!fected.-The preceding examples of recry:;tallizal~on are relati\'el~

arugOllik) oo:e lIIalrix lo microspar.-1'his appears to form a common Iimestone

type de\'eloped fram rocks that would ha\'e been originally classified as micrile,
non-controversial, inasmuch as they lca ,'e unimpeachahle eviden.:e behincl. In lhis

type IH, or biomicrite, type IIb (i.e., nearly pure microcrystalline OOle, or
type of reerystallization-thought lO be rather rare by rhis ",riter but considered

fossils in an OOle m2.trix, respecti,'ely) lVere it not for the faet that the microcrys­
very common by man)' others-most of ¡he rocks that no'" ha\'e;;. 3prry ealcile

cenlent are thought to have accum;,¡lated as J. serlirnent (oll~i5tiL~ (.: aHuchem51 i:'l
talline cakite is coarser than normal-a\'eraging 5-15 microns instead of 1--1
microns, althougb tbc grai[ls are still equidimensional and uniio,m in size (Figs.
a microcrystalline ooze rnc.trix, alJlI the spar bter de\'c\operl by ri":rY5tallizalion
31-36). Because thi.; relati\'ely coarser material occupies large areas or makes Uf>
oí the ooze (Fig. 38), This recrysralli,ation spar supposedly imilales e,actly lhe
lhe enlire specirnen, lbe looseness of packing of the emb~dded allochems réquires
morphology of pore,ft]ling spar. Ii this hypothesis \Vere general!y true, it would
that it can not ha \'e formed as a cement, and probably represents aggrading re­
completely destroy the genetic principie of the classiiication pro?0<eJ herein, by
Cl"ystallizarion of a "normal" micracrystalline ooze matrix, These rocks the "-riter
denying the role of hydraulic action in proclucing the c1eanly wJ.3hed (type 1)
has designated as microsparite (correspondi[lg with mierite) and biomicrosparite
versus tbe non-winnowed oOle-ricb limestones (eypes 11 and IIl); inslead, this
(corresponding "'ith biomicrile), "ith symbols respectively RTIIrn allJ RUb, In
difference would be ascribed to recrystallization in the iormer and l2.ck of it in dle
.I these rack>, rhe ailochems seem to remain unaffected by reerystallizatioll, barring
lhe pre"ious existence of aragonitic shells. Unfortunately, microsparite looks latter limestone families,
!i exactly like micrite in band specimen, but it is easily identifiable in thin section or
by chipping off a sli\'er oi limes tone and examining in oiL
This hypothesis is a very serious challenge, 1'0 meet it, the wáter offers tbe
following argument, In most limestúnes the presence or absence oi 3par is simply
a iunction of packing (Fig_ 40). Where a\locbems are c10sely packed (and es¡x­
Ho\\' do \Ve kno\\' that the microspar did not accumulate as an originally de,
cially if they are well sorted), there is sparry calcite cementj wbere aUochems are
posited ooze, \\'hich because of unusual physico-chemiea! condi¡ions (speed of
· JI

~I

loosely packed like iruits in a fruit cake, then a microcrystalline ooze mat rix i5
crystallization, saturarion, ete.) simply grew !arger particles than "normal"
present; and where lhere are no a\lochems, the rack consists oi GOze, This is ex­
ooze' In many microsparite specimens, the microspar occurs as irregular patches
actly the relation that one \Vould expect if current action accounred ior the pre'­
ence or absenee of ooze, just as is the case ",ith terrigenous sanllitones, cla~'ey
grading by continual decrease of grain size inro areas of "normal" rnierocrystalline
calcite (Fig, 35), Furrhermore, the microspar may begin to crystallize about allo­
sandstones, and claysrones. Ti sparr)' ca\cite ",ere usually the re3ult oi recrystal­
cbems (or eyen quartz grains) as an outwardly advancing aureole of recrysta\Jiza­
ji tion, In sorne samples tbe grains oi microspar caleite in these recrystallization
lization, then tbe presenee or absence of spar should have no relation to packing:
racks with allochems spread far aput in a sparr)' calcite matri., (wbich ,,'as orig­
iTinges ha \'e a vaguely rod-like to radial-fibrous form, oriented perpendicula r to
1tI1 the allochem surface (fig. 33), In most micrasparites, tbe matrix has be en con­
inally an ooze matri.-,,) sbould be abundant, ancl many patches oi reuystalliza­
tion spar should be present in sections ol dominant micrite, If thc ooze recrysral­
yerted completely; tberefore in these there is no direct evidence of its origin (Figs,
lizes in the closely packed, "'ell sorted ca\carenites, lhen it sbou\d aL'O recrystallize
32,3-1), The reason \\'hy some micrite or biomicrite specimens are partly or en­
in racks made largely or entirely of ooze, Yet il is a monotonous rJ..!e that one C2.!l
tirely con\'erred to microsparite is unknown; one can only advance the truism

it -..h #2' &_. ! ... i'~ ~~1!""""r; ';+9f"'_~.~-~'.4 _!~Tif4ti_t'."W:ljg. swo=rJ{~~~":f'I"-'''''''-C;-''''''''"-''-~''''''~ -,~, ..
\
 ,~

~
.....~-

e LI ss r nCI TTUS UF LI.lr esTO.\" rs 35

3~ ROBJ:RT L FOU,­
II ID
l11c"sure hunelreds o[ feet 01 !imestnne seCljons allel finel that spar o(curs 0111)' in
c!osely pa,'kpJ calcarellites, anel loosel)' packeel or \I'ickly disper;ed allOL'hem,
o('(ur ollly lI'ith 007.C ma1ris--esactly analogous lI'ilh sandstone-c1aystone se­
qucllces in 1errigcIlous racks, Those \I'ho c1aim a recrys1a!lization origin Íor mosl
sl'ar ar~ c1ellyillg 1hc eviclcnce ol recent carbonate sedimcnts, most of \\'hich are k_t.y Mt.:rRIX l:~ COL!
~ ~<.~RYSTdUt.E CALClr~
poroU3 calcarcllires c1e\'Oid 01 ooze matrjs ami Wilh plenty ol pore sp"cc waiting l QOIE IN COL. n,m
lO recel\'e their sparr)' calcite ccment.
rrTJ7¡ FO-::l¡4ICAl CE",,'::NT IN COl. t
The <\"Iitcr tirmly bclieves thc foregoing principies apply to the \'aS1 majority ULlJ LsPt.::¡¡ty CALelTE IN COL.:I,.1U
o[ limestoncs, I-1owevcr, there are a fc\\' limcstones in which il i5 demonstab!e lhal
.(lA (STRUCTURAL fFlAM(WOA,< ~
thc origin'al oozc rnatrix has recr)'stallized lo coarse spar. These Ijmcstones can bc ~;1l' 5,:.';0 GA AINS (COL. 11, O"
() ~lLOCHEMS {COL.:n, E:l
iclcn tiflcd posj( ively by the criterion tha t allochems arc dispersed wic1e1y in a

,.:' . :~. ,
~
>'.~.
~. ' ~
~:~ ,.",<;<:mK'CCOO<:-'
-::'":'.:' .~ ~i;,~ JvO,,~~7t~;~o
" :" .....
- -

~
.,,~&
. . :,:.~
TERRIC-ENCUS HYPon"'~-Ic"::'L
NORMAL
Z..MICltOCAtST.:. __ , ( OOl!
SAND·SHALE lIMESTONE RECRYST~~_'2D
),U.rRIX:":::~-~':fS
SEOUENCE: LlMEST:'~
,o .:i""''', SEOUENCE

j
"'1 ,W\c,> Jo ~O~ SEOUE,,:E
::.:'.: <,".:.:::.: C"l'!:"'S ¡J"':":''::Cf:'':l

fIe. 40.-ol'currence oi sparry calcite as functi{\, 01 ;)acking. enlumo n sho\\'s rebtiú03 in

2"re:lt majority of Iimt'stone :i~C1uences: 5i'arry c:llcite ("00 (tH'5 \\h~ic :!.~locr"m5 r'.re relati\(.·ly t:ghtly

~
.~",.",
,', " .' ---). ~:~.
'" '", ,':~ ~,---)- ~[8¡jr-
~:\ ''''''''''',' ....."n.
~~:~~~~s~" s;:~.Rf" ..R~~
packed (strata labeled ··T"). ~o sparry calcite occu~ .,\ her~ all(o(~i'm .. are lo..:..s<!y packc-': and
':tloating" in ca1cite onze matrix (strata "L"), ano n(o ':!J0.3.r occur~ L'" ~trat:l of h(.o:ogcneoL::- OOzc
("::\"). This denJon.::.trates ~nrt·hlling or¡~n for sparry C2lcite in m~~ !imt'i-h1nes, bec:J.use- rel~tions.
'-~':~"",<
O&~ITt".:.l'(1J are exactly tbose that accur in terrigellous sand'sh31~ 5Cquenc~::; lcúiumll Il. Here also Ch?"'11ic a l

11
.:" . \ N . '. ""E ....5
.'......... .....
Ccrncnts (e.g.. calcite, quartz) occur only wht:re 5-1nC grains are rdati\ely tightly packcd. and
(ement is inconspicuous in clilyey strata, C1¡J.Y forms::1 roe" in its ('l.,r:¡ r¡,dn, just 35 does micr:u' in

~
. . t_"
. .J .'."_ , ~\.( lo' CAiJcRrSi.:._U'tE OOZE columo Ir. Ji spar usually de\'eloped by recrystallíz•.ltio:. oí microcrY-H.3.lline cJ.lcite ooze, occur-rence
---)o> ,'_ ~~T~~~A~~C;~~L~lLE;. oi spar should Le completely indcpendcnt oi packing a~ -:howl\ in co!umn nI. Hcre tht.: spar 'w')utd
:- :'.
¿.¿-t~. c...E .... s Ul'j4S'FE.:n;:l
occur as irregular palches even in micl~t of larg~ are:l5 oí Qo.'le, Li..rr,~"('Ine 3ections like co1umn IJI
do occur, but in the writer's experience are extremely .-a.-""t.
0.,., ••, ~ .. \

FIG. 39.-TYIJl!s of Recry~tallizaIion and Inversioo in Limestone. In t~l~ 1, aragonitic allo­ matrix of spar. This is simply again a matter oi racking, :;¡at is, the allocherns are
l'hems (e.g.. ccrtain types of shells, and aragonitic alga! masse.s or intraclast5 "3'" recrY5tJ.llize nr
I
I iovert to (¡licite. Consequently their delicate structure is destroyed and rt:plact:'Il hy hornogeneoLts wide!y enough spaced so that they must han been originally deposited \yith an
i
1
Olosaic ol sparry calcite, in appearance e:mctly like sparry calcite resulting írom cementadon. Cal·
citie f0S5iLs II c" and the matrix of rock remaio unattected. In type 2. microcrystalline ooze matri'i:
ooze malá" filling between them, which ooze has no..- recrystallized to spar.
Rarely this process may be seen in mid-stage (Fig. 381. Recrystalli7.ation spar
of rock cr~""Stallizes to microspar. During partial stages oi alteratian, it is common for olicrospar to
i begin as radial fringes encrusting allochems lIi," and also to occur as irreg'Jlar patches ~ttered
randoml~' throughout ooze. Contacl between unrecrystallized ooze and micr05p.:lr is usuaUy grada
tends to form crystals oi much more uniform size (like rcplacement dolo mire) in
contrast to cementation spar, in which tbe crystals in lbe mosaic sbo\\' \Vide size
t tional. \\"hen recrystallization is complete (usual case), entire malrlx is connnted to miCIoSp3r but
allochems are unal1ected (unle::is they were aragonitic). This is rno.:H cammon ty~ of recrystalliza· variation. Occasionally ordinary pore-filling spar, especially in sOlDe trilobite and
¿:I tion. In type 3, coarse spar develops by recrystallization of botb ocze and a!1ochems. and spar
ostracod-rjch sediments, forms fibraus o\'ergrowths on tbe lossils possess,ing

L
transects allochems and matrix indi.scrirninately. RecrystaUization IDay ad\"ance along ma.sslve
fronts or work out as replacement veinlets "v." \Yhen recrystaJLi.z.ation is complete, eatire roc.k is enough force oi crystalljzation lo actually spread lossils apan and expand the
I.:onverled to coarse, mosaie sparry ca!cite (14pseudosparite") and aUochern:: Olay be completely
sediment volume to double or more its original bulk, but tbese esarnples are

tr obliterated or visible as faint gho.its l:g," This process is appar~nt1y identical in mechanism with
dolomiliz..ation, except that replacing mineral is calcite, nel dolomite. Tbis t~~ of recI'YHalliz.ation
seems rar~. In type 4, original ooze matn"t recrystaUizes to coarse 5parry calcite. This diñers rrom
type 3 in that allochems are not affected. In partial sta,p:es, irregular patches of spar IDay OCcur
easiIy recognizable. Similar displaciye groll"th o¡'calcite cement also occurs in some
sandstones. Patches oi spar in othecwise bOIDogeneous micrite (i.e., dismicrite)
I s<:attered throughout ooze; these simulate the appearance of 'lpoorly winnowe-d." lim~~on~. :\fter seemingly offer fuel to the recrystallizationis¡, but car~Íul examination nearly
process is comp1eted, main evidence for recrystallization l¡es in fan tbat allochems are tM looje1y
paeked (iloating) in sparry ealeite; rock eould nol have heen deposited that u'y, This t)1'" of re­ always shows that the sparey patche,; are demonstrabIy burrows or desicc-ation
crystalliz...1.tion is relt very important by sorne \....orkers, but tbe writer feds that it is of illlaU \'olu­ phenomena, as has beeo discusscd previou,;ly, The spe-irneos m05t difficuIt to
metric importance.

________ -.-.---~.-- _ . 1-;..-. "t'>t'~'.-...• !.

\...-====~~= J ; . W ..C,5 .. !l., ';-9 .,,",'''. 'M '1 e (~~¡¡, e ,_.,~ r1""~~~""',.. ~ ,.. ~t"7""'t~~> *.1- :' ".H "'"Ji.• ~ ~
•.
 ,~

~
.....~-

e LI ss r nCI TTUS UF LI.lr esTO.\" rs 35

3~ ROBJ:RT L FOU,­
II ID
l11c"sure hunelreds o[ feet 01 !imestnne seCljons allel finel that spar o(curs 0111)' in
c!osely pa,'kpJ calcarellites, anel loosel)' packeel or \I'ickly disper;ed allOL'hem,
o('(ur ollly lI'ith 007.C ma1ris--esactly analogous lI'ilh sandstone-c1aystone se­
qucllces in 1errigcIlous racks, Those \I'ho c1aim a recrys1a!lization origin Íor mosl
sl'ar ar~ c1ellyillg 1hc eviclcnce ol recent carbonate sedimcnts, most of \\'hich are k_t.y Mt.:rRIX l:~ COL!
~ ~<.~RYSTdUt.E CALClr~
poroU3 calcarcllires c1e\'Oid 01 ooze matrjs ami Wilh plenty ol pore sp"cc waiting l QOIE IN COL. n,m
lO recel\'e their sparr)' calcite ccment.
rrTJ7¡ FO-::l¡4ICAl CE",,'::NT IN COl. t
The <\"Iitcr tirmly bclieves thc foregoing principies apply to the \'aS1 majority ULlJ LsPt.::¡¡ty CALelTE IN COL.:I,.1U
o[ limestoncs, I-1owevcr, there are a fc\\' limcstones in which il i5 demonstab!e lhal
.(lA (STRUCTURAL fFlAM(WOA,< ~
thc origin'al oozc rnatrix has recr)'stallized lo coarse spar. These Ijmcstones can bc ~;1l' 5,:.';0 GA AINS (COL. 11, O"
() ~lLOCHEMS {COL.:n, E:l
iclcn tiflcd posj( ively by the criterion tha t allochems arc dispersed wic1e1y in a

,.:' . :~. ,
~
>'.~.
~. ' ~
~:~ ,.",<;<:mK'CCOO<:-'
-::'":'.:' .~ ~i;,~ JvO,,~~7t~;~o
" :" .....
- -

~
.,,~&
. . :,:.~
TERRIC-ENCUS HYPon"'~-Ic"::'L
NORMAL
Z..MICltOCAtST.:. __ , ( OOl!
SAND·SHALE lIMESTONE RECRYST~~_'2D
),U.rRIX:":::~-~':fS
SEOUENCE: LlMEST:'~
,o .:i""''', SEOUENCE

j
"'1 ,W\c,> Jo ~O~ SEOUE,,:E
::.:'.: <,".:.:::.: C"l'!:"'S ¡J"':":''::Cf:'':l

fIe. 40.-ol'currence oi sparry calcite as functi{\, 01 ;)acking. enlumo n sho\\'s rebtiú03 in

2"re:lt majority of Iimt'stone :i~C1uences: 5i'arry c:llcite ("00 (tH'5 \\h~ic :!.~locr"m5 r'.re relati\(.·ly t:ghtly

~
.~",.",
,', " .' ---). ~:~.
'" '", ,':~ ~,---)- ~[8¡jr-
~:\ ''''''''''',' ....."n.
~~:~~~~s~" s;:~.Rf" ..R~~
packed (strata labeled ··T"). ~o sparry calcite occu~ .,\ her~ all(o(~i'm .. are lo..:..s<!y packc-': and
':tloating" in ca1cite onze matrix (strata "L"), ano n(o ':!J0.3.r occur~ L'" ~trat:l of h(.o:ogcneoL::- OOzc
("::\"). This denJon.::.trates ~nrt·hlling or¡~n for sparry C2lcite in m~~ !imt'i-h1nes, bec:J.use- rel~tions.
'-~':~"",<
O&~ITt".:.l'(1J are exactly tbose that accur in terrigellous sand'sh31~ 5Cquenc~::; lcúiumll Il. Here also Ch?"'11ic a l

11
.:" . \ N . '. ""E ....5
.'......... .....
Ccrncnts (e.g.. calcite, quartz) occur only wht:re 5-1nC grains are rdati\ely tightly packcd. and
(ement is inconspicuous in clilyey strata, C1¡J.Y forms::1 roe" in its ('l.,r:¡ r¡,dn, just 35 does micr:u' in

~
. . t_"
. .J .'."_ , ~\.( lo' CAiJcRrSi.:._U'tE OOZE columo Ir. Ji spar usually de\'eloped by recrystallíz•.ltio:. oí microcrY-H.3.lline cJ.lcite ooze, occur-rence
---)o> ,'_ ~~T~~~A~~C;~~L~lLE;. oi spar should Le completely indcpendcnt oi packing a~ -:howl\ in co!umn nI. Hcre tht.: spar 'w')utd
:- :'.
¿.¿-t~. c...E .... s Ul'j4S'FE.:n;:l
occur as irregular palches even in micl~t of larg~ are:l5 oí Qo.'le, Li..rr,~"('Ine 3ections like co1umn IJI
do occur, but in the writer's experience are extremely .-a.-""t.
0.,., ••, ~ .. \

FIG. 39.-TYIJl!s of Recry~tallizaIion and Inversioo in Limestone. In t~l~ 1, aragonitic allo­ matrix of spar. This is simply again a matter oi racking, :;¡at is, the allocherns are
l'hems (e.g.. ccrtain types of shells, and aragonitic alga! masse.s or intraclast5 "3'" recrY5tJ.llize nr
I
I iovert to (¡licite. Consequently their delicate structure is destroyed and rt:plact:'Il hy hornogeneoLts wide!y enough spaced so that they must han been originally deposited \yith an
i
1
Olosaic ol sparry calcite, in appearance e:mctly like sparry calcite resulting írom cementadon. Cal·
citie f0S5iLs II c" and the matrix of rock remaio unattected. In type 2. microcrystalline ooze matri'i:
ooze malá" filling between them, which ooze has no..- recrystallized to spar.
Rarely this process may be seen in mid-stage (Fig. 381. Recrystalli7.ation spar
of rock cr~""Stallizes to microspar. During partial stages oi alteratian, it is common for olicrospar to
i begin as radial fringes encrusting allochems lIi," and also to occur as irreg'Jlar patches ~ttered
randoml~' throughout ooze. Contacl between unrecrystallized ooze and micr05p.:lr is usuaUy grada
tends to form crystals oi much more uniform size (like rcplacement dolo mire) in
contrast to cementation spar, in which tbe crystals in lbe mosaic sbo\\' \Vide size
t tional. \\"hen recrystallization is complete (usual case), entire malrlx is connnted to miCIoSp3r but
allochems are unal1ected (unle::is they were aragonitic). This is rno.:H cammon ty~ of recrystalliza· variation. Occasionally ordinary pore-filling spar, especially in sOlDe trilobite and
¿:I tion. In type 3, coarse spar develops by recrystallization of botb ocze and a!1ochems. and spar
ostracod-rjch sediments, forms fibraus o\'ergrowths on tbe lossils possess,ing

L
transects allochems and matrix indi.scrirninately. RecrystaUization IDay ad\"ance along ma.sslve
fronts or work out as replacement veinlets "v." \Yhen recrystaJLi.z.ation is complete, eatire roc.k is enough force oi crystalljzation lo actually spread lossils apan and expand the
I.:onverled to coarse, mosaie sparry ca!cite (14pseudosparite") and aUochern:: Olay be completely
sediment volume to double or more its original bulk, but tbese esarnples are

tr obliterated or visible as faint gho.its l:g," This process is appar~nt1y identical in mechanism with
dolomiliz..ation, except that replacing mineral is calcite, nel dolomite. Tbis t~~ of recI'YHalliz.ation
seems rar~. In type 4, original ooze matn"t recrystaUizes to coarse 5parry calcite. This diñers rrom
type 3 in that allochems are not affected. In partial sta,p:es, irregular patches of spar IDay OCcur
easiIy recognizable. Similar displaciye groll"th o¡'calcite cement also occurs in some
sandstones. Patches oi spar in othecwise bOIDogeneous micrite (i.e., dismicrite)
I s<:attered throughout ooze; these simulate the appearance of 'lpoorly winnowe-d." lim~~on~. :\fter seemingly offer fuel to the recrystallizationis¡, but car~Íul examination nearly
process is comp1eted, main evidence for recrystallization l¡es in fan tbat allochems are tM looje1y
paeked (iloating) in sparry ealeite; rock eould nol have heen deposited that u'y, This t)1'" of re­ always shows that the sparey patche,; are demonstrabIy burrows or desicc-ation
crystalliz...1.tion is relt very important by sorne \....orkers, but tbe writer feds that it is of illlaU \'olu­ phenomena, as has beeo discusscd previou,;ly, The spe-irneos m05t difficuIt to
metric importance.

________ -.-.---~.-- _ . 1-;..-. "t'>t'~'.-...• !.

\...-====~~= J ; . W ..C,5 .. !l., ';-9 .,,",'''. 'M '1 e (~~¡¡, e ,_.,~ r1""~~~""',.. ~ ,.. ~t"7""'t~~> *.1- :' ".H "'"Ji.• ~ ~
•.
 :
. J.r
~......... -.:.:~, ........ ~ .. :­
~

37
CLISSIFiCITIOY Ol' U.1f ESTO_\'ES
36 ROBERT L FOLE\.
ing amI abrasion ,,"ould destroy"lhe soft lirnestone fragmellts. Consequently,
interpret are lhose which ha\'e their púre spaces p~rtialh' rilled with spar, and
calc\itbites are typica!l)- strcarn or a!lu"ial fan riepo;ils Ira m ruggcd lenanes.
partially wilh ooze (Fig. 19). These lhe wriler has tcrrned "pO'lr\y wa,hed lime­
stones" anc1 regarcls thern as transitional belween lypes 1 and II beca use currenls CO"CLCSIO:,S
were ouly strong enough or persistent eJlough to \,"ash a\\·2.Y part Di the ooze.
\\"hethcr the ne"" names anel the symbolic sborthand are nccepted or not, the
~lal;y of the rernaining clots oi OOle h;l\'e "fuzzy" boundariéS beca use of their
,,"riter is con"incec1 that the rack lypes ior which these name; and symbols s,and
incc>herence. Olhers see in these limestones a patchy recry;tallizalion of the ooze
are basically yalid alrhou!jh lhe limirs may becorne moc1it'Led lhrúugh more re­
to S¡X\l. Inspeclion of lhese lirnestones for geopetaI a,:cumula¡ions of OO7.e helps in
seareh. Using these types, proporliOn~le lithülogic diagrams can be preparecl for
decipheriug their origin. Ji clay minerals are presenl in the OO7.e, then they should
limestone formations, as sh()\\'¡¡ in figure .. l. "'ith time, the en,"ironmental sig­
also be present in the spar if il has formed_ by recrystallizarion of ooze, and clay
nificance 01 ea eh of the ele\"en rock l"p<'3 will becorne clearer anc1lhey can be usecl
should be absent ii the spar is a pore-filling.
in eleciphering the reasons i(lr la leral anel ,'e¡¡ieal changes \\ hLdl ha \'C taken place
Slllllmary.-Recryslallizatio[1 is a \-ery irnportanl process in sorne formations
and in s,)me localities; bul ils onr-all "olurnetric importance in lirnestont is con­ in lime,;tone seetions.
sidered minoro Like turbidity currents, recrystallization tends to become a pan­ StLURI':"~ l!1l~STONES
acea wbich one falls back on to explain any phenomenon be can not readily under­
sland. In studying samples, one most akays keep in mind tbe possibility of recrys­
lallization, but unless tbis wr\ter sees definite evidence of reerystallization sUch
as ultra-Ioosely packeel alloehems in a sparry cernent, or trapsecrion of allochems, PELLET
ROCI'S
or graelational recrystallizalion of matris, he assumes the si¡¡~p!er vie ..... that tbe
spnr is primary. Even in the recrystallized rocks one must b3\-e started with one

f
i
of the basic eleven rock types outlined, and recrystalli7.ation merely adds a
qualificdrioll to the system. Tbis is no m:¡re serious than recognizing tbat original
lirnestone fabric: may be partly replaced by ca!cite as "eH as dolornite or silica.

TERRIGE"OU5 C,\RBO:-.xrE ROCKS, OR C.\LCLtTRTTES

FrG. -ll.-Proportionate lithology diagraro. Silurian llroestone~J ~[organ County. \Ves~ Yi:ginia
ji Sorne mention should be made 01 those terrigenous rock> that are made up (based on research in progn.:ss). This type of di:lgr~m G ellmpte of gnphic lithologic sumrna-.,". c.5ing
classification bere proposed; surnmaries likc: tbis can be used in comparing formatilJns or tr2Ó g
n
j ¡argely of fragments of oleler limestones eroeled from ourcrops in a saurce land. _-\1­ lateral and vertical stratigrapbic changes in lirr.e::wne t:.~s. Total :lrea of diagrJ.m equab 100 ~el
though tbese ha\-e the mineral composition of limestone (or elolomite), they cent; area shown for each rock type is prúportiooal to i~ vo(ume in section studied. Pel;~parüe is
SbOlllel really be considereel as terrigenous rocks and hence form a rock clan iully rnost COOlmon rack typc, with Ostracod Bios~ri.te secar.d.
"
equivalent in rank to the orthoqllartzite, arkose, or gray,,:acke. Thus the clan
15 this cl2.5Sification too complicated? To the out5ider looking in, it tUl­
1
'.
triangle cornposition lor sandstones proposed by Folk (195+,1956) should be ex­
eloubtedly appears so--but al! c1as5ii'.Gltion5 look comple" to people who ha\-e
paneleel to a tetrabedron to incluele these terrigenous carbonate rocks. These rocks e
not hael to work \\'ith the rocks in,-oIYeu. But ro the geologist who must struggl
are bere termeel "Calclithites" alluding to the fact that they are a rock made up of
with lirnestones continually, this c1a..-<sificati ')u will soon appear too simple.
fragments of oIder ca!careous rock. A calclithite, thetl, is eletined as a terrigenous
Dozens of different subtypes of biomicrite could be establisheel, depenelent upun
rock whose silt-sand-gravel fraction contains more than 50 per cent carbonate rock
;1 fragm·ents. The grain size of these rocks ranges from siltstones (rare) through
sanelstones (faidy common) to conglomerate (most common). _-\ good example of
proportion of fossils to ooze, grain size and amouot 01 breakage of fossils, t)-pe of
organisrn, bedding, hardness, color, and impurities. This c\assification merely
I. '
establisbeel the eleven majar limestone type-;; in any one stratigraphic problem
t,i" a calclithite-type sandstone is the ~Iiocene Oakville formation oi central Texas, a
sandstone made up of 80--90 per cent grains of Creraceous limes tone and iossil
the worker may well be iorceel to make detailecl subdivisions of these major types
~l! in oreler to establish trends or correlations, just as an igneous petrographer roap­
fragments. Another example is the Collings Ranch conglomera te (Ham, 195+) a
tl¡ Pennsyhranian conglomerate made up chiedy of fragments of Cambro-Ordovician
ping a pluton that is entirely granite finds it useful to subdivide his rocks on
percentage oi quartz, hornblende: bioúte ra tio, color, or crystal size.
limes tone. The rocks are usually the product of intense orogen)', particulady in

)i its eady phases before the sedimentary cover has been stripped off the source
area. They require rapid erosion and short transport, otherwise chemical weather­
Although limestones are fund'lmen¡ally simple rocks, the subject 01 limestone
petrography 15 not something tbat one can plunge into immediately with '-cook­

\'•
~

, 7!"""'
.~~...,.. ..
.~_¡l ;.~" __qH",..+. .,i_.rilf..-~"3F.w.Wi( r::~~~"""~'~~I'!:"""'''''''-~~
 :
. J.r
~......... -.:.:~, ........ ~ .. :­
~

37
CLISSIFiCITIOY Ol' U.1f ESTO_\'ES
36 ROBERT L FOLE\.
ing amI abrasion ,,"ould destroy"lhe soft lirnestone fragmellts. Consequently,
interpret are lhose which ha\'e their púre spaces p~rtialh' rilled with spar, and
calc\itbites are typica!l)- strcarn or a!lu"ial fan riepo;ils Ira m ruggcd lenanes.
partially wilh ooze (Fig. 19). These lhe wriler has tcrrned "pO'lr\y wa,hed lime­
stones" anc1 regarcls thern as transitional belween lypes 1 and II beca use currenls CO"CLCSIO:,S
were ouly strong enough or persistent eJlough to \,"ash a\\·2.Y part Di the ooze.
\\"hethcr the ne"" names anel the symbolic sborthand are nccepted or not, the
~lal;y of the rernaining clots oi OOle h;l\'e "fuzzy" boundariéS beca use of their
,,"riter is con"incec1 that the rack lypes ior which these name; and symbols s,and
incc>herence. Olhers see in these limestones a patchy recry;tallizalion of the ooze
are basically yalid alrhou!jh lhe limirs may becorne moc1it'Led lhrúugh more re­
to S¡X\l. Inspeclion of lhese lirnestones for geopetaI a,:cumula¡ions of OO7.e helps in
seareh. Using these types, proporliOn~le lithülogic diagrams can be preparecl for
decipheriug their origin. Ji clay minerals are presenl in the OO7.e, then they should
limestone formations, as sh()\\'¡¡ in figure .. l. "'ith time, the en,"ironmental sig­
also be present in the spar if il has formed_ by recrystallizarion of ooze, and clay
nificance 01 ea eh of the ele\"en rock l"p<'3 will becorne clearer anc1lhey can be usecl
should be absent ii the spar is a pore-filling.
in eleciphering the reasons i(lr la leral anel ,'e¡¡ieal changes \\ hLdl ha \'C taken place
Slllllmary.-Recryslallizatio[1 is a \-ery irnportanl process in sorne formations
and in s,)me localities; bul ils onr-all "olurnetric importance in lirnestont is con­ in lime,;tone seetions.
sidered minoro Like turbidity currents, recrystallization tends to become a pan­ StLURI':"~ l!1l~STONES
acea wbich one falls back on to explain any phenomenon be can not readily under­
sland. In studying samples, one most akays keep in mind tbe possibility of recrys­
lallization, but unless tbis wr\ter sees definite evidence of reerystallization sUch
as ultra-Ioosely packeel alloehems in a sparry cernent, or trapsecrion of allochems, PELLET
ROCI'S
or graelational recrystallizalion of matris, he assumes the si¡¡~p!er vie ..... that tbe
spnr is primary. Even in the recrystallized rocks one must b3\-e started with one

f
i
of the basic eleven rock types outlined, and recrystalli7.ation merely adds a
qualificdrioll to the system. Tbis is no m:¡re serious than recognizing tbat original
lirnestone fabric: may be partly replaced by ca!cite as "eH as dolornite or silica.

TERRIGE"OU5 C,\RBO:-.xrE ROCKS, OR C.\LCLtTRTTES

FrG. -ll.-Proportionate lithology diagraro. Silurian llroestone~J ~[organ County. \Ves~ Yi:ginia
ji Sorne mention should be made 01 those terrigenous rock> that are made up (based on research in progn.:ss). This type of di:lgr~m G ellmpte of gnphic lithologic sumrna-.,". c.5ing
classification bere proposed; surnmaries likc: tbis can be used in comparing formatilJns or tr2Ó g
n
j ¡argely of fragments of oleler limestones eroeled from ourcrops in a saurce land. _-\1­ lateral and vertical stratigrapbic changes in lirr.e::wne t:.~s. Total :lrea of diagrJ.m equab 100 ~el
though tbese ha\-e the mineral composition of limestone (or elolomite), they cent; area shown for each rock type is prúportiooal to i~ vo(ume in section studied. Pel;~parüe is
SbOlllel really be considereel as terrigenous rocks and hence form a rock clan iully rnost COOlmon rack typc, with Ostracod Bios~ri.te secar.d.
"
equivalent in rank to the orthoqllartzite, arkose, or gray,,:acke. Thus the clan
15 this cl2.5Sification too complicated? To the out5ider looking in, it tUl­
1
'.
triangle cornposition lor sandstones proposed by Folk (195+,1956) should be ex­
eloubtedly appears so--but al! c1as5ii'.Gltion5 look comple" to people who ha\-e
paneleel to a tetrabedron to incluele these terrigenous carbonate rocks. These rocks e
not hael to work \\'ith the rocks in,-oIYeu. But ro the geologist who must struggl
are bere termeel "Calclithites" alluding to the fact that they are a rock made up of
with lirnestones continually, this c1a..-<sificati ')u will soon appear too simple.
fragments of oIder ca!careous rock. A calclithite, thetl, is eletined as a terrigenous
Dozens of different subtypes of biomicrite could be establisheel, depenelent upun
rock whose silt-sand-gravel fraction contains more than 50 per cent carbonate rock
;1 fragm·ents. The grain size of these rocks ranges from siltstones (rare) through
sanelstones (faidy common) to conglomerate (most common). _-\ good example of
proportion of fossils to ooze, grain size and amouot 01 breakage of fossils, t)-pe of
organisrn, bedding, hardness, color, and impurities. This c\assification merely
I. '
establisbeel the eleven majar limestone type-;; in any one stratigraphic problem
t,i" a calclithite-type sandstone is the ~Iiocene Oakville formation oi central Texas, a
sandstone made up of 80--90 per cent grains of Creraceous limes tone and iossil
the worker may well be iorceel to make detailecl subdivisions of these major types
~l! in oreler to establish trends or correlations, just as an igneous petrographer roap­
fragments. Another example is the Collings Ranch conglomera te (Ham, 195+) a
tl¡ Pennsyhranian conglomerate made up chiedy of fragments of Cambro-Ordovician
ping a pluton that is entirely granite finds it useful to subdivide his rocks on
percentage oi quartz, hornblende: bioúte ra tio, color, or crystal size.
limes tone. The rocks are usually the product of intense orogen)', particulady in

)i its eady phases before the sedimentary cover has been stripped off the source
area. They require rapid erosion and short transport, otherwise chemical weather­
Although limestones are fund'lmen¡ally simple rocks, the subject 01 limestone
petrography 15 not something tbat one can plunge into immediately with '-cook­

\'•
~

, 7!"""'
.~~...,.. ..
.~_¡l ;.~" __qH",..+. .,i_.rilf..-~"3F.w.Wi( r::~~~"""~'~~I'!:"""'''''''-~~