Effects of mineral content on limestone properties with exposure to different temperatures

In order to study the impacts of mineral composition on physical and mechanical properties of limestone, an x-ray fluorescence experiment is carried out to examine the mineral elements content of limestone after exposure to different temperatures (up to 600 degrees C), and physical and mechanical experiments are implemented to examine the macroscopic properties of limestone. Then, the mineral composition was calculated based on the order of chemical affinity and the proportion of molecular weight, and the correlation between mineral content and macro properties is studied with a canonical correlation analysis. The results show that the dolomite slowly decomposes at temperatures over 300 degrees C and calcite is formed in the limestone instead. The argillaceous content of the limestone starts to decrease at temperatures between 200 degrees C and 300 degrees C. The changes in the mineral composition cause significant variations in the physical and mechanical properties, such as a gradual reduction in the compressive and tensile strengths, thermal conductivity and specific heat, and a lower P-wave velocity, as well as a gradual increase in the peak strain and relative solubility. The results of the canonical correlation analysis show that the changes in the limestone properties between a temperature of 25 degrees C and 600 degrees C have the highest correlation with argillaceous content, followed by calcite and dolomite.