Evaluation of the suitability of Limestone rocks in the Sharqat area as construction materials and railway ballast / Northern Iraq

Building stones are rocks that are found in natural form and have special specifications that are quarried and cut into rock blocks (dimension stone) (ASTM, C 119-02, 2004), and limestone is considered one of the most important mineral raw materials that refer to the main or secondary material in many fields, and limestone is used in the manufacture of building blocks because the classification of crushed gravel is final. After all, the classification of crushed gravel is final; limestone is considered one of the most important mineral raw materials as it refers to decorative stones for facades and interior facades. Brickwork for buildings. The suitability of using limestone rocks to form a trench in Salah al-Din Governorate/ Sharqat District for construction purposes and railway stabilization aggregate was studied. Limestone was sampled from four stations, and samples were prepared for the required laboratory tests according to the American Standard Specification (ASTM C568-99, 2004). Density values ​​ranged between 2.07-2.17 gm/cm³. Absorption values ​​ranged between 5.94-6.41%, and unconfined compressive strength between 15.6-18.4 MPa. Flexural strength ranged between 4.11-6.53 MPa, while the abrasion resistance of the aggregate ranged between 34.5-41.7%. It was found that the limestone rocks present in the study area are suitable as building materials according to the American Standard Specification (ASTM, C568-99, 2004) in all stations in the study area, while at the same time the four stations are not suitable as railway aggregate