Aggregate Evaluation and Geochemical Investigation of Limestone for Construction Industries in Pakistan: An Approach for Sustainable Economic Development

The present study investigates the aggregate suitability and geochemical characteristics of limestone (LS) from Samana Suk Formation, Pakistan, for construction industry. With advent CPEC, demand materials has seen a manifold increase. Sheikh Budin Hills Trans Indus Ranges comprise huge deposits provide great potential source rocks in region. In Upper Basin Formation is acknowledged as most significant carbonate Mesozoic strata. results parameters reveal that specific gravity (SG = 2.6); water absorption (WA 0.47%); bulk density (BD 1.58 g/cm3); flakiness index (FI 16.8%); elongation (EI 16.39%); soundness (S 1.6%); impact value (AIV 14%); Los Angeles Abrasion (LAAV 23.51%); clay lumps (CL 0.35%); uniaxial compressive strength (UCS 86.7 MPa); point load test (PLT 5.18 ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV 5290 m/s); Schmidt hammer rebound (SHRT 49 N) are accordance with ASTM, ISRM, BSI. Petrographically, LS dominantly composed ooids, peloids, bioclasts, calcite mineral (CaCO3) trace concentration dolomite [(Ca,Mg)CO3]. mineralogical (n 18) revealed (95.81%); on average, it 52.08 wt.% CaO; 1.13 SiO2; 0.66 MgO; 0.80 Al2O3; 0.76 Fe2O3, loss ignition (LOI) was recorded 42.13 wt.%. On other hand, P2O5, TiO2, MnO, K2O Na2O were found amounts. regression analysis demonstrated empirical correlation equation estimating more reliable than test. Consequently, feasibility using an cement manufacturing recommended based testing mechanical, physical, properties.