Characterization of inner structure of limestone by X-ray computed sub-micron tomography

Limestones are fundamental industrial and building materials. Sparry calcite as a principal petrographic component of limestones can contain fluid inclusions. A certain amount of fluid inclusions directly influences decrepitation which plays an important role in decarbonisation processes. In this paper, a limestone with a high content of fluid inclusions and carbon was investigated. Presence of chlorine and alcalic elements was confirmed with microthermometry, mineralogical and chemical analyses. X-ray computed tomography with sub-micron resolution (CT) was applied to obtain a 3D distribution of cavities. CT data were correlated with some light microscopy images and also with the same sample’s tomography data which were gathered using the 3D X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (3D EDS) by a scanning electron microscope equipped with a focused ion beam (FIB-SEM). The latter further determined dolomites and metals in the CT data of limestone.