Geochemical suitability of Limestone for Cement making: A case study of Joldhal Formation

In this work, we investigate the industrial potentiality of limestone deposits in the Joldhal Formation of the Shimoga Schist Belt, Dharwar Craton. Based on their mineralogy, petrography, and geochemical characteristics. Twenty-five different limestone samples were collected from distinct locations and analyzed using X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction techniques. Petrographically, these limestone deposits consist predominantly of calcite, quartz, chlorite, mica, micrites, etc. The X-ray diffraction studies indicated the dominance of calcite as an essential carbonate mineral, and quartz, kaolinite, chlorite, and mica/illite are major gangue minerals in the studied limestone. The results of the geochemical investigation of 25 samples indicated that the limestone from the study area exhibits a wide range of variation in LOI (27.99–42.82 wt%), SiO2 (0.21–19.60 wt%), CaO (27.80–55.50 wt%), Al2O3 (0.11–8.48 wt%), Fe2O3 (0.23–9.28 wt%), and MgO (0.51–9.79). Traces of K2O, Na2O, and TiO2 are found. This study illustrates how crucial it is to evaluate limestone's geochemical characteristics prior to cement making. Various factor analyses were calculated, like lime saturation factor, silica modulus, and alumina ratio, for suitable high-quality cement production. Bandigudda, Hanne, and Joldhal area valuable for cement manufacturing, unlike Medugondanahalli and Vitalapura, due to their impure quality and below-average parameter values. The results indicate suitability for cement production. The deposit's SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3 content meet the ultimate moduli values of the raw material, indicating its suitability for cement production. This study emphasizes the significance of the geochemical evaluation of limestone for cement production