Composition. - Magnesian limestones are composed of carbonate of lime and carbonate of magnesia in variable proportions, together with a small quantity of silica, iron, and alumina.

1 Wray.

Many limestones contain carbonate of magnesia, but those with less than 15 per cent do not come into the class now under consideration.

The better varieties of magnesian limestone are those in which there is at least 40 per cent of carbonate of magnesia, with 4 or 5 per cent of silica.

When the magnesia is present in the proportion of one molecule of carbonate of magnesia to one molecule of carbonate of lime (i.e. 54.18 carb. magnesia and 45.82 carb. lime), the stone is called a Dolomite.1

Professor Daniel states that the nearer a magnesian limestone approaches dolomite in composition, the more durable it is likely to be.

Structure

It is not merely the nature of the constituents or their mechanical mixture that gives dolomite its good qualities; there is some peculiarity in the crystallisation which is all important.

Mr. C. Smith says, " In the formation of dolomite, some peculiar combination takes place between the molecules of each substance; they possess some inherent power, by which the invisible or minutest particles intermix and unite with each other so intimately as to be inseparable by mechanical means. On examining with a highly magnifying power a specimen of genuine magnesian limestone, such as that of Bolsover Moor, it will be found not composed of two sorts of crystals, some formed of carbonate of lime others of carbonate of magnesia, but the entire mass of stone is made up of rhomboids each of which contains both the earths homogeneously crystallised together. When this is the case, we know by practical observation that the stone is extremely durable."2

Some magnesian limestones contain sand, in which case their weathering qualities are greatly injured.

Some are peculiarly subject to the attacks of sulphuric acid, which forms a soluble sulphate of magnesia easily washed away.

Analyses

The following Table gives analyses of some of the principal magnesian limestones. The red and white Mansfield contain a large proportion of silica and are generally classed among the sandstones (see p. 38).

1 After a French geologist Dolomieu, who was the first discoverer of this mineral in the Alps. 2 Smith's Lithohgy.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Dolomites.

Bols-over Moor.

Hud-dleston.

Roach Abbey.

Park

Nook.

Mansfield, Bed.

Mansfield, White.

Mansfield Wood-house.

Fulwell

North Auston.

Steetley

Carbonate of Magnesia

45.82

40.2

41.37

39.4

41.6

16.10

7.30

42.60

32.75

43.07

43.78

Carbonate of Lime

54.18

511

54.19

57.5

55.7

26.50

41.30

51.65

62.80

54.89

53.95

Silica .

...

3.6

2.53

0.8

0.0

49.40

50.00

3.70

Trace.

0.56

0.44

Iron and Alumina

...

1.8

0.30

0.7

0.4

3.20

2.30

0.73

0.64

Water and Loss

3.3

1.61

1.6

2.3

4.80

1.40

2.05

2.15

0.75

1.19

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.00

100.0

100.0

Cols. 2 3 4 5 from the Report of the Royal Commission. 16 7 8 Smith's Lithology.

9 Page's Economic Geology. 10 11 Builder, 20th November 1886.

Principal Varieties In Common Use

A few of the most noted varieties of limestone used in this country will now be described, after which, at p. 6 7, will be given a list of some of the principal quarries in Great Britain and Ireland.

Bath Stone is one of the best known and most extensively used building stones in this country.