Procedures for the rapid assessment of limestone resources. (WC/98/001).

Limestone is an extremely valuable raw material and is one of the most versatile of all industrial rocks and minerals.

Abstract

Limestone is an extremely valuable raw material and is one of the most versatile of all industrial rocks and minerals. Its main use, however, is in the construction industry, as an essential raw material for cement manufacture, as crushed rock aggregate and also as a source of building and ornamental stone. Limestone is therefore widely extracted, often by poorly-regulated open-pit quarrying in many developing countries. There is an increasing awareness of the environmental impact of limestone quarrying and of the need for geological resource studies to guide strategic mineral planning and development plans. In many developing countries there is often no factual basis to assess either potential total or workable stone resources, nor their quality, to inform the planning process.

The work summarised in this report was carried out under the Department for International Development Technology Development and Research Programme as part of the British Government’s programme of aid to the developing countries. The project was formulated to develop and apply cost effective field and laboratory procedures for rapid assessment of limestone resources in developing countries based on appropriate technologies. The project was undertaken in collaboration with the Department of Mineral Resources, Thailand who carned out project field mapping, and assisted in field trials and in the generation of resource assessment data.

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Citation

Procedures for the rapid assessment of limestone resources. (WC/98/001).

Published 1 January 1998