Contact metamorphism of siliceous dolomite and impure limestones from the Werfen formation in the eastern Monzoni contact aureole

Summary ?The intrusive complex of Monzoni in the western central Dolomites (northern Italy) comprises a suite of pyroxenites, monzogabbros and monzodiorites with solidus temperatures in excess of 1000 °C which intruded previously unmetamorphosed Permotriassic sediments at less than 5 km depth. At the eastern intrusive contact an approximately 860 m wide contact aureole is developed in the carbonate country rocks. The prograde sequence of mineral parageneses in a siliceous dolomite of the Cencenighe member and in marly limestones of the Val Badia and Cencenighe members of the Lower Triassic Werfen formation indicate peak metamorphic temperatures in excess of 698 °C at 185 m from the intrusive contact and an outward temperature decrease of approximately 65 °C per 100 m. The high temperatures in the inner aureole caused formation of periclase from the prograde breakdown of dolomite and formation of melilite and esseneite-rich clinopyroxene. Present address: Mineralogisch-Petrographisches Institut, Universit?t Basel, Switzerland Received April 7, 2001; revised version accepted December 6, 2001     

Field criteria for epigenetic-supergene versus sedimentary-diagenetic silica concentrations in cretaceous limestones,Chihuahua, Mexico

The Cretaceous limestones of Chihuahua, Mexico, exhibit both sedimentary-diagenetic and epigenetic-supergene silica deposits which are distinguished from each other on the basis of texture/fabric/structure, composition, colour, presence or absence of certain other minerals such as malachite and/or hematite, structural relationships with the host-rock, and general paragenetic characteristics with each other; all described herein. The criteria offer a useful composite working model during field work.     

Microbial–silica interactions in Icelandic hot spring sinter: possible analogues for some Precambrian siliceous stromatolites

Silicified deposits, such as sinters, occur in several modern geothermal environments, but the mechanisms of silicification (and crucially the role of microorganisms in their construction) are still largely unresolved. Detailed examination of siliceous sinter, in particular sections of microstromatolites growing at the Krisuvik hot spring, Iceland, reveals that biomineralization contributes a major component to the overall structure, with approximately half the sinter thickness attributed to silicified microorganisms. Almost all microorganisms observed under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) are mineralized, with epicellular silica ranging in thickness from < 5 μm coatings on individual cells, to regions where entire colonies are cemented together in an amorphous silica matrix tens of micrometres thick. Within the overall profile, there appears to be two very distinct types of laminae that alternate repeatedly throughout the microstromatolite: ‘microbial’ layers are predominantly consisting of filamentous, intact, vertically aligned, biomineralized cyanobacteria, identified as Calothrix and Fischerella sp.; and weakly laminated silica layers which appear to be devoid of any microbial component. The microbial layers commonly have a sharply defined base, overlying the weakly laminated silica, and a gradational upper surface merging into the weakly laminated silica. These cyclic laminations are probably explained by variations in microbial activity. Active growth during spring/summer allows the microorganisms to keep pace with silicification, with the cell surfaces facilitating silicification, while during their natural slow growth phase in the dark autumn/winter months silicification exceeds the bacteria’s ability to compensate (i.e. grow upwards). At this stage, the microbial colony is probably not essential to microstromatolite formation, with silicification presumably occurring abiogenically. When conditions once again become favourable for growth, recolonization of the solid silica surface by free‐living bacteria occurs: cell motility is not responsible for the laminations. We have also observed that microbial populations within the microstromatolite, some several mm in depth, appear viable, i.e. they still have their pigmentation, the trichomes are not collapsed, cell walls are unbroken, cytoplasm is still present and they proved culturable. This suggests that the bulk of silicification occurred rapidly, probably while the cells were still alive. Surprisingly, however, measurements of light transmittance through sections of the microstromatolite revealed that photosynthetically active light (PAL) only transmitted through the uppermost 2 mm. Therefore the ‘deeper’ microbial populations must have either: (i) altered their metabolic pathways; (ii) become metabolically inactive; or (iii) the deeper populations may be dominated by different microbial assemblages from that of the surface. From these collective observations, it now seems unequivocal that microstromatolite formation is intimately linked to microbial activity and that the sinter fabric results from a combination of biomineralization, cell growth and recolonization. Furthermore, the similarities in morphology and microbial component to some Precambrian stromatolites, preserved in primary chert, suggests that we may be witnessing contemporaneous biomineralization processes and growth patterns analogous to those of the early Earth.     

Undications of current action in late Jurassic limestones,radiolarian limestones,saccocoma limestones and associated rocks from the subbetic of SE Spain

In the Vélez Blanco region (province of Almeia), filament limestones occur associated with pellet limestones, crinoidal limestones, radiolarian limestones, Saccocoma limestones and tintinnid limestones. These predominantly Late Jurassic rocks are underlain by Middle Jurassic oolitic limestones and overlain by Cretaceous pelagic limestones and marls.A distinction can be made between long and short filaments. The former are interpreted as undamaged valves, the latter as shell fragments of the pelagic pelecypod Bositra buchi. Bositra valves and fragments have been sorted by weak current (and/or wave) action.In the Saccocoma limestones, evidence for similar sorting of Saccocoma debris has been found.The radiolarian limestones represent a low-energy basin environment, but are not comparable with recent deep-sea radiolarian oozes.Nodular limestone intercalations and hiatuses represent a current- (and/or wave-) swept environment.The occurrence of filament-rich and Radiolaria-bearing, but benthos-poor, intervals within the oolitic limestone indicates that the deposition of such rocks can take place at moderate sea depths.     

钽铌钨锡多金属矿分离加工废水处理工艺研究

研究了采用石灰中和＋化学絮凝沉淀、有机复合脱氮剂分质处理钽铌钨锡多金属矿分离加工产生的酸性和碱性废水,氟化物、氨氮去除率可达到99.9%以上,重金属离子去除率可达到99%以上,氨回收率可达到98%以上。该处理工艺可实现废水资源化,回收的稀氨水可返回生产工艺再利用,具有良好的环境效益和经济效益。     

A general aspect in the genesis of nodular limestones documented by the Upper Cretaceous limestones of Jordan

Upper Cretaceous nodular limestones in Jordan were originated by burrowing organisms of the types Thalassinoides, Callianassa or Ophiomorpha. Although burrows are difficult to recognize in the pure lutitic limestones of northern Jordan, in the south they are filled by early diagenetic stochiometric dolomite or chert. One may conclude that some nodular limestones hitherto described, are products of burrowing organisms and not of purely chemical processes.     

Geochemistry of magnesian ilmenites from kimberlites in South Africa and Lesotho

Magnesium ilmenite from discrete nodules and lamellar intergrowths with pyroxene from the Kao, Sekameng, Frank Smith, and Monastery kimberlites has been analysed for Ti, Fe, Mg, Nb, Zr, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, and Ni. Each kimberlite contains discrete ilmenites which exhibit a wide compositional range within the ilmenite-geikeilite series. Lamellar ilmenites from Frank Smith and Monastery differ in composition but both show a limited range in composition which lies within the compositional range shown by discrete ilmenites from these pipes. The ilmenites are enriched in Nb, Zr, Cr, Co, and Ni and depleted in Mn, Cu, and Zn relative to Mg-poor ilmenites from basic intrusions. Nb, Zr, and Ni correlate with Fe, Ti and Mg variations but the abundances of the other trace elements are independent of major element variation. R-mode factor analysis is interpreted to imply that the geochemistry cannot be interpreted in terms of a differentiation hypothesis in which trace elements are removed from or concentrated in residua. Factor scores and major element abundances indicate that each pipe is characterized by a particular suite of discrete ilmenite nodules, which are considered to be phenocrysts in a proto-kimberlite magma. Lamellar ilmenite-pyroxene intergrowths are unlikely to have had a eutectic origin, and show no simple relationship to the discrete ilmenites.     

Microfacies and geochemistry of Middle Jurassic algal limestones from Scotland

Bathonian algal limestones from the Duntulm Formation of the Great Estuarine Group, western Scotland, are subdivided into three microfacies: cryptalgal laminites, thrombolites and porostromate-micrites. The distribution of early diagenetic, carbonate spherulites and cement fringes is fabric selective. Spherulites are common in the thrombolitic microfacies, whereas cement fringes were best developed upon algal nodules with porostromate microstructure. Syndiagenetic micrites, spherulites and cement fringes have stable carbon isotopic ratios indicative of abundant, organic-derived HCO₃ incorporation (δ¹³C values of ?0·05 to ?15‰). Enhanced magnesium concentrations in these fabrics, relative to neomorphic and burial-diagenetic spar cements, suggest an original Mg-calcite mineralogy, probably with precipitation under the influence of microbial systems. Brecciated, early-diagenetic fabrics and localized pockets of calcite pseudomorphs after gypsum were probably formed during subaerial exposure. Sulphate supply was probably from storm-derived, saline lagoon-water washed on to supralittoral stromatolitic flats. These inundations also allowed the temporary establishment of green algae and encrusting foraminifera. The combined geological and geochemical information suggests a palaeoenvironment somewhat similar to Recent, sub-tropical humid zone, calcareous algal marshes.     

全球冰川径流中硅的研究进展

硅(Si)是硅藻等海洋生物必需的营养元素,在海洋生态系统和碳循环方面扮演着重要角色.在全球变暖背景下,冰川加速消融,融水径流量快速增加,流域硅酸盐风化作用逐渐增强,导致大量Si元素随着融水释放出来并进入下游,很可能影响陆地与海洋生态系统生产力、碳循环并反馈气候变化.当前与冰川消融有关的Si释放及其影响研究已成为国际热点...     

Mineral chemical evidence for extremely magnesian subalkaline melts from the Antarctic extension of the Karoo large igneous province

We present a comprehensive mineral chemical dataset (～400 analyses) on subalkaline meimechitic (Mg-number?=?74–80) and ferropicritic (Mg-number?=?67–69) dike samples from the Antarctic extension of the Karoo large igneous province (LIP) in Vestfjella, western Dronning Maud Land. Some of the meimechites, previously considered to be cumulates from ferropicritic magmas, are characterized by forsteritic olivine (with core composition up to Fo₉₂) that is in, or close to Fe-Mg equilibrium with the host rock. The olivines are subhedral to euhedral, contain Ti-rich (volcanic) spinel inclusions, have a high CaO content (≥0.19 wt. %), and are thus unlikely to represent xenocrysts from mantle peridotite. Igneous amphibole is found in olivine-hosted, crystallized melt inclusions, indicating that the parental magmas had a H₂O content of 1–2 wt. %. The olivine data suggests generation of extremely MgO-rich (up to 25 wt. %) melts during the Karoo magmatism. Based on our petrogenetic modeling, such melts are likely to have originated from the partial melting of garnet peridotite at high pressures (5–6 GPa) and mantle potential temperatures (>1,600°C) that are compatible with the involvement of a mantle plume in the generation of the Karoo LIP. A geochemical comparison of the Vestfjella meimechites with meimechites from the Siberian Traps LIP and the assumed komatiitic parental melts of the Horingbai picrites (Paraná-Etendeka LIP) reveals key similarities, suggesting that all these suites were generated from broadly similar sources and/or by similar melting processes in anomalously hot subcontinental mantle.     

Tertiary remagnetization of normal polarity in Mesozoic marly limestones from SE France

The results of our new paleomagnetic investigations on 21 sites in the Cévennes and Lure regions as well as previous studies demonstrate that all Mesozoic marly limestones of SE France exhibit similar paleomagnetic behavior with remagnetization disputed in age. The studied areas have the particularity to have been folded before (Late Eocene), the Alpine folding (Oligo–Miocene). Samples (201 marly limestones) dated from Lower Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous have been demagnetized by thermal treatment. They all present a well-defined component with a normal polarity which was mostly obtained between 200 and 350 °C. Numerous arguments lead from pretectonic to syntectonic widespread remagnetization related to orogenic fluid circulation affecting the whole basin. An Eocene age (between 35 and 40 Ma) is obtained for this remagnetization thanks both to the comparison of the average inclination of all regional paleomagnetic studies (+54.9°/−1.5°) with the expected paleomagnetic inclination and the syntectonic character of remagnetization.     

Facies and paleogeographic importance of the pre-rift limestones from NE-Egypt/Sinai

The depositional environments of the Phanerozoic limestones of northeastern Egypt were reconstructed, based on microfacies and fossil content of the following limestonedominated sequences: Late Carboniferous, Late Anisian/ Ladinian (Carnian?), Bajocian/Kimmeridgian, Aptian/ Albian, Late Cenomaman/Early Turonian, Late Coniacian, Maastrichtian, Late Paleocene/Early Eocene. The African Craton in the south and the Tethyan sea in the north mainly controlled the sedimentation of most Phanerozoic strata; they increase in thickness towards the north, due to the gentle north/northwest dip of the Precambrian cratonal basement. Different subsiding areas enabled the filling of different depocenters since Jurassic times (with a maximum during the Cretaceous).The Early/Middle Cretaceous sediments were deposited along the broad North-African shelf system, with nearshore depositional environments, characterized by the interfingering of siliciclastics with marls and limestones; maximum thicknesses were encountered in several shallow depocenters. The Mid-Cretaceous platform was destroyed during Late Cretaceous times: Synsedimentary folding in the northern areas and vertical block fault movements further south (along rejuvenated pre-existing fault systems) are due to a N/NW-ward drift of the African Plate. Broad areas of North Africa were covered by chalks and marls in Senonian times, while phosphates and platform carbonates were locally deposited, due to synsedimentary structural unrest. The synsedimentary tectonic movements came to an end in Late Cretaceous times and were rejuvenated in Early Tertiary. The beginning Red Sea/Gulf of Suez rift influenced the sedimentation processes of the neighbouring Early Tertiary strata. Carbonates were mainly formed close to the uplifted areas, while the sedimentation of marls, clays and chalks prevailed in most other areas.

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Zusammenfassung Im Oberkarbon, Oberanis/Ladin (Carn?), Bajoc/Kimmeridge, Apt/Alb, Obercenoman/Unterturon, Oberconiac, Maastricht und Oberpaleozän/Untereozän treten kalkbetonte Abfolgen in Nordostägypten auf, deren Charakteristika mit Hilfe der Mikrofazies und des Fossilinhaltes beschrieben werden. Die Sedimentationsmuster der meisten phanerozoischen Ablagerungen können in einer stark vereinfachten Annäherung auf das Zusammenwirken festländischer Ablagerungsprozesse (Afrikanischer Kraton) im Süden und mariner Sedimentation (Tethys) weiter im Norden zurückgeführt werden. Die Sedimentmächtigkeiten nehmen generell nach Norden zu, was auf ein sanftes Einfallen des präkambrischen kristallinen Grundgebirges nach N/NW zurückzuführen ist. Daneben ist eine unterschiedlich starke Absenkung und Sedimentauffüllung verschiedener Depocenter seit dem Jura festzustellen.Die unter-/mittelkretazischen Sedimente wurden im Bereich des breiten, nordafrikanischen Schelfsystems abgelagert, das in verschiedene, überwiegend küstennahe Ablagerungsbereiche untergliedert werden kann; diese sind durch die Verzahnung von Siliziklastika mit Mergeln und Kalken gekennzeichnet und erreichen maximale Mächtigkeiten innerhalb der flachen Depocenter. Die mittelkretazische Plattform zerbrach in der Oberkreide: Synsedimentäre Faltung im Norden und Blockverwerfung weiter südlich (entlang reaktivierter alter Störungssysteme) werden auf die N/ NW Drift der Afrikanischen Platte zurückgeführt. Weite Gebiete Nordostafrikas wurden im Senon von ausgedehnten Kreide- und Mergelablagerungen bedeckt; die lokalen Vorkommen von Phosphaten und Plattformkarbonaten sind an synsedimentäre Strukturen gebunden. Im Alttertiär sind erneut synsedimentäre tektonische Bewegungen festzustellen (die auch im Zusammenhang mit dem beginnenden Rifting von Rotem Meer und Golf von Suez stehen). In der Umrandung herausgehobener Horstblöcke fand Karbonatsedimentation statt, während in den übrigen Gebieten Mergel, Tonsteine und Kreide (Chalks) abgelagert wurden.

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Résumé Les conditions de dépôt des calcaires phanérozoïques du nord-est de l'Egypte ont été reconstituées à partir des microfaciès et du contenu en fossiles des séries suivantes à dominante calcaire: Carbonifère supérieur, Amsien supérieur/Ladinien /(Carnien), Bajocien/Kimmeridgien, Aptien/Albien, Cénomanien supérieur/Turonien inférieur, Coniacien supérieur, Maestrichtien, Paléocène supérieur/ Eocène inférieur. La sédimentation de la plupart des couches phanérozoïques s'est organisée en fonction de la présence du craton africain au sud et de la Téthvs au nord; leur épaisseur augmente vers le nord, en relation avec la descente progressive vers le nord-nord-ouest de la surface du craton pré-cambrien. Des phénomènes de subsidence différentielle sont à l'origine de diverses aires d'accumulation importante à partir du Jurassique (avec un maximum au cours du Crétacé).Les sédiments d'âge crétacé inférieur et moyen se sont déposés le long du shelf nord-africain dans divers milieux littoraux, caractérisés par l'interdigitation de siliciclastites, de marnes et de calcaires, avec une puissance maximale dans les aires d'accumulation subsidentes. La plate-forme du Crétacé moyen a été détruite au cours du Crétacé supérieur: des plis syn-sédimentaires dans les parties septentrionales et des mouvements verticaux de »block faulting« plus au sud (le long du système de failles anciennes réactivées) traduisent la dérive vers le nord/nord ouest de la plaque africaine. Au Sénonien, de larges surfaces de l'Afrique du Nord ont été recouvertes de craies et de marnes, simultanément à des déôts locaux de phosphates et de carbonates de plate-forme, cette diversité traduisant l'instabilité structurale syn-sédimentaire. Les mouvements syn-sédimentaires ont pris fin au Crétacé supérieur puis ont été réactivés au début du Tertiaire. Le commencement de l'ouverture de la Mer Rouge et du Golfe de Suez a influencé la sédimentation du Tertiaire inférieur dans les régions voisines. Les carbonates se sont formés essentiellement dans les régions soulevées, tandis que le dépôt de marnes, argile et craies prévalait dans la plupart des autres endroits.

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The preparation of silica from the olivine process and its possible use as a catalyst support

The production of silica from the dissolution of olivine in sulphuric acid has been studied. Variations in grainsize of the olivine result in different specific surface areas of the silica. The microporosity of the silica supports an aggregative growth model responsible for the increasing particle size. The silica is used in the preparation of a nickel catalyst. The performance of the produced catalyst is equal to a nickel catalyst based on commercially available silica     

A skeletal assemblage classification system for non-tropical carbonate deposits based on New Zealand Cenozoic limestones

Cenozoic limestones in New Zealand are mainly skeletal grainstones and packstones formed under non-tropical climatic conditions in open marine shelf or ramp environments. Following petrographic analysis of the nature and abundance of the skeletal components in nearly 500 samples of these limestones, a complete linkage cluster analysis identified seven major skeletal assemblages that may be regarded as subdivisions of the single foramol skeletal association defined by Lees and Buller (1972) for temperate-region carbonate deposits. The seven assemblages are given contracted names, as follows: (a) BARNAMOL = barnacle/bivalve-dominated; (b) BIMOL = bivalve-dominated; (c) BRYOMOL = bryozoan/bivalve-dominated; (d) ECHINOFOR = echinoderm/benthic foraminiferal-dominated; (e) NANNOFOR = nannofossil/planktonic foraminiferal-dominated; (f) RHODALGAL = calcareous red algal-dominated; and (g) RHODECHFOR = calcareous red algal/echinoderm/benthic foraminiferal-dominated. A composite triangular classification diagram has been devised for naming the skeletal assemblage of an unknown sample on the basis of its three main skeletal components. The diagram successfully characterises more than 85% of the New Zealand Cenozoic limestone samples and also appears to be applicable for the skeletal assemblage designation of many overseas examples of non-tropical carbonate deposits. Limitations relate mainly to locally common skeletal types (e.g. serpulids, brachiopods) that are presently not incorporated into the New Zealand-based scheme. The general ecological preferences of the main skeletal contributors in each of the seven skeletal assemblages form a basis for relating the assemblages to broad shelf habitats. Consequently, as well as the benefits of providing a more consistent skeletal assemblage terminology for comparative studies between different workers, the scheme can assist with the paleoenvironmental interpretation of non-tropical skeletal carbonate facies.     

Re-equilibration of melt inclusions trapped by magnesian olivine phenocrysts from subduction-related magmas: petrological implications

We describe and model a potential re-equilibration process that can affect compositions of melt inclusions in magnesian olivine phenocrysts. This process, referred to as “Fe-loss”, can operate during natural pre-eruptive cooling of host magma and results in lower FeO^t and higher MgO contents within the initially trapped volume of inclusion. The extent of Fe-loss is enhanced by large temperature intervals of magma cooling before eruption. The compositions of homogenised melt inclusions in olivine phenocrysts from several subduction-related suites demonstrate that (1) Fe-loss is a common process, (2) the maximum observed degree of re-equilibration varies between suites, and (3) within a single sample, variable degrees of re-equilibration can be recorded by melt inclusions trapped in olivine phenocrysts of identical composition. Our modelling also demonstrates that the re-equilibration process is fast going to completion, in the largest inclusions in the most magnesian phenocrysts it is completed within 2 years. The results we obtained indicate that the possibility of Fe-loss must be considered when estimating compositions of parental subduction-related magmas from naturally quenched glassy melt inclusions in magnesian olivine phenocrysts. Compositions calculated from glassy inclusions affected by Fe-loss will inherit not only erroneously low FeO^t contents, but also low MgO due to the inherited higher Mg##of the residual melt in re-equilibrated inclusions. We also demonstrate that due to the higher MgO contents of homogenised melt inclusions affected by Fe-loss, homogenisation temperatures achieved in heating experiments will be higher than original trapping temperatures. The extent of overheating will increase depending on the degree of re-equilibration, and can reach up to 50 °C in cases where complete re-equilibration occurs over a cooling interval of 200 °C. Received: 2 November 1998 / Accepted: 27 September 1999     

A kinetic model of metamorphism: an application to siliceous dolomites

We use a kinetic model of a metamorphic system to study the effect of competing rates of reaction, fluid injection, and heating on the evolution of the reaction pathway in temperature/composition space at constant pressure. We show that for rocks in contact with mixed volatile (e.g., CO₂-H₂O) fluids the reaction path may be quite different from what is expected from equilibrium-based petrologic models. Equilibrium-based models, used to understand the development of rock systems undergoing mineral reactions during a metamorphic event, rely on the Gibbs phase rule and only consider stable phases. For constant pressure, the temperature-composition paths follow univariant curves and significant reactions may occur at invariant points. By contrast, the more general kinetic treatment is not constrained by equilibrium, although with the proper competing rates equilibrium is a possible endmember of the kinetic approach. The deviation from equilibrium depends on the competing rates of reaction, heating, and fluid injection. A key element required by the kinetic approach is the inclusion of metastable reactions in the formulation, whereas such reactions are irrelevant for equilibrium-based models. Metastable reactions are often involved in a complex interplay with common prograde stable metamorphic reactions. We present model results for the well-studied CaO-MgO-SiO₂-CO₂-H₂O (CMS) system to show how the system evolves under kinetic control. Our simulations and discussion focus on the behavior of the CMS system under a number of closed and open system conditions. Special attention is paid to closed system behavior in the vicinity of the (first) isobaric invariant point (with Dol, Qtz, Tlc, Cal, and Tr). Also, for open systems with massive fluid infiltration we consider heating rates varying from contact to regional metamorphic conditions. For some geologically reasonable rates of reactions, heating, and fluid injection, our results demonstrate that equilibrium conditions may be significantly overstepped in metamorphic systems. We used overall mineral reactions in this model with rates based on experimental results. Future models could rely on more fundamental dissolution and precipitation reactions. Such an extension would require additional kinetic rate data, as well as mineral solubilities in mixed volatile fluids.Editorial responsibility: J. Hoefs     

Geochemical assessment of a siliceous limestone sample for cement making

A low grade siliceous limestone sample from the Jayantipuram mine of Andhra Pradesh, India, has been investigated for its suitability for cement making. Petrological as well as X-ray diffraction pattern studies indicated that the limestone sample was crystalline and dominantly composed of calcite and quartz. They are simple in mineralogy, and yet they have variable silica and lime contents. Geochemical analysis results of twenty five hand picked samples indicated that the limestone from the Jayantipuram mine shows a wide range of variations in LOI (29.94% to 40.64%), SiO2 (6.14% to 27.18%), CaO (37.93% to 50.78%), Al2O3 (0.49% to 2.27%) and Fe2O3 (0.28% to 2.4%). MgO, K2O, Na2O, TiO2 and MnO2 are present in traces. CaO with LOI shows a strong positive correlation where as CaO with SiO2 shows a strong negative correlation because of mineralogical factors. The chemical composition of the limestone reflects its mineralogical composition. The distribution of various elements in the acid-soluble fraction has been studied by the factor analysis method in order to interpret in terms of their mineralogy, sedimentary environment and diagenesis. Mineralogy, recrystallization and other diagenetic changes are the main factors affecting the distribution of the elements and their mutual relationships in the limestone. The aim of this paper is also to analyze how significantly the two parameters, silica modulus and lime saturation factor, influence this low grade siliceous limestone sample from the Jayantipuram mine of Andhra Pradesh, India, for the cement making process from the geochemical data.