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Photo by Michael Reis

N A T U R A L S T O N E C O U N C I L

M A T E R I A L F AC T S H E E T

MARKET OVERVIEW:

The United States is one of the chief roducers of dimension stone in the world, having generated an estimated 1.3 millio

tons in 2006. Limestone sales comrised the second largest ortion of this market at 35% b tonnage. Dominating the

sales were curbing, aving, rough blocks, slabs, veneer, wall anels, and tile.

Likel a result of limestones revalence in North America, Canada was the rincile sulier and urchaser of the

majorit of 2006 U.S. imorts and exorts, resectivel.

Sources: Dolley, T.P. 2007. 2006 Minerals Yearbook: Stone, Dimensional. U.S. Geological Survey. pg. 72.0-72.14.

Dolley, T.P. 2008. 2007 Mineral Commodi ty Summaries: Stone (Dimension). U.S. Geological Survey. pg. 160-161.

COPYRIGHT 2008 NATURAL STONE COUNCIL

pRODUCTS & AppLICATIONS:

Common Dimensions

Characteristics of quarried stone are deendent uon the attributes of

the deosit from which the stone was extracted; each quarr is able to

offer a range of roducts unique in dimensions, color, and structural

roerties to its deosit. Therefore, it is referable that the designer

and stone sulier collaborate closel rior to and throughout the design

rocess since lanning a roject around readil available stone reduces

the environmental imact of raw material extraction. Nevertheless, when

ossible, the most common dimensions of limestone on the market are

as follows:

BLOCKS: Maximum size of 8ft x 4ft x 4ft

SLABS: Maximum size of 8ft x 4ft with thickness of 2-3cm

Common Building Applications

Cladding (exterior/interior) Landscaing paving

Flooring Coing Statuar

Other Uses: aggregate, curbing, lime, mulch, & aving

Available Finishes

TEXTURED

Bush-

hammeredRock face Shot-sawn Chat-sawn

Machine

-tooledSandblasted Slit face plucked

SMOOTHCircular-sanded polished

Honed

Custom nishes may also be available through your stone supplier.

LIMESTONE

FORMATION & SOURCES:

Limestone is a sedimentar rock

comosed of calcium carbonate, lus

calcium and/or magnesium. It is formed

when laers of minerals (articularl

calcite), ne sediment, and the skeletons

and shells of marine organisms undergo

lithication. Terrestrially-formed

limestone is known as travertine.

Limestone is commonl quarried across

North America, articularl in the

Midwest United States.

This factsheet was developed by the Natural Stone Council as part of a c ontinuous effort to provide reliable and useful information regarding Genuine Stone products. The informa

presented has been ex tensively reviewed by owners and operators of limestone quarri es and fabrication facili ties. To access factshee ts for o ther stone types and learn more about Ge

Stone, including the industrys environmental initiatives, visit www.genuinestone.com.

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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA:

Quarring processing

Embodied Energ (Btu/ton) 1.4 million 4.7 million

Embodied Water (gal/ton) 600 19,000

Global Warming potential

(kg CO2

equivalents)20 80

Source: Natural Stone Council. Limestone Dimensional Stone Quarrying

and Processing:A Life-Cycle Inventory. August 2008. Center

for Clean Products. University of Tennessee. .

INDOOR AIR QUALITy:

Volatile Organic Comounds (VOCs)

None emitted directl from limestone

Ma source from adhesives and sealants

alied; low-VOC otions are available

on the market

Resources: refer to MSDS of chemical(s) use

pHySICAL pROpERTIES:

An eseciall wide variet of limestones exist on the market, both foreign and domestic, and these can be drasticall

different in densit, hardness, orosit, and aesthetics. Users should verif that the limestone the lan to use is

alicable to the demands of the roject and has a successful histor in such installations. ASTM test data is the most

common data available to comare the roerties of an stone, including limestone.

pERFORMANCE:

Durability

Interior alications: lifetime

Exterior alications: lifetime

Source: National Association of Home Builders. 2007. Study of Life Expectancy

of Home Components.

.

Reuse & Recyclabil ity

Ensure reclaimed limestone meets ASTM specicationsbefore using for structural uroses

Examle alications:

Concrete mixture Landscaing Retaining walls Walkwas

Fill Re-installation on new buildings Statuar

ASTM STANDARDS:

ASTM C-568 Standard Specication for Limestone Dimension Stone

Includes material characteristics, hsical requirements, and samling aroriate to the selection of

limestone for general building and structural uroses.

Classies dimensional limestone into three categories: Type I (Low density), Type II (Mediumdensit), and Te III (High densit). The table below lists the required test values for each te of

limestone; the necessar tests are rescribed b and located in the ASTM standards.

pROpERTy TypE I TypE II TypE III

Density, min lb/ ft3 (kg/m3) 110 (1760) 135 (2160) 160 (2560)

Absorption by weight, max, % 12.00 7.50 3.00

Compressive strength, min, psi (MPa) 1800 (12) 4000 (28) 8000 (55)

Modulus of rupture, min, psi (MPa) 400 (2.76) 500 (3.45) 1000 (6.89)

Abrasion resistance, min, hardness* 10 10 10

*Pertains only to stone subject to foot trafc.

Adapte d from C 568-08a Standard Specification for Limestone Dimension Stone, copyr ight AST M Internation al, 10 0 Barr Harbo r Drive,

West Conshohocken, PA 19428. A copy of the complete standard may be obtained from ASTM (www.astm.org).

Photo by Michael Reis

Photo courtesy of Fischer Stone & Materials

Photo courtesy of Indiana Limestone Co