Lime Kilns: Relics of one of Indiana's Historic Mineral Industries (HI-07)
A few large weathered stone kilns and the crumbled foundations of many smaller kilns are all that remain of the once thriving burned (calcined) lime industry that used Indiana limestone and dolomite from the mid-1800's to the early 1900's. The Indiana Geological Survey has located more than 130 sites of old kilns.

Lime was used by pioneers mostly for making mortar and plaster and for sweetening the soil. It is used today in scores of chemical, manufacturing, and building processes. Large amounts from Michigan limestone are used for steelmaking in the Calumet region. But no lime has been produced from Indiana limestone since 1953, when the last operation near Milltown was closed. The Geological Survey has mapped some areas where a good supply of high-purity limestone occurs, and the increasing importance of lime makes these areas attractive for future production.

Our Hoosier State Beneath Us: Historical