Investigation of sawability properties of marbles

Defining characteristics of marble sawability, assigning cutter bits in marble mines and marble processing factories are important factors in order to prepare an efficient production plan and to decrease production costs. In order to define marble sawability, physical mechanic characteristics such as marble hardness, abrasiveness index, strength should be known as well as its chemical components and petrographic properties. In this research, Cerchar Abrasiveness Index (CAI) experiment is employed to find the abrasiveness characteristics of marble. Cerchar Abrasiveness Index experiment has been first developed by France Cerchar Research Institute and has been improved by time. This experiment is used to figure out bit wear and consumption. Throughout the research, seven different marble types found in the Aegean Region are examined and experiments are done to find their structural properties. The relationship between the results of these experiments and Cerchar Abrasiveness Index values are studied by regression analysis and correlation coefficients are given in graphics within the thesis. As a result of the study, it is found that marble abrasiveness characteristics, mechanical properties and chemical content are directly related with each other and this be an important factor in selection of marble sawability machinery. Keywords: Marble, Sawability, Cerchar.