Mesozoic carbonate rocks in Serbia used as dimension stone

Abstract

The building industry in Serbia uses, to a great extent, imported natural stone for architectural purposes. The significance of local deposits, particularly limestones, is not adequately perceived despite the country’s abundance of these valuable resources. Therefore, this study focuses on Serbia’s Mesozoic carbonate rocks, specifically on the deposits of four selected quarries: Klisura, Skrzut, Struganik, and Tisnica. The quality and prospects of the application of these limestones has not yet been the subject of a detailed, comprehensive investigation. Therefore, this research is primarily concerned with the examination of their petrological and physico-mechanical properties in order to propose their scope of application further as dimension stone. According to the petrological features, different carbonate microfacies are observed: biolithites, pure orthochemical micrites, allochemmicrites, and allochemsparites. Physico-mechanical characteristics confirmed that the investigated carbonate rocks are of high bulk density, compact or of low porosity, of very low water absorption, hard, and with high to moderately high values of compressive strength. The scope of use is established according to a comparison of statically analysed engineering properties with the technical requirements necessary for a suitable reference of natural stone products. The results demonstrate that the examined rocks are suitable for use as slabs for architectural cladding and paving, whereas the occurrence of bedding and occasional tectonic fissures (fractures) is considered to be a limiting factor of exploitation.