What are the disadvantages of limestone?

Category: science geology
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List of the Cons of Quarrying Limestone
  • They can permanently disfigure the environment. Many limestone quarries can be seen from a great distance away.
  • Quarries create difficult traffic patterns.
  • They can have a negative impact on wildlife habitats.
  • Quarries may have a negative health impact.



Consequently, why is limestone not good for building?

Limestone is a rock which is more prone to especially chemical weathering than other types of rocks such as granite. This is because calcium carbonate, which is one of the minerals found in limestone, readily reacts with rainwater. Rainwater can get acidic because of the carbonic acid that it contains.

Subsequently, question is, what are the disadvantages of rock to man? That being said, there are some instances when rocks present disadvantages that include: rocks the fall from higher elevations on to people or property, rocks that are dissolved by acidic water and cause sinking of the land, rocks that contain minerals that are chemically or physically harmful to heatlh (like asbestos

Also to know is, is Limestone good for building?

It's exceptionally durable Many people don't know it but limestone is actually one of the most durable of all natural building materials. Limestone is exceptionally weather-resistant and while it does naturally corrode over time, the corrosion is superficial and won't impact the structural integrity of the structure.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of quarrying?

The impacts of quarrying

Advantages Disadvantages
Quarries provide much needed employment opportunities in areas where jobs are often hard to come by. Noise pollution from the blasting needed to extract rock.

35 Related Question Answers Found

Why limestone is used in cement?

The limestone acts as a seed crystal for the cement, better distributing the reaction products and increasing the reactivity of the cement. As there is always unhydrated cement in the concrete, this change will have no real measurable effect on the use of fly ash.

Does limestone crack easily?

Limestone is a soft, sedimentary stone made up of calcium. It may contain small cracks known as fissures at or beneath its surface. Over time, normal wear and tear can cause these fissures to open up wider into larger cracks.

Is limestone dust dangerous?

Inhalation: Limestone dust: May cause respiratory tract irritation. Adverse symptoms may include respiratory tract irritation and coughing. Prolonged inhalation may cause chronic health effects. Ingestion: Limestone dust: Harmful if swallowed.

Is limestone bad for the environment?

Large charges reduce whole areas of limestone to rubble, which is removed for use as crushed stone. The noise, dust, and impact from explosions can result in noise pollution and dust. Underground forces from the blasts can cause sinkholes or change the drainage and water quality of underground aquifers.

What can cause loss of durability for limestone used outside?


UV-radiation, weathering and acid rain can cause damages on the stone surface especially on soft materials stones like marble or limestone. Polished marble and limestone will lose their gloss and become matt; they appear to be bleached out. Usually limestone is more sensitive to frost than hard stones (e.g. granite).

What are the two main types of limestone?

The many types of limestone include chalk, coral reefs, animal shell limestone, travertine and black limestone rock.
  • Chalk – The White Cliffs of Dover. The famous White Cliffs of Dover consist of chalk, a type of limestone.
  • Coral Reef Limestone.
  • Animal Shell Limestone.
  • Limestone Variety – Travertine.
  • Black Limestone Rock.

How strong is limestone?

It is used as an aggregate in concrete. It is fired in a kiln with crushed shale to make cement. Some varieties of limestone perform well in these uses because they are strong, dense rocks with few pore spaces. These properties enable them to stand up well to abrasion and freeze-thaw.

Can limestone get wet?

Certainly, some limestones are softer and more porous than others. It is true that some can be more problematic to seal adequately in a wet area. But that doesn't mean that you cannot or should not use limestone in a bathroom.

What is good about limestone?

The benefits and effects of limestone: High in calcium: Helps makes lawns green. Curbs pollution: Removes sulfur dioxide from coal plant smokestacks. Good for ponds: Increases nutrient availability, fish growth and alkalinity.

Can you eat limestone?


It is not healthy for human consumption. Limestone causes arthritis. It doesn't heal anything in the human body, but it is good to feed to plants. Plants take the calcium carbonate and turn it into food for human consumption.

What famous buildings are made of limestone?

Famous American buildings made out of limestone
  • The Pentagon, United States.
  • The Lincoln Memorial, United States.
  • The Empire State Building, New York.
  • Washington National Cathedral, United States.

What are the advantages of limestone?

Limestone is a valuable natural resource, used to make things such as glass and concrete. Limestone quarrying provides employment opportunities that support the local economy in towns around the quarry. Limestone quarries are visible from long distances and may permanently disfigure the local environment.

Why does Limestone turn black?

They already know what makes limestone decay. Chemicals such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from air pollution react with the stone to make it dissolve. This sometimes creates a hard, black, gypsum crust on the outside, leaving a soft, crumbly stone underneath.

How long does it take to form limestone?

Sources of Limestone in the Future
It takes about 2 years to build a new cement plant, and the permitting process can take much longer - 8 to 10 years.

What color is limestone?


Limestone is a sedimentary rock that is usually white in color, as it is largely composed of calcium carbonate. Limestone can be colored by impurities, however; iron oxide can make limestone red, brown or yellow, while carbon can make it gray, black or blue.

Is limestone hard or soft?

Limestone is a soft, easily workable rock that is comprised of at least 50% calcite, aragonite, and/or dolomite. Rocks don't technically have any concrete MOHS hardness as they are mixtures of minerals.

What are the benefits of rocks?

Some of these benefits we derive from rocks include the following:
  • Rocks are very important to mankind because they are one of the best sources of fuel and power.
  • Minerals are extracted from rocks.
  • Salt can be extracted from rocks.
  • Rocks also serve as a source of water supply.