Properties of Limestone (Soft)
Soft limestone is a sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate. It is called “soft” because it is relatively easy to carve and shape compared to harder types of limestone. Soft limestone can be found in various colors and is commonly used in construction, sculptures, and architectural details due to its workability.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of soft limestone properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).
Click on the icon to switch between Metric and Imperial units.
| Physical Properties | Metric |
|---|---|
| Density | 1200 - 2200 kg/m3 |
| Porosity | 2.6 - 20% |
| Mechanical Properties | Metric |
| Young’s Modulus (E) | 8 GPa |
| Tensile Strength | 5 - 25 MPa |
| Compressive Strength | 2 - 52 MPa |
| Hardness (Mohs) | 2 - 5 |
| Thermal Properties | Metric |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.84 - 3.38 W/m·K |
| Specific Heat Capacity (Cp) | 630 - 907 J/kg·K |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (αL) | 2.5×10-6 - 9.0×10-6 1/°C |
| Electrical Properties | Metric |
| Electrical Resistivity | 103 - 105 Ω·cm |
Unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)
Related Pages
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) A.M. Howatson, P.G. Lun, J.D. Todd, P.D. Engineering Tables and Data. United Kingdom: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, 2009. 4) Stone: Building Stone, Rock Fill and Armourstone in Construction. United Kingdom: Geological Society, 1999.