GEOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF KHUMNOH LIMESTONE, KASHMIR, INDIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR CEMENT INDUSTRY AND SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE UTILIZATION
Main Article Content
Gazala Yousuf Mir
The Khumnoh limestone deposits of Kashmir, situated within the tectonically active northwestern Himalayas, hold significant economic potential for the cement industry. However, a comprehensive geochemical and mineralogical evaluation is essential to ascertain their suitability for industrial applications. This study integrates major and trace element geochemistry, petrographic analysis, and industrial feasibility assessments to characterize the limestone’s composition, depositional history, and potential for clinker production. A total of eight representative limestone samples were systematically collected and subjected to X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and petrographic investigations. The geochemical analysis reveals that the CaO content ranges from 50.12% to 54.89%, with low SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ concentrations, indicating high chemical purity. The trace element profiling exhibits minimal Mn, Sr, and P₂O₅, further enhancing its desirability for cement manufacturing. Petrographic observations confirm the dominance of fine- to medium-grained calcite with minor dolomitization and siliceous impurities, suggesting a shallow marine depositional environment with diagenetic overprinting. The findings demonstrate that the Khumnoh limestone meets international cement-grade standards (ASTM C150, BIS 4032-2022), positioning it as a viable raw material for clinker production. However, localized variations in siliceous and argillaceous intercalations necessitate beneficiation strategies to optimize its industrial utility. The study also underscores the imperative of sustainable extraction practices, given the region’s geological sensitivity and ecological constraints.This research provides a scientific framework for resource evaluation, industrial application, and sustainable utilization of the Khumnoh limestone. The results hold critical implications for cement manufacturing, regional economic development, and strategic raw material management in the Himalayan domain.
Ahmad, I., & Abbas, G. (2008). Structural implications of the Himalayan orogeny: An example from the Kashmir region. Journal of Himalayan Geology, 29(2), 45-60.
Bensted, J., & Barnes, P. (2002). Structure and performance of cements. CRC Press.
Bhattacharya, J., Chattopadhyay, B., & Mukherjee, A. (2009). Resource potential of Indian limestone deposits for cement production. Indian Journal of Geology, 76(1), 12-28.
Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A., & Zussman, J. (2013). An introduction to the rock-forming minerals. Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Duda, W. H. (1989). Cement-data-book: International process engineering in the cement industry. Bauverlag.
Ghosh, S. N. (2002). Advances in cement technology: Chemistry, manufacture, and testing. CRC Press.
Habert, G., d’Espinose de Lacaillerie, J. B., & Roussel, N. (2011). An environmental evaluation of geopolymer-based concrete. Journal of Cleaner Production, 19(11), 1229-1238.
Hewlett, P. C. (2003). Lea’s chemistry of cement and concrete. Elsevier.
Kosmatka, S. H., Kerkhoff, B., & Panarese, W. C. (2011). Design and control of concrete mixtures. Portland Cement Association.
Lea, F. M. (2004). The chemistry of cement and concrete. Butterworth-Heinemann.
Mehta, P. K., & Monteiro, P. J. (2014). Concrete: Microstructure, properties, and materials. McGraw-Hill Education.
Mindess, S., & Young, J. F. (1981). Concrete. Prentice-Hall.
Neville, A. M. (2011). Properties of concrete. Pearson.
Rao, V. P., & Sharma, R. (1997). Biogenic and sedimentological evidence of a shallow marine carbonate depositional system. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 67(3), 481-496.
Scrivener, K. L., & Kirkpatrick, R. J. (2008). Innovation in use and research on cementitious materials. Cement and Concrete Research, 38(2), 128-136.
Sengupta, S. (2013). Textural and mineralogical characterization of limestone deposits in the Indian subcontinent. Geological Society of India, 80(4), 501-519.
Sharma, P., & Jain, R. (2010). Environmental concerns of limestone mining in Himalayan regions. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 7(2), 123-135.
Singh, R., Tandon, S. K., & Gupta, N. (2012). Depositional history and diagenetic evolution of Himalayan carbonate sequences. Sedimentary Geology, 254, 34-49.
Srikantia, S. V., & Bhargava, O. N. (1998). Geology of the Lesser Himalayas: An overview. Memoirs of the Geological Society of India, 33, 1-23.
Tandon, S. K. (2001). Carbonate sedimentology of the Himalayan region. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 58(3), 271-289.
Taylor, H. F. W. (1997). Cement chemistry. Thomas Telford.
Thakur, V. C. (1992). Tectonics of the Himalaya: Structural evolution and geological implications. Geological Society of India Bulletin, 20, 1-14.
Tucker, M. E., & Wright, V. P. (1990). Carbonate sedimentology. Wiley.
Valdiya, K. S. (1980). Geology of the Kumaun Lesser Himalaya. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, 291 p.
