Limestone

Uses of Limestone

Building Materials

• Formed from sedimentary rocks, grey/white colour, insoluble in water, can be used as chippings in road surfacing, limestone is quarried out of the ground.

• Powdered limestone + Powdered Clay = cement

• Cement + sand + water +gravel = concrete

• Limestone + sand + sodium carbonate = glass

Disadvantages

• Quarrying makes big holes, destroying habitats
• Quarrying make lots of noise and dust
• Quarrying needs to be transported, causing noise and pollution

Advantages

• Provides things people want, e.g. houses and roads
• Chemicals in dyes, paints and medicines come from limestone
• Limestone neutralises acid rain (and sulfur dioxide, a cause of acid rain)
• Quarries provide jobs, helping local economy and so local improvements
• After quarrying, landscaping and restoration is generally required.