Limestone Colors

Milky Gray

• Limestone towers can grow and form into a milky-gray rock. Limestone towers such as these appear on Madagascar, the island that is considered part of the African continent. These limestone towers stretch across wide spaces and are called "stone forests." These are tall enough to climb as one would climb a tree, although doing so is a risk because of the sharp, uneven texture of the towers.

Black Swirls

• Some limestone surfaces bear black swirls from years of erosion or wind that has worn the rock into a curvy texture. An example of this is in the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Texas, a 100,000-acre stretch of hills where wind has indented limestone with swirls that appear black and tan.

Tan or Beige

• Limestone appears in a tan or beige color in some parts of the world, such as Yemen, where columns embellish the front of the temple of the Sabaean moon god Ilumquh. Tan limestone also is used to embellish the fronts of houses in which owners want to create an "old world" or "castle" feel to the exterior.