As we were walking around the city of Chicago, I noticed that many of the buildings we visited and discussed were made up of mostly, if not entirely limestone, so I became curious why this sedimentary rock is the rock of choice in downtown Chicago buildings. Limestone is abundant, and easy to cut and carve into. It can also last a very long time, and can hold up quite well even facing severe weather and constant exposure. This makes it a very smart choice for architecture around the world. It was most popularly used in the late 19th, early 20th century (the time when Chicago was rebuilding after the great fire). It is also used in roadbeds, landscape construction, and cement manufacturing.
It is not all good however. Limestone is very heavy, making it quite impractical for it to be the only rock used in tall buildings. On top of that, Limestone is also an expensive material. And although it holds up well to heat and humidity, acid rain is a problem for Limestone because the mineral calcite is present, which reacts with acid. This can wear away the Limestone if enough acid rain comes down.
http://www.mineralszone.com/minerals/limestone.html
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