Different minerals need to be mined in order to make cement. Limestone (containing the mineral calcite), clay, and gypsum make up most of it. The us geological survey notes that cement raw materials, especially limestone, are geologically widespread and (luckily) abundant.
What Is Used to Make Cement?
Cement is a binder, a substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together.
There are a number of different types of cement, with varying properties and uses. The most common type of cement is Portland cement, which is used for construction of buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure.
This type of cement is made by heating limestone and clay minerals to a high temperature, then grinding them into a fine powder.
Other types of cement include:
• Blast furnace slag cement: This type of cement is made from blast furnace slag, a by–product of iron and steel production. It is used in construction projects where high levels of sulfates are present, such as in marine environments.
• Masonry cement: Masonry cement is used to make mortar, a type of binding material used in construction.
• Oil well cement:
Oil well cement is used in the oil and gas industry to seal wells and prevent leaks.
• Pozzolanic cement: Pozzolanic cement is made from materials such as fly ash, a by–product of coal–fired power plants. It is used in construction projects where high levels of sulfates are present
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