MICRO-CT FOR THE PURPOSES OF SANDSTONE INTERNAL STRUCTURE STUDY

The sandstone internal structure is one of the most important factors controlling mechanical properties of this stone. There are many methods enabling study of the properties and character of the internal structure. The best known methods are based on the penetration of a chosen medium of a detected volume into the pores or they are based on image analysis of rock slices, where fluorescent coloring highlights the pores. Unfortunately, most of these methods, have a destructive character and, therefore, it is not possible to use the stone samples again. The possibility to re-use the samples makes the micro-CT a very useful tool. Interpretation of the micro-CT results in combination with the results of other methods may enable more detailed view into the internal structure. We studied widely used Czech sandstones using the micro-CT and Hg porosimetry in the course of our experiment. Its results and limitations of interpretability are discussed in this article.