RESEARCH PAPER
Possibilities of utilization of Jurassic limestones and waste raw materials generated during their processing – a case study from central Poland
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1
WKG Sp. z o.o. Raciszyn, st. Działoszyńska 69; 98-355 Działoszyn
2
University of Agriculture in Krakow. Av. Mickiewicz Adam 21; 31-120 Krakow, Poland
3
Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, st. Wybickiego 7A; 31-261 Kraków, Poland
4
Institute of Soil Science, Environmental Engineering and Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin, Poland
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2024-09-09
Final revision date: 2024-10-31
Acceptance date: 2024-11-04
Publication date: 2024-12-20
Corresponding author
Jacek Antonkiewicz
University of Agriculture in Krakow. Av. Mickiewicz Adam 21; 31-120 Krakow, Poland
Acta Sci. Pol. Formatio Circumiectus 2024;23(4):5-18
HIGHLIGHTS
- 1. Quality parameters of Jurassic limestone deposit were analysed
- 2. The waste in the form of carbonate-clay flour was qualified for reclamation
- 3. Carbonate-clay flour can be used as a liming agent or soil improver
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TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Aim of the study:
The characteristics of the analyzed carbonate rocks in terms of their geological setting, lithological features, and quality parameters are presented.
Material and methods:
Jurassic limestones from the Działoszyn region were subjected to characterization for lithological features and quality parameters in relation to the geological conditions of their deposits. The study also included the physicochemical characteristics of carbonate-clay flour in terms of the possibility of using it in the fertilizer industry. The samples that have been subject of analyses have been collected from Raciszyn and Raciszyn II deposits that currently have been exploited.
Results and conclusions:
The deposits are characterized by high content of CaCO3 (on average, approx. 93%). Among other minerals, important in terms of the possibility of being used as fertilizers, there are: MgO (0.55–1.34%), followed by Fe2O3 (approx. 0.4%), and Al2O3 (0.07-2.49%). In contrast, in the waste raw material, i.e. carbonate-clay flour, similarly to the limestones from the Raciszyn deposits, there is (apart from carbonates) also magnesium, potassium and sulfur as well as small amounts of phosphorus and sodium, which is indicative of the possibility of using this material as a deacidifying agent. The content of microelements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Mo) in carbonate-clay flour indicates that this material constitutes a potential source of these nutrients for plant mineral nutrition. The content of heavy metals and metalloid (Cd, Pb, Hg, Ni, Cr, etc) is very low and lower than the acceptable content in liming agents and mineral fertilizers.