Limestone is an abundant sedimentary rock present in the surface and subsurface bedrock strata in Ohio. Due to the high abundance of limestone, it is mined as a resource both in Ohio and in the Cincinnati area for use in the construction industry as a component of asphalt, concrete, and cement. In fact, Ohio is a leading state in the production of limestone for use in industry.
On our November 2, 2010 field trip, we visited an underground limestone mine in Batavia, Ohio called Arch Materials. Wearing hard hats and gear belts, we travelled into the mine to a depth of 900 feet by truck through a “wavy” tunnel that was dug out to follow the shale line right above the limestone layer. At 900 feet below the surface, we encountered Trenton Limestone and Black River Group Limestone, which are from the middle Ordovician period (Champlainian Series) and are much older than the limestone found on surface outcrops. To mine limestone cost effectively, Arch Materials places explosives in drilled holes within the mine to blast the limestone down to a manageable size. The "blasted" limestone can be further crushed to the desired size for use in the construction industry.
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