The State is well endowed with deposits of limestone in sedimentary rocks of Precambrian to Recent age and showing a wide range of chemical purity and physical form. High quality materials that are situated in proximity to the seaboard or to industrial centres constitute raw materials for metallurgical use in the smelting of iron-ore and non-ferrous ores, for the chemical industry and for cement manufacture (Johns, 1963). Production of high grade limestone is currently in excess of 700 000 tonnes and valued at over $1.75 million annually. Construction work (including aggregate and ornamental stone) uses about 5.5 million tonnes annually.