Carbonate rocks are a class of sedimentary rocks composed primarily of carbonate minerals. The two major types are limestone and dolomite (commonly called dolostone to avoid confusion with the mineral), composed of calcite (CaCO3) and the mineral dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) respectively. Chalk and tufa are also minor sedimentary carbonates.
Marble is the metamorphic carbonate rock. Rare igneous carbonate rocks exist as intrusive carbonatites and even more rare volcanic carbonate lava.
Karst topography and caves develop in carbonate rocks due to their solubility in dilute acidic groundwater.
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"Carbonate rock".
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