Indentation hardness test to estimate the sawability of carbonate rocks

The performance of large-diameter circular saws on eight carbonate rocks was recorded and indentation hardness, density and porosity tests were undertaken on the five travertines, two limestone and one dolomitic limestone samples returned to the laboratory. A strong linear correlation between indentation hardness index values and the hourly production of the circular saws was found. The slab production was slowest for the dolomitic limestone rocks with the highest indentation hardness, lowest porosity and highest density values.