Lime Stone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock such as greater than 50% calcium carbonate ( calcite – CaCO3). There are many exceptional kinds of limestone formed thru a ramification of tactics. It may be precipitated from water ( non-clastic, chemical or inorganic limestone), secreted by using marine organisms including algae and coral (biochemical limestone), or can shape from the shells of lifeless sea creatures (bioclastic limestone). Some limestones form from the cementation of sand and / or mud by way of calcite ( clastic limestone), and these often have the appearance of sandstone or mudstone. As calcite is the precept mineral thing of limestone, it will fizz in dilute hydrochloric acid.
- Colour: It can be yellow, white, or grey.
- Chemical Composition: Calcite
- Texture – Clastic or Non-Clastic
- Grain size – Variable, can consist of clasts of all sizes.
- Hardness – Generally hard.
- Clasts – if clastic / bioclastic then grains and / or broken or whole shell fragments visible; if non-clastic / chemical then crystalline and no clasts visible.
- Major minerals: Calcite, dolomite
Different Uses of Limestone
- Agriculture
- Industries
- Construction and Architecture
Industries
Powdered Limestone is used in the following Industries
Textile Industries, Paint Industries, Paper Industries, Rubber Industries, Glass Industries, and Plastic Industries amongst others. They are mostly used as fillers. Apart from this, it is used in the steel industry for the production process where limestone is used to remove impurities. The minerals found in limestones are also used in Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetic Products, Baking Soda, Toothpaste, etc.
Classification of Limestone
Two major classification schemes, the Folk and the Dunham are used for identifying limestone and carbonate rocks.