Limestone
Limestone is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). A closely related rock is dolomite, which contains a high percentage of the mineral dolomite, CaMg(CO3)2.
Most limestone is composed of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera.
Limestone is a valuable resource from the Earths crust.
Sandstone is a classic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized ( 0.0625 to 2 mm ) mineral particles or rock fragments. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar ( both silicates ) because they are the most resistant minerals to weathering processes at the Earths surface.
Uses of limestone
Limestone has many uses:
- It can be used as a building material.
- It is used in the production of cement by heating powdered limestone with clay. Cement is an ingredient in mortar and concrete. Mortar – used to join bricks together – is made by mixing cement with sand and water. Concrete is made by mixing cement with sand, water and aggregate (crushed rock).
- It is a major ingredient in toothpaste.
- It can be used as a food additive to provide calcium ions for strong teeth and bones.
- It can be processed as a useful raw material in the chemical industry.
- It can be used to neutralise acidic soil to allow plants to grow more effectively. This is mainly used for large-scale agriculture. Quicklime and slaked lime can also be used for this purpose, as well as neutralising acidity in water sources such as lakes.
- Limestone is also used to remove impurities from the blast furnace when making iron. The impurities are mostly silicon dioxide (also known as sand).
The calcium carbonate in the limestone reacts with the silicon dioxide to form calcium silicate (also known as slag).
CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g)
CaO(s) + SiO2(l) → CaSiO3(s)
Our Limestone Products
The list below, although not exhaustive, gives you an idea of the types of Limestone that we can supply.
