In Bondi, most people identify limestone with industrial applications such as animal feeds production and treatment of soil acidity. What many don’t know is that the rock has a range of building and construction applications. Frankly, limestone is a versatile rock. It probably has more applications in the building and construction sectors than any other rock. But first, it’s important to understand a few properties about this rock. Limestone is an organic or inorganic sedimentary rock that comprises mainly calcium carbonate (about 50%). The remaining percentage is occupied by deposits of quartz, pyrite, chert, feldspar, and siderite. When the rock is formed through the accumulation of calcium-rich shells, coral fragments, fecal debris, and algae, it’s referred to as organic limestone. If it’s formed through chemical processes such as evaporation and precipitation in the seas, it’s called inorganic limestone. The different formation processes give rise to several limestone varieties.
Limestone Varieties
There are different terms used to refer limestone in Bondi but they all mean the same thing. They include:
• Chalk: This is a soft form of limestone that’s either light gray or white in appearance. Chalk is mostly formed from calcareous shells and algae remains.
• Tufa: This form is formed from precipitation in hot springs and lakes.
• Coquina: This is a poorly-cemented variety that’s primarily broken shells. It’s mostly formed along the beaches.
• Travertine: This is formed from evaporation, mostly in caves to produce formations such as flowstones, stalagmites, and stalactite.
• Oolitic: This type of limestone is composed of calcium carbonate ‘oolites’, which are essentially small spheres which result from concentric precipitation of calcium carbonate on shell fragments or sand grain.
Applications of Limestone
In the building and construction sectors, limestone is used in:
• Roads and railroads: Due to its strength, limestone is used as the base material when building road and railroads.
• Concrete making: Limestone gives concrete strength and consistency.
• Cement manufacturing: Limestone is combined with clay and heated in a kiln to produce quality cement.
• Dimensional blocks: The rock can be cut into diverse shapes and used as facing stones, stair treads, flooring tiles, or window seals.
• Roofing: The crushed forms of limestone in Bondi are used to make roof coats. This is because they are heat-resistant and water-proof.
Clearly, limestone is a versatile rock that you can use in an array of building and construction needs. You just need to know where the sedimentary rock is best suited and what variety to use. This will ensure that your construction or building project is a success.