The reef limestone is the main part of the coral reef rock mass. Its physical and engineering characteristics are important issues in the ocean construction, which concerns directly with the development process of "the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road" infrastructure. This paper reviews the studies of the coral reef limestones in different regions in recent decades, it is found that they have physical properties of high porosity, low density and low strength, with complex diversity of structure types due to their complex sedimentary environment and with different stress responses for different degrees of cementation. These properties are distinct from those of other continental and marine sedimentary rocks. So far, the studies of coral reef limestones are few and many problems are emerging along with the coral reef engineering constructions. Therefore, the studies of these aspects are highly desirable. The coral reef limestones should be classified by texture and structure types before a systematic study. The microscopic cementation mechanism, the engineering mechanical characteristics and the effect of seawater erosion are important topics in further studies of coral reef limestones.

reef limestone  /  physical characteristics  /  engineering characteristics  /  coral reef  /  ocean development construction