A type of limestone or sedimentary rock containing calcium carbonate deposits, often occurring in layers between other rock types.
From corn (Old English corn, grain) + stone, or possibly from German Kornstein. A geological term describing rock that appears grainy or contains grain-like structures. Used in geology since the 1800s.
Cornstone looks 'grainy' like corn kernels, which is exactly why geologists named it that—it's a visual description that stuck, and it turns out cornstone rocks have special properties that paleontologists love studying!
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