Mineralogical and Chemical Assessment of Serikagni Limestone Formation in Zurbatiyah Area, Eastern Iraq for Ordinary Portland Cement Industry
Abstract
Limestone deposits of the Serikagni Formation in Zurbatiyah area, eastern Iraq, were evaluated as raw materials for the manufacturing of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that calcite is the dominant mineral followed by quartz and traces of dolomite appearing in limited limestone samples. X-ray fluorescence results showed that the oxides (CaO, SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO, Na2O, K2O, TiO2, SO3, and P2O5) are within the acceptable limits required for the cement industry. Based on the chemical parameters of cement (LSF, SR and AR) two mixtures was designed for cement industry, The first one composed of limestone of Serikagni formation and clay of Injana formation, Where as the second one was composed limestone of Serikagni formation and clay of Injana formation, in addition Bauxite and Sand as corrected materials. The proportions of the mineral phases of clinker were calculated after burning at 1450 C from the XRF results of the oxides of the produced clinker, the results showed the phases (Alite C3S, Belite C2S, aluminate C3A and ferrite C4AF) within acceptable limits of international standards.
