Limestone as an
Industrial Mineral
Kwaku Boakye
Mineral Engineering Department and Bureau of Geology
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
February 9, 2007
Ou tlin e
Introduction
Geologic description
Distribution
Production
Processing
Marketing
Uses
Introductio n
Limestone and dolomite constitute a group of
raw material commonly referred to as
carbonate rock
In 2002, ~1.6 billion tons were produced in the
United States (Freas et al, 2006).
71% of all stone quarried mined in the United
State is carbonate rock
Ge ologic d escriptio n
Origin of limestone
Limestones of economic importance are biologically
derived from seawater and originally deposited in
relatively shallow marine environments
Environment of deposition and the organic community
largely determine the geometry of a carbonate deposit
Environment of deposition is significant to the industrial
minerals geologist because it determines the size,
shape, and purity of the deposit
High-energy zones produce relatively pure limestones
because clay impurities are removed by high currents
Mineralogy
Limestone are sedimentary rocks
Chemical Composition of CaCO3
Similar in chemical composition as aragonite but
different crystal structure
Aragonite is metastable and alters to
calcite in time
Siderite (FeCO3), Ankerite (Ca2MgFe(CO3)4) and
Magnesite (MgCO3) are commonly found
associated with limestone’s and dolomites
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Limestone
Sandstone
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Chemical Properties
Chemical and Physical attributes are independent
properties
Pure calcite in the form of poorly cemented chalk is not
only unique in its low strength but also high absorption
Pure calcitic marble of the same chemical composition as
chalk is relatively strong, unabsorptive, and unreactive
Chemical analysis is of upmost importance in stone used
for chemical purpose, such as glass raw material, flux,
or cement
Chemical properties are not so relevant for aggregates
products
Chemical analysis are made to determine impurities
Impurities related with lime stone includes clay minerals,
resistance minerals such as quartz, and organic
material.
Most test are performed in accredited Laboratories
Many state surveys have files of chemical data obtained
from quarry sampling and coring programs
Terminology used describe the purity of
carbonates
High-calcium greater than 95% CaCO3
limestone:
High-magnesium greater than 42% MgCO3
dolomite:
High-purity greater than 95% combined CaCO3
carbonate: and MgCO3
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Physical Properties
Carbonates are similar in physical properties
making it difficult to distinguish
Specific gravity, color, crystal form, hardness, etc
are some of the physical properties
This properties are tested using testing procedures
in ASTM and AASHO
Physical Properties of Calcite, Dolomite, and Aragonite.
Chemical
Mineral Composition Physical Properties
Calcite CaCO3 Hexagonal crystal system, commonly good
rhombohedral cleavage. Mohs’ hardness, 3.
Specific gravity, 2.72. Commonly colorless or
white but may be other colors because of
impurities.
Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 Hexagonal crystal system, commonly good
rhombohedral crystals with curved faces.
Mohs’ hardness, 3.5 to 4. Specific gravity,
2.87, but common impurities such as iron
can raise it to 2.95 or higher. Commonly
white or pink.
Aragonite CaCO3 Orthorhombic crystal system. Mohs’ hardness,
3.5 to 4. Specific gravity, 2.93B2.95.
Commonly colorless, white, or yellow but
may be other colors because of impurities.
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Limestone pot hole
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Di str ibution
Carbonate rocks are deposited from Precambrian to
Holocene time (Parker, 1967)
Carbonate rock compose only about 0.25% of the volume of
the earth crust (Parker, 1967)
Carbonate comprise of 15% of the worlds sedimentary rocks
Each carbonate deposit differ in their geologic characteristics
Highly-purity carbonate rock deposits are not overly
abundant
Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire and Rhode
Island and all of Canadian Province are in abundance of
pure limestone
Pr oductio n
Exploration
Coring
Rock Bitting
Surface Sampling
Mining
Open Pit
Underground
Pr ocessing
Processing varies with the end use of the product
and targeted consuming industries
Site for processing depends on
Type of Mine
Haulage Distance
Surface Topography
Processing involves
Sawing
Crushing
Screening
Ma rketing
Marking is influence by specification requirements
Specification differ from companies to companies
even though they may produce the same product
Market price depends on the supplier ability to
price the product on its value to customer but not
the base on cost of production
Adding value involves strong commitment to
research, development and corporate support
from start of mining and followed by technical
support
Uses
the manufacture of quicklime (calcium oxide) and
slaked lime (calcium hydroxide)
cement and mortar
pulverized limestone is used as a soil conditioner
to neutralize acid soil conditions
crushed for use as aggregate - the solid base for
many roads
geological formations of limestone are among the
best petroleum reservoirs
as a reagent in desulfurizations
glass making
toothpaste
Concl usi on
Limestone and dolomite have been and continue to be one of the
most important raw materials in the United States and the world
Limestone is a carbonate and sedimentary rock
Limestone of economic importance are biologically
derived form seawater and accumulated in relatively
shallow marine environment.
Market price depends on the supplier ability to price the product
on its value to customer but not the base on cost of production
Demand of limestone and dolomite is expected to grow
at an average annual rate of about 2.0% to 2.5%
In 2002, about 1.6 billion tone were produced in the United States
(Freas et al, 200).
Ref erence
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February 8th 2007
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February 8th 2007
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February 8th 2007
Kogel, E. J., Trivedi, C. N., Barker, M. J., and
Krukowski, T. S., 2006, Industrial Minerals and
Rock: Society for Mining, Metallurgy and
Exploration, v.1, p. 581-597, ISBN: 0-87335-
233-5/978-0-87335-233-8
