Petrografia e caracterização físico-mecânica de calcários ornamentais das bacias potiguar e do araripe

Abstract

Northeastern Brazil’s limestones, known as Mont Charmot and Pedra Cariri, which belong respectively to Jandaíra Formation (Potiguar Basin) and Santana Formation (Araripe Basin), are commercially used as ornamental rocks and dimension stones, polished or rough, in several environments, such as facade claddings, floor tiles, sinks, swimming pool edges and others. Little is known about their intrinsic characteristics and technological behavior. Therefore, to learn about the petrographic features and the physical-mechanical behavior of these materials, studies were conducted in three limestone levels of the Potiguar Basin and two levels of the Araripe Basin. The tests results indicate that the technological characteristics of the studied limestones corroborate with using these materials as ornamental rocks and dimension stones, as works of art, indoor flooring, floor tiles, benches or desks, and tabletops. These stones are not suitable for moist and/or outdoor environments that are subjected to stronger mechanical stresses, such as use as flooring in high traffic environment of persons or machines, and facades.