Limestone Latest News
The first-ever auction of limestone mineral blocks in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir will be formally launched in Jammu.
About Limestone
- Limestone is a sedimentary rock made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), usually in the form of calcite or aragonite.
- It occurs across almost all geological sequences from Pre-Cambrian to Recent, except in Gondwana formations.
Composition of Limestone
- It contains considerable amounts of magnesium carbonate (dolomite).
- It also contains minor constituents of clay, iron carbonate, feldspar, pyrite, and quartz.
- In many cases, the grains are microscopic fragments of fossil animal shells that are also present.
Distribution of Limestone in India
- Karnataka has the largest share (28%) of total resources, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Meghalaya, and Chhattisgarh.
- Production Centers: Over three-fourths of India’s limestone is produced in just six states: Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
Uses of Limestone
- The principal use of limestone is in the Cement Industry.
- Metallurgical Processes: It is used as a flux in iron and steel production.
- Other Industries: Glass, Ceramic, Paper, Textile, and Tanning
- Chemical Production: Calcium carbide, alkali, bleaching powder
- Agriculture: It is used as soil conditioning agent, fertilizer (calcium ammonium nitrate)
- Consumer Products: Whiting (chalk and precipitated limestone) in rubber, paint, cosmetics, toothpaste, and shoe polish
Source: PIB
Limestone FAQs
Q1: What is the primary component of limestone?
Ans: Calcium carbonate
Q2: What is the process by which limestone is formed?
Ans: Sedimentation
