Which factor for location of industries explains the establishment of cement industries near areas of limestone deposits?

1. Analyze the question The question asks which factor in industrial location explains why cement factories are sited near limestone deposits. Limestone is the main raw material for cement.

2. Explain the concept Industries locate where their costs are lowest. Some industries are raw material-oriented, meaning they are sited close to the source of their inputs. This usually happens when the raw material is:

• Bulky (large in volume and weight)
• Weight-losing, meaning much of its weight is lost during processing
• Costly to transport over long distances

Limestone is all three. Making cement needs a large quantity of limestone, which is heated with clay or shale in a kiln, and a lot of weight is lost in the process. Transporting raw limestone far away would be very expensive, so it is cheaper to build the factory at the quarry.

3. Step-by-step solution

• Raw material in question: limestone
• Industry: cement
• Reason for location: to cut the cost of transporting a bulky, weight-losing raw material
• Matching factor: source of raw material

Looking at the other options:

• A. Market orientation: applies to industries whose products are fragile, perishable, or gain weight (e.g. bottling, bakeries). It does not explain siting beside limestone.
• B. Income source: this is not a standard industrial location factor.
• D. Availability of capital: capital is needed for any industry and does not explain a specific location near limestone.

4. Answer The correct option is C. Source of raw material.

Nigerian examples: Ewekoro (Ogun State) and Nkalagu (Ebonyi State) have cement factories built close to limestone deposits. Sokoto (Sokoto cement) and Obajana (Kogi State) are other examples.

5. Exam tip When you see an industry paired with its raw material in a location question, think "bulky and weight-losing means raw material-oriented." Examples are cement and limestone, sugar and sugarcane, and palm oil mills and oil palm. Products that are fragile or perishable usually point to market orientation instead.