THE EFFECT OF PROCEDURAL VARIABLES ON TG, DTG AND DTA CURVES OF MAGNESITE AND DOLOMITE

TG, DTG and DTA curves of magnesite are dependent on procedural variables, especially sample mass, heating rate and partial pressure of carbon dioxide, in a similar manner to those of calcite [1], although the magnitude of the effect is less for magnesite. The first stage of the decomposition of dolomite varies with increasing partial pressure of carbon dioxide in an anomalous manner and hence the effects of these procedural variables (except heating rate) are not similar to those observed for magnesite and calcite. The second stage of the decomposition of dolomite is, however, strongly dependent on these procedural variables and behaves in a manner that would be predicted for a sample of calcite diluted with magnesia. A 1:1 molar mixture of magnesite and calcite also behaves as would be predicted from the behaviour of the single carbonates but differently from that of dolomite.