Investigation of raw materials for cement industry of Upper Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Abstract

Limestone is the main constituent as raw materialused in manufacturing of cement. In this studythe limestone depositsof Khyber Karimabad, Passu and Morkhun-Gircha Upper Hunza Valley, Gilgitbaltistanwereevaluatedfor its suitabilityto be used raw material for cement industrythrough chemicallyand mineralogicaltechniques.The representativelimestone’s samples from different geological bedsof the proposed area were collected.These samples were investigated petrographic study, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy coupled with X-ray diffraction (SEM-EDX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and reserve estimation of the proposed deposit was carried out usingGeological Information System (GIS). Geological review shows that there is a good potential for industrial-grade limestone, the composition of this limestone can be generally expressed in terms of CaO, MgO, Al2O3, and SiO2, that may be used in place of similar commodities of good quality cement raw materials. After analysis of results,it is concluded that limestone and other raw materials of Khyber Karimabad (KKLS) are is of good quality and can fulfills the international standards of cementand while limestone and other raw materialsof Passu and Morkhun-Gircha isnotsuitable to be used as raw material for cement industry