Effect of quartz content on the physical and structural properties of carbonate rocks from Perlis, Malaysia

This paper presents on the structural changes associated with mechanical activation of limestone (CaCO3) and dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) from Perlis, Malaysia via Planetary ball milling. Operational variables include 3 level of revolution speed (250, 350 and 450 rpm), grinding durations (30, 60 and 90 min) and ball to powder ratios BPR (3:1. 6:1 and 9:1) respectively. The chemical compositions of both mineral samples were determined with XRF technique while the structural properties and morphological characteristics identified using XRD and SEM methods. The structural changes such as amorphization, decline in crystallite size (CS), degree of crystallinity (DOC) and morphological alterations are closely related to the operational parameter and the mineral constituents such as quartz content. Overall, the crystallite size of limestone and dolomite ranges from 60.74 to 25.15 nm and 45.65 to 22.07 nm respectively. Accordingly the DOC was reduced from 100 to 31.69% in CaCO3 and 36.55% in (CaMg(CO3)2).