Chalk is primarily made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This is a form of limestone.
Composition Breakdown
- Main Component: Calcium carbonate (CaCO3), specifically the mineral calcite.
- Origin: It's a sedimentary rock formed from the accumulation of tiny calcite shells called coccoliths. These are the remains of microscopic marine organisms.
- Formation: Chalk forms under deep marine conditions.
In essence, chalk is a type of limestone composed of the mineral calcite (calcium carbonate), which originates from the fossilized shells of marine microorganisms.
