Tuffaceous limestone

Description

A sedimentary limestone that contains up to 50 percent volcanic tuff ((residue) ash and cinders). Tuffaceous limestone is often light or dark green or brown with some gray and blue varieties. It can have predominant grains of calcite with small amounts of oxide iron oxide, quartz, plagioclase, and glass shards. In Egypt, green tuffaceous limestone was mined in the early Dynastic period from Gebel Manzal el-Seyl (Aston et al 2000).

Synonyms and Related Terms

tuffa; calc-tufa; calc-tuff; calcareous tufa; tufa limestone; Kalktuff (Deut.)

Additional Information

B.Aston, J.Harrell, I.Shaw, "Stone" in Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology, P.Nicholson, I.Shaw (eds.), Cambridge University Press, 2000, p. 60-62.