Uses of Limestone.

Uses of Limestone.

1. building material

   • boring grey/white colour.
     • often formed from sea shells
   • quarried
   • great for making blocks. For statues and cathedrals.
   • virtually insoluble in rain water.
     • acid rain reacts with it and dissolves it.

2. crushed up and used in road surfacing

3. Powdered limestone is heated with powdered clay in a kiln to make cement

4. mixing cement with sand, water and gravel makes concrete

5. heated with sand and sodium carbonate = glass

6. PROBLEMS

   • ugly holes permanently change the landscape.
   • noise and dust.
     • created by lorries and quarrying processes
   • destroys the habitats of animals and birds.

7. BENEFITS

   • provides houses and roads
   • dyes, paints and medicines
   • used to neutralise soil
     • and lakes and rivers, made acidic by acid rain are also neutralised.
   • used in power stations to neutralise sulphur dioxide
     • a cause of acid rain,
   • provides jobs
     • brings money into the local environment
   • Landscaping and restoration is normally required.