ABSTRACT
The major groups of carbonate rocks, therefore, are limestones and dolomites, including transitional or partly dolomi - tized limestones (Table 7.1). All carbonate sediments are more or less affected during
Definition and range of types
CARBONATE ROCKS make up about one-fifth of all sedimentary rocks in the stratigraphic record. They are defined as comprising over 50% carbonate minerals, dominantly calcite and dolomite in ancient rocks, and calcite (including high and low-Mg varieties) and aragonite in modern sediments. Aragonite is commonly replaced by calcite during early
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diagenesis by significant dissolution, replacement of aragonite, and so on, whereas dolomites are commonly wholly formed by early to late-stage diagenetic replace ment of limestone.
