Elemental analysis of limestone samples from Ewekoro limestone deposit in southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Limestone samples of different colours from Ewekoro limestone deposit in Ogun State, Nigeria were subjected to elemental analysis by proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and proton-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGME) techniques. The irradiation was by 2.5 MeV proton beams from the ion beam analysis (IBA) facility of the 3 MV Van de Graaff accelerator at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Lucas Heights. Elemental composition and concentrations of 22 major, minor and trace elements were determined. The NIST geological standard, NBS278, was analysed for quality assurance. The concentrations of the major elements (Ca, Fe, K and Al) are similar in the samples while the other major elements differed. Calcium accounts for about 38%, giving 86.8% CaCO 3 content in the limestones. The major elements (Al, Ca, Fe, Si, S and K), present in the limestones, were also found to be enriched in airborne particulate matter studied by earlier workers, thus confirming cement dust as the major contributor to the particulate matter within and around cement factories.