Semi Rijo Do Codacal Limestone

Localization
District - LEIRIA
Municipality - PORTO DE MÓS
Parish - CERRO VENTOSO
Site - CODAÇAL

Macroscopic Description
Light-beige limestone, essentially calciclastic and oölitic, with micritic cement and rare sparite.

Prevailing Applications
Masonry and coverings, for interiors in preference.

Physio-Mecanical Properties
1. Compression breaking load 490 kg/cm2
2. Compression breaking load after freezing test 440 kg/cm2
3. Bending strength 94 kg/cm2
4. Volumetric weight 2310 kg/m3
5. Water absorption at N.P. conditions 5.5 %
6. Apparent porosity 12.6 %
7. Thermal linear expansion coefficient max. val. 3.3 x 10 -6 perº C
8. Abrasion test 9.3 mm
9. Impact test: minimum fall height 25 cm
Obs. Frost resistance is 48 freeze-thawing cycles.
General Description of the Quarry
The Codaçal area is plenty of large quarries where a thick bed (often 10 meters thick or more) of a fine-grained limestone with clear oolitic appearance occurs. Some vertical granulometric gradations may occur in some zones. This limestone is one more variety of the Semi-Rijo types existing all over the Limestone Massif of Estremadura. The quarries are opened on a gentle slope. The main fractures are mostly sub vertical and strike N 30º to 70º W, N 15 to 30º E or near to E-W. The extraction of large size blocks is possible, so the exploitation rate is good. The cut of slabs can be indifferently performed parallel to the bedding plane or to the grain plane. There are large reserves of this stone in the area.