Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Textural Properties of the Lower Globigerina Limestone Used in the Built Heritage

The Lower Globigerina Limestone Member, the oldest member of Formation, outcrops over most Maltese archipelago, notably Malta. It has provided islands’ main building material since Neolithic period. This paper makes available a corpus findings relating to geochemistry, mineralogy and textural properties this limestone—mostly unpublished undertaken nearly three decades ago—which provide useful source understand its behavior. Bulk chemistry showed that non-carbonate clay content is higher in limestone inferior quality. Textural analyses gave insight into fabric matrix, including inter- intra-particle porosity. These were supplemented by an array petrophysical tests, color (a parameter which correlation with density Fe2O3 content), ultrasonic pulse velocity compressive strength. not only give composition limestone, using insoluble residue ?5% as threshold quality lithotype, but physico-mechanical bonding present, characteristic bearing on deterioration limestone.