Shaping the Global Economy: Limestone

From underground caverns and the Great Pyramids to Mayan carvings and medieval castles, Limestone has served as a foundation for our civilization.

Found in art and sculpture. Construction and infrastructure. Common household and food items. Limestone remains a vital part of our daily lives.

As an essential component of concrete. Railroad ballast. And roofing. Limestone serves as the base for roadways. In blast furnaces, it removes impurities from iron. As white pigment or filler, limestone is used in the production of toothpaste, paper, plastics, and paint. Purified, it’s added to bread, cereals, and livestock feed as a source of calcium. Limestone is even used to remineralize and increase the alkalinity of purified water to restore essential nutrients.

With more than 32 million tons moved annually, Limestone quarrying is a key industry served by the U.S. tugboat, pushboat, and barge industry.

It’s another example of how your friends, family, and neighbors are Shaping the Global Economy.