What is a "lumachelic limestone"?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DrDu
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the term "lumachelic limestone," exploring its definition, etymology, and geological significance. Participants examine its characteristics as a type of sedimentary rock, particularly in relation to fossil content.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about the term "lumachelic limestone" and seeks clarification.
  • Another participant suggests that "lumachelic" may relate to the mechanism of deposition, indicating a mechanical origin rather than a purely sedimentary or chemical one.
  • A third participant provides a definition from a thesis, describing lumachelic limestone as sedimentary rock, typically limestone, containing a significant amount of mollusk shell remains or other fossilized animal skeletons.
  • A subsequent reply translates the definition and relates it to the concept of "fossiliferous" rocks or formations.
  • One participant inquires about the etymology of "lumachelic," proposing it may refer to broken and crushed shell fragments and humorously connects it to pasta and snails.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the precise definition and etymology of "lumachelic limestone," with multiple interpretations and questions remaining unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes varying interpretations of the term's origin and geological classification, with some assumptions about the nature of the rock and its fossil content that are not fully explored or agreed upon.

DrDu
Science Advisor
Messages
6,423
Reaction score
1,004
In the description of a fosil site, I ran into the term "lumachelic limestone". Does anybody know, what this means?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Bystander
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
Googling, I see the source of your consternation; "lumachelic" means "lumachelic." There is some suggestion that "mechanism of deposition" is involved in the definition, but I guarantee nothing at this stage of my inquiry/investigation of this somewhat circular "argument?" More a "mechanical" than sedimentary/chemical/"Bahamian whiting" type origin.

Paging @davenn
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: davenn and jim mcnamara
Finally, I found an explanation of this term in a thesis:
http://repository.uamerica.edu.co/bitstream/20.500.11839/421/1/5091182-2016-2-IP.pdf
NIVEL LUMAQUELICO: se denomina lumaquela a toda roca sedimentaria, normalmente de matriz caliza, que contiene una proporción importante de restos de conchas de moluscos o esqueletos de otros animales fosilizados. El nivel 31 lumaquelico comprende una capa de rocas sedimentarias que guardan en su interior restos de seres vivos descompuestos y fosilizados.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: DEvens, Steelwolf, davenn and 2 others
Here is the tranlation:

LUMAQUELIC LEVEL: Lumaquela is called any sedimentary rock, usually of limestone matrix, which contains a significant proportion of shell remains of mollusks or skeletons of other fossilized animals. The level 31 lumaquelico comprises a layer of sedimentary rocks that keep in their interior remains of decomposed and fossilized living beings.

In other geologic terms it is "fossiliferous" rocks or formations

Sorry, I just couldn't resist adding this
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: DEvens, Steelwolf, davenn and 2 others
So how is the term lumachelic derived. What is the Etymology?
It appears to mean “made from broken and crushed fragments of shells”.
Does it look like broken fragments of macaroni?
 
Baluncore said:
Does it look like broken fragments of macaroni?

I guess that's not so far from reality. "Lumachelli" is a kind of pasta and "Lumaca" means snail in italian.
Strangely enough in zoology "lumacus" is a genus of slugs.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
10K
Replies
2
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
953