Limestone
EM SC 121 Class Presentation
April 14, 2003
Team 1:
Melanie Brockway, Brian Janis, and Emily Weidenhof
Composition and Properties
Uses
Mining and Processing
Production Statistics
Effects on the Environment
Composition
Sedimentary Rock
Formed by the compaction of millions of
shells and skeletons from decayed sea
creatures
Calcareous Rock Family
Monomineralic
Up to 95% Calcite (CaCO3)
Calcium Carbonate is an insoluble base
Composition
Medium Constituents
Dolomite
Siderite
Quartz
Feldspars
Mica
Clay
Physical Properties
Fine grained
Crystals not visible by naked eye
Fine grained, dull fracture
Not translucent at edges
Occasional cavities
Frequent fossils
Color
Wide variations in color due to accessory
constituents
Pure 888888888.....Snow White
Limonite & [Link]/Brown
Hematite88888888...Reddish
Glauconite & [Link]
Bitumen888888888Grey/Black
Limestone Variety
Major Uses of Limestone
Manufacturing of lime
Agricultural
Metallurgical
Chemical
Building and construction
Agricultural Uses
Farmers add finely ground limestone to
their fields to:
Neutralize soil acidity
Increase plant nutrients
Increase organic matter
Increase soil organisms
Increase trace elements
Metallurgical Uses
Steel Manufacturing
Limestone is mixed with molten steel to
remove impurities by forming slag
The slag can then be separated and removed
Chemical Uses
Calcium Carbonate is an insoluble base
that neutralizes positive hydrogen ions in
acids
Limestone is used in:
Sewage treatment and water softening &
purification
Exhaust gas scrubbers in industrial and power
plants (lime used)
acid mine drainage remediation
Building & Construction Uses
Crushed Limestone
Concrete aggregate
Portland Cement Concrete
Asphalt Cement Concrete
Pulverized Limestone
Mixed with portland cement
Mortar
Mixed with asphalt
Road and highway surfaces
Surface roof shingles
Building & Construction Uses
Dimension Stone
Exterior facades
Floor and pavement surfaces
Roman Travertine
Highly polished for surface decoration
Mining and Processing Methods
Site Preparation
Mining
Processing
Reclamation
Site Preparation
Clearing, grubbing, and topsoil removal
Erosion and Sedimentation control
Haul road construction
Install processing equipment
Mining
Generally open-pit mining and quarrying
(when economical, underground mining methods with
the same processing procedures are used)
Procedure:
Drilling and blasting (not for dimension stone)
Mining
Excavation
Transport
Determining how the mined stone will be used:
Dimension stone must be free from flaws and have an
attractive color and texture.
There are tolerances on the amount of calcium present
in the limestone used to make lime and in some
chemical applications.
Stone used in construction applications must meet:
requirements for resistance to degradation and
freeze-thaw cycles
tolerances on strength, permeability and porosity, skid
resistance, weight, color, and appearance.
Limestone Processing
crushing: reducing the stone to desired,
manageable sizes
grinding: certain applications require the
limestone to be pulverized into a fine powder
sorting and grading: other applications of
limestone follow specifications that require
certain gradations for a mixture of stone as well
as maximum and minimum sizes of the stones in
the blend
Making Lime
Limestone is calcined (heated or burnt) at temperatures
ranging from 900C~1400C in a kiln.
The calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the limestone turns
into Calcium Oxide (CaO), known commonly as lime,
and Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
CaCO3 CaO + CO2
Depending on the intended uses of the lime, various
solutions and additives are added.
typical steps in the lime production procedure
10
Mining and Processing Dimension Stone
Limestone is relatively soft compared to other dimension
stone such as marble
Stone is typically cut in 10 x 4 x 4 blocks
In a dimension stone quarry only 15~20% of the stone
that is cut ends up being used as dimension stone
Processing includes:
cutting the stone to its final dimensions
finishing and polishing exposed faces
Lime and Limestone Production
Statistics
11
Lime Production
International production
-China leads the world in production of lime, producing 22,000
metric tons per year.
Domestic Production of Lime
In 2002, 18.4 million tons of lime were produced.
Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and
Texas are the principal producing states. In 2001, these seven
states produced 11.6 million tons.
Lime Production
Since 1998, lime production has remained
consistent, with only slight decreases from year
to year. Therefore, environmental hazards
caused by its production are expected to
remain steady as well.
12
Lime Production
Recycling
Large quantities of lime are recycled by paper
mills yearly.
Lime is also recycled by municipal water
treatment plants, after it is used to soften
sludge
Quicklime is regenerated from waste hydrated
lime in the carbide industry.
Limestone production
Limestone is available in all 50 states, although,
the grade varies greatly.
Indiana is the highest dimension limestone
producer in the U.S.. It accounts for 80% of the
dimension limestone produced.
Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas are among
other leading dimension limestone mining
states.
13
Environmental Issues
Limestone and Lime both have
negative and positive effects on
the environment
Negative Effects of
Mining and Processing
-Destruction of Landscape
-Dust
-Erosion and sedimentation
in streams
-Safety hazards around
abandoned mines
-Hazardous Emissions from
refining lime
- Noise pollution from
blasting
14
How the industry protects the environment
Silt fences around loose
overburden
Lime or water spray to
controls dust
Compliance with the
Clean Air Act (CAA)
- Maximum Available Control
Technology (MACT)
Reclaim site
Limestone and Lime protect the
environment
Waste Water
Management
Treatment of sewage and
industrial effluents
Balance ph in Acid Mine
Drainage
Softening and purification
of drinking water
15
Limestone and Lime protect the
environment
Industrial Applications
Exhaust gas scrubbers
Household and Sanitary cleansers
and paints
Kills molds and mildew
Limestone is a major component of the
places we are familiar with, the
infrastructure we depend on, and the
goods and services we have grown
accustomed to. Without it, they would not
exist in as we know them.
16
References
Boshkov, S.H.. Quarrying. AccessScience @ McGraw-Hill. [Link] Accessed on 13 April 2003.
Detwiler, R.J. and Tennis, P.D.. The Use of Limestone in Portland Cement: A State-of-the-Art Review. Skokie,
IL: Portland Cement Association, 1996.
Eser, S. and Halleck, P. M.. EM SC 121 Clean Water and Clean Air Acts Lecture. 24 Mar. 2003.
Eser, S. and Halleck, P. M.. EM SC 121 Effects of Mining on the Environment. 5 Mar. 2003.
Eser, S. and Halleck, P. M.. EM SC 121 Surface Mining Lecture. 5 Feb. 2003.
Miller, M.M.. Lime. U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries Jan. 2003.
Miller, M.M.. Lime. U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2001.
Schumann, Walter. Handbook of Rocks, Minerals, and [Link]: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993.
Sowers, George. Building on Sinkholes. New York: ASCE Press.,1996.
Lawrence County Indiana. Lawrence County Tourism Commission.
[Link] Accessed 13 April 2003.
Lime Production. Lhoist Group. Accessed on 13 April 2003
[Link]
National Mining Association. [Link] Accessed 13 April 2003.
17
