Just Limestone
A limestone glossary
Absorption is the assimilation of molecules, or other particles, into the physical structure of a liquid or solid, without chemical reaction.
Aggregate consists of particles of a rock, of a controlled particle size distribution, used in the construction of a building or civil engineering structure (see also coarse and fine aggregate).
Agricultural hydrate is a relatively coarse, unrefined form of hydrated lime, used mainly for adjusting the acidity of soils.
Agricultural lime is a term which includes any limestone, quicklime, or hydrated lime product used to neutralize soil acidity.
Agricultural limestone is a ground limestone product used to neutralize soil acidity.
Aluminous cement consists predominantly of calcium aluminate.
Asphalt is a mixture of bitumen and mineral matter, which may be natural or manufactured.
Availability is the percentage of time that an item of equipment is available for production.
Ball mill is a grinding machine, consisting of a short horizontal rotating cylinder charged with steel balls. The material to be milled is fed into one end of the cylinder, broken between the tumbling balls, and emerges in a finely divided form from the other end of the mill.
Base course is the layer in a road below the wearing course and above the road base.
Bedding is the way in which distinct layers or sedimentary rock are laid on one another. The surface between successive beds is called a bedding plane.
Bin is a bunker or silo used for storage.
Bitumen is a viscous liquid, or a solid, which consists largely of hydrocarbons and their derivatives. It softens gradually on volatile. It occurs naturally as bitumen and, in conjunction with mineral matter, as asphalt. It is also produced as a by-product of petroleum refining. It is used as a water-proofing and binding agent.
Building limes are limes used in building and construction, the main constituents of which, on chemical analysis, are oxides and hydroxides of calcium with lesser amounts of magnesium (MgO, Mg (OH)2,silicon(Si02), aluminium (Al 2O3) and iron (Fe 2O 3). They include calcium limes, dolomitic limes and hydraulic limes.
Bulk density is the mass per unit volume of a solid, including the voids in a bulk sample of the material.
Burnt limes are quicklimes mainly consisting of calcium oxide.
Calcination is the heating of a substance so that a physical, or chemical change occurs. In the case of limestone, it refers to the dissociation of calcium and magnesium carbonates.
Caustic soda is sodium hydroxide.
Cement is the natural or synthetic material which binds rock particles together. In sedimentary rocks, the cementing substances include silica, calcite, clay and iron oxide.
Chemical-grade (or quality) limestone see high calcium limestone.
Classification is a method of sizing fine particles by exploiting differences in settling velocity in water or air.
Coarse aggregate is aggregate which is mainly retained on 5mm BS 410 test sieve.
Coated macadam is a road material consisting of aggregate that has been coated with tar or bitumen.
Composite sample is a mixture of spot samples taken at different times, or places, from a larger mass of the same material. It is produced by thoroughly mixing the combined spot samples and, if necessary, sub-diving the quantity of the resulting mixture, using approved techniques.
Conductivity is the ability of a substance to conduct heat or electricity.
Coral limestone is one in which the main fossil is coral.
Cretaceous limestone was deposited in the Cretaceous period 65 to 144 million years ago.
Crusher-run aggregate is the unscreened product from a single crushing operation.
Deck is a screening surface.
Disk attrition mills have rotor-stator configurations which produce narrow gaps in the order of 30 to 500 urn, through which the suspension to be milled is forced. The milled product may have a maximum particle size as low as 10µm.
Dolomitic limes are limes mainly consisting of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide (see calcined dolomite), calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide.
Dolomite limestone is generally understood to contain 20 to 40% of MgCO3.
Fault is a surface along which rock has been fractured and displaced.
Filler is inert material with a particular size less than 75 um, e.g. limestone dust, which used to fill voids and in the case of asphalt to modify its viscosity.
Fine aggregates is aggregate which mainly passes a 5mm BS4IO test sieve and is retained on a 75um sieve.
Fine lime generally refers to screened products with a top size below 0.6 cm.
Finishing lime is a type of refined hydrated lime that is suitable for the finishing coat in plastering.
Fossiliferous limestone is one which contains fossils which are readily visible to the naked eye.
Grading strictly refers to the particle size distribution, which is normally determined using square mesh sieves, unless otherwise stated. When used to describe products, it refers to the nominal size (e.g., 10 to 20 mm, or "-20", + 10 mm which indicates that, say, 90% by weight of the particles are within that range).
Ground quicklime refers to powdered products produced by milling.
Hardness approximates to the concentration of calcium and magnesium salts in water. Total hardness is the sum of carbonates and non-carbonate hardness. It may be expressed as degrees of hardness, millimoles per litre (expressed as calcium Equivalent), or as parts per million of CaCO3 equivalent.
High-calcium lime is quick-or slaked lime produced from high-calcium limestone.
High-calcium limestone is a general term for limestone consisting of mainly CaCO3(at least 95% m/m) and having less than 5% (m/m) MgCO3.
High-calcium quicklime contains mainly CaO and not more than 5% (m/m) MgO.
Hopper is an open-topped receptacle into which road or rail vehicles discharge their load.
Hydrated calcium limes are powdered slaked limes consisting mainly of calcium hydroxide.
Hydrated dolomitic limes are powdered slaked limes consisting of calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide.
Hydrated limes are hydrated air limes, calcium limes, or dolomitic limes, resulting from the controlled slaking of quicklimes to produce a dry powder.
Increment is a quantity of material taken in a single operation of sampling equipment.
Joint is a discontinuity, fracture or parting in a rock, involving no displacement.
Jurassic limestone was deposited in the Jurassic period 135 to 180 million years ago.
Kibbled is a traditional term used to describe a crushed and/or screened grade of agricultural lime, which has a defined top size, but may include fine fractions.
Kiln is a vessel or chamber in which solid materials are heated at intermediate temperatures (e.g., from 500 to 1800 degrees Celsius -- the term oven is used for lower temperatures and furnace for higher ones).
Laboratory sample is a sample prepared by thoroughly mixing and if necessary, sub-dividing the quality of a spot or composite sample. The laboratory sample may be reduced in particle size if appropriate.
Leaching is the process by which soluble matter is removed from soil or rock by the action of percolating water.
Lime is a general term for the various forms of calcium oxide and/or hydroxide with lesser amounts of magnesium oxide and/or hydroxide. It is sometimes used incorrectly to refer to limestone.
Lime mortar is sand bound in a matrix of lime, or lime plus pozzolan (but not cement), used for laying bricks, blocks or stone building.
Lime plaster is a form of lime mortar, which is applied to ceiling and internal walls.
Lime putties are slaked limes with water to desired consistence, mainly consisting of calcium hydroxide with or without magnesium hydroxide.
Lime render (or rendering) is a form of lime mortar, which is applied to external walls.
Lime slurry see milk of lime.
Lime stabilised mixture (LSM) is a mixture, generally incorporating a soil, for which the addition of lime significantly enhances, in the medium to long-term, the characteristics of the material and renders it permanently stable.
Limestone is a naturally occurring rock consisting principally of the carbonates of calcium and magnesium, in which the ratio by weight of CaCO3 to MgCO3 is not less than 1.2 to 1.0.
Limewash (or whitewash) is a type of paint based on lime.
Lime water is a solution of calcium hydroxide in water.
Macadam consists of aggregate, which has been mechanically locked together by rolling and cemented together by application of stone screening and water. Bituminous macadam is crushed aggregate in which the fragments are cemented together by bitumen or asphalt.
Magnesia is the traditional name for magnesium oxide.
Magnesian limestone is generally understood to be mainly CaCO3 with 5 to 20% of MgCO3.
Masonry refers to building elements consisting of bricks, blocks, or stones. In some contexts, it excludes brickwork.
Masons' lime is a hydrated lime used in mortar.
Metamorphic limestone is one in which the carbonate has completely recrystallised.
Milk of lime is a fluid suspension of slaked lime in water.
Mortar a mixture consisting of a binder (cement and/or hydrated lime), sand and water and the hardened product of the mixture.
Neutralisation generally refers to the reaction of an acid with an alkali to produce a solution, or a salt that is neither acid nor alkaline.
Neutralising value is an analytical term for that proportion of limestone, quicklime, or hydrated lime (expressed as CaO) that is capable of reacting with hydrochloric acid under specified conditions. It includes the contribution of CaCO3,CaO, Ca(OH)2 and the acid-soluble fraction of the calcium silicates, aluminates and ferrate.
Nuisance is an undesirable, but non-hazardous environmental effect of an activity.
Ordinary Portland Cement is a controlled blend of calcium silicates, aluminates and ferrate, which is ground to a fine powder with gypsum and other materials.
Overburden is the material that lies over the mineral deposit. It consists of top soil, sub-soil and any over-lying rocks.
Over-burned lime is quicklime that has a low reactivity to water, as a result of being calcined at high temperatures.
Pavement is the whole constructed thickness of a road or similar slab.
PCC see precipitated calcium carbonate.
pH is a way of expressing the acidity, or alkalinity of an aqueous solution, based on the concentration of hydrogen ions. pH 0 corresponds to a 1 Normal acid solution (1 gram of hydrogen ions per litre). pH 7 corresponds to a neutral solution, with equal concentrations of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions and pH 14 corresponds to a 1 Normal alkali solution (17 grams of hydroxyl ions per litre). As the scale is logarithmic, an increase of one unit corresponds to a ten-fold reduction of the hydrogen ion and a ten-fold increase in the hydroxyl ion.
Pitch is a residue from the distillation of tars, which is liquid when hot and almost solid when cold.
Plasticiser is an agent. which may be added to mortar or concrete to improve its workability by increasing air entrainment.
Porosity is the volume of voids in a material expressed as a percentage of the total volume of the material.
Precipitate is an insoluble reaction product, which is usually crystalline and which usually grows in size to become settleable.
Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) is produced by blowing carbon dioxide into milk of lime, thereby precipitating finely divided calcium carbonate, generally with a mean particle size of less than 5um.
Preheater is a vessel in which limestone is heated by the exhaust gases from a rotary or other kiln, prior to being fed into the kiln.
Primary blasting is used to fragment naturally occurring rock (compare with secondary blasting).
Primer is a relatively small amount of high explosive, into which a detonator is inserted, which is used to initiate blasting agents such as ANFO.
Quicklimes are air-limes consisting mainly of calcium oxide and magnesium oxide produced by calcination of limestone and/or dolomitic rock. They include calcium limes and dolomitic limes.
Reactivity of quicklime is a measure of the rate at which it reacts with water. There are many reactivity tests. The terms "very high", "high", "moderate" and "low" reactivity are used as broad classifications for quicklimes.
Reef limestones are mounds and units of organically produced debris, cemented in situ and often consisting of complete fossils.
Refractory describes the ability to withstand high temperatures without damage. It is also used to describe bricks with refractory properties.
Regenerative kiln is a type of shaft kiln in which the limestone is used as a regenerative heat exchange medium to transfer heat from exhaust gases to the combustion air.
Road base is the main structural element in a road pavement. It spreads concentrated loads from traffic over such an area that the subgrade is able to withstand them.
Rotary kiln is a long, slightly inclined rotating tube. Limestone is fed into the upper end and fuel is fired into the lower end, from which lime is discharged. Rotary kilns often have limestone preheaters and/or lime coolers.
Run-of-crusher (ROC) describes the material produced by a crusher and includes the fines and impurities.
Run-of-quarry (ROQ) describes the material produced by quarrying activities for subsequent processing. It includes fines, clay and other impurities, but not material sent directly to tip.
Scaffolding refers to the formation of columns of fused material within a shaft kiln. It can develop into arches and prevent the burden from moving uniformly down the kiln.
Scalping is the removal of the finer fraction of a feed to a stone processing plant to reject unwanted material.
Scrubber (in gas cleaning) is a device in which dust or gaseous impurities are removed using droplets of water.
Scrubber (in mineral processing) is a device in which rock is washed to remove fine particles of rock or clay from the surface of larger particles.
Shell limes are a form of calcium lime, produced by the calcination of shells.
Shell limestone is a consolidated limestone mainly of shells and/or fragments of shells.
Silo is a large storage vessel which is generally filled pneumatically.
Single-sized generally refers to aggregate, which passed through a screen deck with an aperture size of 1.4 units and is retained on one with an aperture size of 1.0 units (e.g. passing 14 mm and retained on 10 mm).
Size ratio is widely used to describe the size range of limestones. Thus a size ratio of 3:1 would describe a product that has passed through a screen mesh with a square aperture of 30x30 mm and has been retained on a screen with an aperture of 10 x lO mm.
Slaked limes are air limes mainly consisting of calcium and possibly magnesium hydroxides, resulting from the slaking of quicklime. They generally refer to a dispersion of calcium hydroxide in water, but also include powered hydrated lime. In this book, the term is used to include both aqueous dispersions and dry hydrated lime
Slurry describes a high concentration of suspended solids in water typically over 5g/1.
Slurry pond (in waste disposal) is a contained area of water into which slurried solids are discharged to permit the solids to settle and the clarified water to be discharged or recycled.
Soundness of aggregate is its resistance to chemical attack, or to repeated physical changes, such as freeze-thaw cycles.
Sparite is clearly crystalline, interstitial calcite in carbonate rocks, which acts as a cement binding larger particles.
Stalactites are icicle-like deposits of calcium carbonate, which hang from the roofs of limestone caverns. They are formed by crystallisation from groundwater.
Stalagmites are conical deposits of calcium carbonate on the floors of limestone caverns, formed by crystallisation from groundwater.
Stucco is a form of plaster for coating walls.
Tar is a viscous black liquid produced by the destructive distillation of coal, or other organic materials. Its adhesive properties are used to bind aggregates in the construction of roads etc.
Tarmacadam is a road-building material, consisting of aggregate bound with tar or a tar-bitumen mixture. It contains little material and consequently gives a relatively open surface.
Total lime is an analytical term for the total CaO plus MgO content of a limestone or lime, expressed in terms of CaO equivalent. It includes the carbonates, oxide, hydroxide, silicates, aluminates and ferrate.
Trefoil is a refractory structure in the preheating zone of some rotary kilns, dividing the kiln into three channels, to improve heat transfer between the hot gases and the limestone.
Unslaked lime is any form of quicklime.
Unsoundness indicates that a material does not have adequate resistance to chemical attack, or to repeated physical changes, such as moisture, freeze-thaw, temperature etc.
Vaterite is a metastable form of calcium carbonate with hexagonal crystal structure, which can crystallise from highly alkaline lake water. It is of no commercial interest.
Volume yield is the volume of a putty of standard consistency produced by slaking a specified weight of quicklime.
Vugs are small cavities caused by the dissolution of limestone.
Water retentivity is the ability of a mortar to retain water against capillary suction of the masonry units.
Water soluble lime is an analytical term for the component in hydrated lime, expressed as Ca(OH)2, that is able to react with hydrochloric acid at a pH of above 9.2, using the test specified in prEN 12485.
Whitewash see limewash
Whiting is a finely powdered product produced by milling and classifying limestone (generally chalk). The nominal top size varies from 10 to 75um.
Workability is a measure of the ease with which a fresh mix of concrete or mortar can be handled and placed.
Yield see volume yield
Natural Chemistry...Pure Science
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