Formation of Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock, which means it was formed from small particles of rock or stone that have been compacted by pressure. Sedimentary rock is important because it often contains fossils and gives clues about what type of rock was on the Earth long ago.
Limestone is formed in two ways.
1.) Ocean-dwelling organisms such as oysters, clams, mussels and coral use calcium carbonate (CaCO3) found in seawater to create their shells and bones. As these organisms die, their shells and bones are broken down by waves and settle on the ocean floor where they are compacted over millions of years, creating limestone from the sediments and the pressure of the ocean water.
2.) The second way limestone is formed is when water containing particles of calcium carbonate evaporate, leaving behind the sediment deposit. The water pressure compacts the sediment, creating limestone.
Limestone as a building material
In the years after the Civil War, the early settlers that came to Kansas found that the prairies had few native trees for building material. What they did find, was a bed of limestone buried just a few feet underneath the top soil. This bed of stone was consistently about 18 inches in thickness, the perfect dimension for fence posts and large bricks for buildings. When properly handled, the soft stone could be easily shaped and once exposed to air, became hard and resistant to the elements.
The development of cement in the early 1900s nearly abolished the use of stone blocks for building structures. Cement quickly became preferred over stones because it could be molded and formed much easier. Cement was also lighter and easier to haul than the limestone blocks. However, during the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) quarried and used post rock in the construction of bridges and public buildings in Western Kansas.
Over the years, many of the limestone structures that once dotted the Kansas countryside were abandoned and left at the mercy of the elements. A number of the buildings still stand after nearly one hundred years of neglect, a testament to the quality of their workmanship. Limestone farm homes, once magnificent architectural works, are now vacant and in various stages of decay. During the mid-20th century, limestone facades on downtown buildings were covered or entirely replaced with modern brick or steel. Fortunately, local and state preservation organizations are protecting many of the historic limestone churches and a few public buildings, but more are being lost every day. Limestone fences have also been rapidly disappearing from the landscape. As posts were damaged by livestock or other hazards, farmers replaced stone with wood or steel. Entire rows of stone posts that once surrounded cultivated land have been removed to either simplify mowing or allow farming right up to the boundary. Today, only a small percent of the original fence rows remain.
Logging Requiremnts
Please email your answers to ottie18@hotmail.com
1.) Go to the North side of the Volga German Haus. What kind of fossil do you see underneath the window, about a foot above the ground? Are these animals still found in the oceans today?
2.) Why do you think limestone structures are much more common in Western Kansas then the Eastern part of the state?
Please do not post your answers in your log.