The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-12-04
TESTING LIMESTONE.
How to Ascertain II ut VIII Afford q
Good Quality of Ouick-Lime.

How to Ascertain II ut VIII Afford q
Good Quality of Qulck-Lime.
Deposits of excellent limestone often
exist in portions of the country that
have hong been settled, but their value
for making quick-limeis not determined. |
If the stone resembles in color and
texture that used for making lime in
part OF the country from which any Of
the settlers came, some one genera ly
makes kiln and prepares quick-lime
for the market If it has 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 to obtain supply when
they have occasion to use it. Until the
late civil war lime made at the Maine
penitentary, at Rockland, was used for
making mortar to be used in the cree
ton of buildings in towns in Arkansas,
although the State is most bountifully
supplied with most excellent limestone,
stone and fire-clay suitable for the cree
ton of kilns, and the best of fuel. Much
of this stone was black or nearly pure
white, and the people dGubtlessly
thought that gray was the color which
stone should have that would produce q
good article of lime Limestone is a
carbonate of lime, and exists in great
variety of forms. Marble, whether
white, black, notified or verigated, is
nearly pure carbonate of lime. Com
mon chalk is a 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 q
gray color. The color is due to mineral
or vegetable impurities
Detached stones found on the surface
OF the ground or thrown up BY blowing
generally indicate the presence of q
large deposit in the vicinity. They
may, however have been brought from
quite a 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 Quarricd to
good advantage if it is several feet be-
low the surface. Ii is no objection tc
the stone for making lime that it i,
moist. The presence of moisture in i
appears to facilitate the driving of O
the carbon'c acid, which is necessary
for converting the stone into quick
lime, or the lime of commerce Thi
acid, which ordinarily exists in thu
form of a gas, does not form very
strong union with the lime base.
can readily be displaced by the use 0
any of the common acids. Common
vinegar, which is very dilute acct
ac.d, will, if poured on a piece of lime
stone, cause the carbOuic acid to es
cape. The vinegar viii appear to boil
owing to the escape of the bubbles q
gas through it. If gas escapes from
piece of stone to which vinegar ha
been applied, the evidence is near
conclusive that it is carbonate of lime
TO test it further it is only necessary t
place piece of stone as large a3
hens egg in blacksmith's forge 0
upon n wood fire or a stove where har
coat or wood is burned, end allow it +
remain five or six hours. If a. the en-
of that time it will 'slake" the cNper
menter may be assured that the >ton
will make quick-lmo. by burning sey
eral pieces in this way ''slaling,' min
ing sand with them. and maxim
mortar in the usual way. the value 9
this lime can be compared with that j.
the market. - Chicago TimcS