Part I. Coral Limestone and Its Use. Part II. Chemical Stabilization of Coral Surfaces

I. Coral Limestone and Its Use Limestone of coral origin was abundantly used for construction of Military and Naval bases in the Pacific during World War II. Its use was almost always spectacularly successful and contributed largely to the successful operations against the Japanese Empire. Nevertheless a rigid analysis of the coral used reveals it to be a rather poor material. This study briefly reviews the theoretical concepts of the origin of coral deposits and describes the nature of the various types of deposits. From this a guide is established to assist the construction engineer in finding the coral he needs, sometimes a difficult problem. The characteristics of coral deposits are explained and a method of processing the coral for desirable results is given, along with the reasons for the method. A logical explanation for the "setting up" phenomena is established. II. Chemical Stabilization of Coral Surfaces The possibility of chemical stabilization of the top surface of coral bases to prevent dust is explored. The process involved is analysed and an order of magnitude of quantities determined. The necessary experiments to prove the process and tentative field procedures are outlined.