RCF LIMESTONE 20MM (LFG)
Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
General Description
Definition of lime: By proper chemical nomenclature, lime is Calcium Oxide (CaO) but commercially, lime is understood to mean the product of complete calcinations of limestone, which may vary from pure calcium carbonate CaCO3, thus commercially lime may contain as high as 45% of magnesium oxides MgO as well as such impurities as silica, iron oxide and aluminium. The only difference is that the dolomitic types are a combination of elements calcium and magnesium in varying percentages, whereas high calcium limes contain less than 5% MgO down to 1/2%. In either case a pure form of limestone of at least 97%, combined carbonate content is needed to make a sellable lime, barring a few exceptions.
Typical Chemical Analysis
CaCO3 …………………..63.31%
CaO …………………..…..35.47%
MgO ……………………..15.00%
MgCO3 ………………….31.38%
CaSO4 …………………….0.13%
Fe2O3 ……………………3.68%
AI2O3 ………………….0.24%
SiO2 ……………………..1.21%
LOI ……………………….42.30%
Physical Properties
Hardness: 3.0
Gravity: 2.71 to 2.72
Melting Point: At about 8250C it decomposes giving off CO2 leaving CaO or lime which melts at about 25700C index of refraction 1.486 to 1.258
Colours: Nearly black, steak white luster, vitreous to dull and earthy
Cleaverage: Perfect rombohedral (Sat about 1050C to 2750C in crystals. Fracture varies dependent upon structure.
Transparency: transparent to opaque
Tenacity: brittle. Perfectly transparent crystals show high double refraction. Twinning in crystal is common.
Calcite and other forms of calcium carbonate can always be easily recognises by a hardness of 3 and their easy solubility with brisk effervescence in cold dilute acids.
Properties possessed by no other non-minerals resembling calcite.
Application
Agriculture: Poultry grit, Cattle cake, Stock feeds, Fertilisers, land fertility. Also insecticides and weed killers, aggregate for concrete road stone (untreated or tarred) ballast. With clay, sand etc gives cement and rock wool insulator.
Industrial: with soda, sand etc gives glass, Fillers for asphalt, lino rubber and cleansers
Mining: Dusting in coal mines to prevent spread of flames from explosion for slagging and purifying iron and steel and other metals.
Disclaimer
This technical information is submitted on the basis of our own research and the research of others, and we believe it is accurate. However, no guarantee of its accuracy is made neither can we cover every possible application of our products nor can we anticipate every variation encountered in manufacturing equipment and methods. For this reason our products are sold without warranty, express or implied, and also on the condition those purchasers conduct their own tests to determine the suitability of such products for their particular purposes. Statements concerning the possible use of our products are not intended as recommendations to use our products in the infringement of any patent.