Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-12-03
: TEsTINGsTL
How to Ascertain IL -sIt VIII Affor,
Good Quality of 6uick-Lime.

How to Ascertain IL ..It VIII Afford II
Good Quality of 6uck-Lime.
Deposits of excellent limestone often
exist in portions of the country that
have long been settled, but their value
for making quick lime is not determined.
If the stone resembles in color and
part of the country from which any of
the settlers came, someone genera ly
makes a kiln and prepares quick-limc
for the market. If it has n different
color and texture, the chances are that
it will not be utilized for many years.
During all this time the people in the
vicinity pay high prices for lime on ac-
count of the expense of transporting it,
and often suffer great inconvenience in
not being able 10 obtain supply when
they have occasion to use it. Until the
late civil war lime made at the Maine
penitentiary, at Rockland, was used for
making mortar to be used in the erec-
ton of buildings in towns in Arkansas,
although the State is most bountifully
supplied with most excellent limestone,
stone and iire-clay suitable for the erec-
ton of kilns, and the best of fuel. Much
of this stone was black or nearly pure
white, aud the people doubtlessly
thought that gray was the color which
stone should have that would produce a
good article of lime. Limestone is a
carbonate of lime, and exists In great
variety of forms. Marble, whether
white, black, mottled or verigatod, is
neafly pnre carbonate Of lime. Com
mon chalk is n peculiar form of lime
stone, very common on the south coast
of England. but quite rare in this coun-
try. A large proportion of the lime,
stone found in the Western States and
Territories is quite compact and Of n
gray color. The color is due to mineral
or vegetable impurities ~ ,sts.
Detached stones found on the surface
of the ground or thrown up by plowing
generally indicate the presence of q
large deposit in the vicinity. They
may, however, have been brought from
quite distance by the water or some
other agency. Available deposits of
limestone do not always crop out OF
the ground or show themselves upon
the surface. They are often found sew
eral feet below the surface in digging
wells or making bitches for the purpose
of draining low land. A very valuable
deposit of limestone was recently found
in Champaign County, ILL.,, while work.
men were engaged in draining bog.
Limestone can often be quarried' to
good advantage if it IS several feet be-
low the surface. 1t is no objection to
the stone for making lime. that it is
moist, The presence of moisture in il
appears to facilitate the driving of Of
the carbonic acid, which is necessary
for converting the stone into quick
lime, or the lime of commerce. This
acid, which ordinarily exists in the
form of a gas does not form very
strong union with the lime base. II
can readily be displaced by the use OF
any of the common acids Common
vinegar, which is very dilute acetic
&C d, will, if poured on 4 piece Of lime.
stone, cause the carbonic acid to es.
eape.1 The vinegar will appear to boil,
owing to the escape Of the bubbles OF
gas through 1t. II gas escapes from a
piece of stone to which vinegar has
been applied, the evidence is nearly
conclusive that il is carbonate of lime.
To test 1t further it Is only necessary to
place piece of stone rs large us a
hens egg in blacksmths forge OF
upon wood fire or stove where hard
coai or wood is burned, and allow it to
remain five or six hours. If at the end
| OF that time II will ''slake'' the expert.
menter may be assured that the stone
willmake quick-lime. BY burning sev.
eral pieces in this way "slaking." mix
ling sand with them, and making
mortar in the usual way, tho value ol
lthiS lime can be compared with that in
the market. = Chicago Times.