Cement Plants

The raw materials needed to produce cement (calcium carbonate, silica, alumina and iron ore) are generally extracted from limestone rock, chalk, shale or clay. These raw materials are won from the quarry either by extraction or through blasting. These naturally occuring minerals are then crushed through a milling process. At this stage, additional minerals are added to ensure the correct chemical composition to make cement is in place. These minerals can be obtained from waste or by-products of other industries, such as paper ash. After milling, the raw meal (as it is known) is transported to the plant where it is stored.