Tamala Limestone is the geological name given to the widely occurring
eolianite limestone deposits on the western coastline of
Western Australia, between
Shark Bay in the north and nearly to
Albany in the south. The rock consists of
calcarenite wind-blown shell fragments and
quartz sand which accumulated as coastal sand dunes during the middle and late
Pleistocene and early
Holocene eras. As a result of a process of sedimentation and water percolating through the shelly sands, the mixture later
lithified when the lime content dissolved to cement the grains together.
Exposed limestone formations at
The Pinnacles Desert near
Cervantes clearly show the limestone formation through the sedimentary process. At its thickest, the Tamala Limestone comprises the massive
Zuytdorp Cliffs, up to 250 m high, extending for 150 km between
Kalbarri, Western Australia and south of
Steep Point.
Commercial uses
Because of its ready availability, Tamala Limestone is used extensively for landscaping and building in Western Australia and particularly for the main population centre of
Perth.
The two main sub-types quarried commercially are
Carabooda Limestone and
Moore River Limestone. The Carabooda type is from the
Wanneroo/
Yanchep region close to Perth. It has a creamier colour and is slightly denser than Moore River limestone which comes from the area around
Guilderton and which is darker and more textured.
References
See also
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