Crushed Limestone – Uses & Benefits of This Natural Stone

Based on United States Geological Survey (2006), Wikipedia has produced the following useful insights giving data regarding crushed limestone.

• 1.44 billion tons of crushed stones were used in the construction industry.
• 74.9 million tons used for cement manufacturing and the share of limestone are significant in it.
• 18.1 million crushed limestones used to make lime.
• 9.40 million tons of crushed limestone or dolomite used for soil treatment.
• 5.29 million crushed limestones consumed in steel (blast) furnaces as a flux to react and produce liquid slag. 
• 2.71 million tons of crushed stone used for sulfur dioxide removal.
• 1.45 million tons of crushed limestone sold for poultry feed as mineral food.

The data are old but impressive enough to think about an increased utility of crushed limestone in various industries and purposes.

With enough curiosity, I invite you all to learn something regarding crushed limestone today on behalf of World of Stones USA. Of course, we have discussed before the formation of limestone rocks so I am not going to repeat all here.

What Is Crushed Limestone?

Crushed limestone typically produced by mining limestone or dolomite rock deposits. The process involves breaking of collected rocks down to the specific sizes with the help of different rock crushers/machines. It further screening/filtering into different grit sizes for suitable applications. 

Remember: Limestone gravels are the results of weathering processes that take place in nature. So, gravels are typically more rounded in shape. 

However, pulverized/crushed limestone aggregates/grits have angular in shape and have sharp edges, thanks to machine grinding processes.

What Are the Properties of Crushed Limestone?

According to ResearchGate, the following are different parameters illustrated for different types of aggregates classified based on the size in mm.

The following parameters of the physical properties of crushed limestone show the limits of coarse aggregates.

Moreover,

• Crushed limestone aggregates proved nearly 10% of high in strength compared to traditional gravels used in cement-concrete mixer. The strength comes from the angular shapes and sharp edges of crushed limestone aggregates compared to rounded-shaped gravels obtained from natural resources, which formed through weathering processes.
• Crushed limestone grits have lighter unit weight compared to limestone gravels and other natural stones. So, it approximately saves 12% of the total volume needed in the preparation of cement-concrete mixture for construction purposes.
• Compared to gravel concrete, crushed limestone concrete has a lower thermal coefficient of expansion. So, slabs poured with limestone concrete may expand or contract less in given temperature changes than other competitive materials, including gravels.
• The thermal stability described above results in superb curing properties. Therefore, limestone concrete slabs display greater crack spacing (fewer cracks) and less crack width. 
• Crushed limestone belongs to the calcite type of rocks. So, they are softer than siliceous types of counterpart rocks. Such softness ends in easier cutting/saw through than silicate gravels.

What Are the Benefits of Crushed Limestone?

The following are apparent advantages of crushed limestone products in the concurrent market.

The durability of Crushed Limestone

We are familiar with the durability of limestone like natural stones in a general sense. So, crushed limestone aggregates also carrying most of the properties, such as strength, load-bearing strength, long-lasting, and weather resistance as calcite rocks.

Look-n-Feel of Crushed Limestone

Whenever you apply limestone slits in any decorative projects, it gives you a spectrum of colors and hues to make the applications attractive. Limestone aggregates obtained from marble, travertine, and fossiliferous limestone rocks have various decorative uses in indoor & outdoor projects.

The versatility of Crushed Limestone

If you ever check the different application areas of crushed limestone aggregates, you may realize the versatility of it because it has a wide range of applications and suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial projects.

Availability of Crushed Limestone

Limestone quarries are almost everywhere across the planet. It means you can get crushed limestone quickly in your neighborhood at competitive rates.

Cost-effective Crushed Limestone

Crushed limestone is considering a high-volume, low-value commodity in the natural stone market. Due to the abundance of limestone deposits around the world, you can find crushed limestone products at highly competitive rates. Due to advanced transit technology, the delivery of limestone aggregates is cheaper compared to others but similar options.

What Are the Uses of Crushed Limestone?

Application areas of crushed limestone aggregates are extensive and in different industry verticals.

Uses of Crushed Limestone in Construction Industry:

In the construction industry, the demand for crushed limestone grits is high, and the followings are application areas:

• As Road base: Being a sturdy natural stone material, crushed limestone aggregates of different sizes are useful in the preparation of road base. Crushed limestone also uses as a base material for various outdoor applications, including stepping stone paths, walkways, driveways, swimming pool decks, porches, and natural stone patios.
• In Asphalt Road Making: Asphalt roads need stone aggregates as a chief constitute, and crushed limestone aggregates are a cost-effective, handy, and technically suitable option to prepare hot mix asphalt. Similarly, pulverized limestone sands also are useful in making hot mix asphalt.
• As Cement-concrete Aggregates: Grits and sands prepared from crushed limestone rocks are in high demand to develop cement-concrete based products, such as blocks and bricks. It uses mainly to fill the slabs and other RCC constructions. Crushed limestone uses in the absence of Granite like sturdy stone material. 
• In Railroad Ballast: Different sizes of crushed limestone use in the preparation of railroad ballast. Limestone aggregates support the rail tiles and also facilitates smooth water flow during rainy days to prevent waterlogging. Angular shapes of crushed limestone slits prevent easy walking and keep away kids & adults from railroads to save from unexpected accidents.
• In Roofing Granules: Pulverized limestone is available in fine particle size. Thus, it proves the best material as a coating asphalt-impregnated shingles and roofing. It beautifully protects roofing from heat and other elements.
• In Sealing Surfaces: Natural stone surfaces, particularly limestone paving, require coating or sealing with the same kind of sealing stuff. Crushed limestone sand is giving the best and matching option for it.
• In Back Filling: Retaining walls often need backfill material, and crushed limestone seems ideal for it, as it quickly percolates rainwater and underground water streams.

Applications of Crushed Limestone in Landscaping:

In residential and commercial landscaping, limestone aggregates are useful in covering ground/top-soil for various means.

• Crushed limestone rocks have different tans to be a principal decorative element.
• Patches of limestone aggregates use in designing turf landscape. 
• Crushed limestone aggregates around trees and shrubs provide a protecting cover as well as act as decorative elements in landscape designing.
• You can prevent your landscape from unexpected weeds by covering the land with landscape fabric first and laying limestone aggregates on top of it.

Implementations of Crushed Limestone in Soil Erosion Prevention:

• In urban and rural areas, building drainage ditches is often compulsory to prevent ground erosion from heavy rainwater runoff. Limestone aggregates of different particle sizes give several protecting layers to line the trench in scientific ways.
• Soil erosion also takes place at river banks and seashores. You can create excellent Rip Rap using crushed limestone aggregates to control soil erosion in such areas. Limestone aggregates provide ideal bedding material for Rip Rap.
• Sides of roads, footpaths, and railroads often need extra precautions to prevent top surface or soil erosion. Limestone grits from crushed rocks are giving suitable material for the same. 

Uses of Crushed Limestone in Soil Enrichment:

Limestone is calcite, and its prime minerals are calcium & magnesium. However, various chemical compounds produced by applications of chemical fertilizers and pesticides increase the pH of the soil to the acidic. 

The minerals in dolomites and limestone are alkaline in nature, and neutralizing acidic chemicals exist in the soil.

The soil with almost neutral pH allows easy absorption of available nutrients by the plants. 

In short, crushed limestone aggregates when mixed with proper Gypsum-grade minerals (Phosphorus, zinc, & copper) can enrich the soil and enhances its productivity. 

The mixer can resume the bacterial activities in the soil & helps in transforming unusable nitrogen into available radical supplements. 

Applications of Crushed Limestone in Flux Stone:

During steel and glass making processes, removal of various mineral and organic impurities is essential. Limestone aggregates can use for smelting and refining processes. 

Flux stone made from limestone aggregates combine with impurities and remove those impurities by forming a slag/liquid slag—flux stone made from limestone aggregates also used in refining sugar beets.

Uses of Crushed Limestone in Livestock Feed:

Animal feeds for poultry, dairy, and other domestic/productive animals necessarily demands the adequate presence of calcium minerals and calcite compounds. 

Crushed limestone provides enough quantity of calcium and phosphorus like bone, milk, and meat making nutrients for livestock. 

Thereby, animal feed makers freely use different quality-grades of crushed limestone aggregates and sands.

Uses of Crushed Limestone in Medicine & Calcium Supplements:

• The majority of tablets, pills, and solutions are made from calcium compound rich base material in the pharmaceutical industry, and crushed limestone provides the raw material for it.
• Humans like animals need calcium supplements in the form of pills and solutions, and limestone aggregates can provide the same.
• Calcium compounds are neutralizing acidic substances produced in the stomach and intestines. Crushed limestone gives enough calcium compound of the required quality. 

Where to Get Desired Quality & Quantity of Crushed Limestone?

However, the sources of crushed limestone are primarily limestone quarries in your vicinity. Many natural stone suppliers like World of Stones USA can help you to obtain the desired grade and quality of crushed limestone aggregates, sands, and dust at highly competitive rates. The contributions of World of Stones USA in the construction industry are notable, and you can get the best natural stone materials for your various construction projects.