5. Conclusions
(1) The major component minerals of five kinds of sandstones are quartz and feldspar. Major cement materials are clay minerals, carbonate, ironic, analcime, and sulfate; analcime dominates group A, clay minerals dominate groups B and C, sulfate dominates group D, and carbonate dominates group E.
(2) There are difference in cementing quality among the five kinds of sandstones. From group A to group E, cementing quality increases, but the particle diameter and pore diameter are getting smaller and smaller, and the number of pores is less and less.
(3) The porosity decreases from group A to group E. The porosities for group A, group B, group C, group D, and group E are.7.6%, 5.9%, 4.4%, 3.0%, 1.6%, respectively.
(4) The composition of sandstone is closely related to its rock mechanics properties. Quartz and feldspar are important factors affecting the rock mechanics properties. However, the cement content of sandstone and the type of cement also play a decisive role in its mechanical characteristics.
(5) The cementing quality, grain size, and quantity and size of pores all affect the rock mechanics properties of sandstone. The better the cementing quality, the larger the UCS. The smaller the grain size, the higher the UCS. The smaller and the less the number of pore, the higher the UCS.
(6) Porosity is closely related to the rock mechanics properties of sandstone. Decreasing porosity will increase UCS. There is a trend of negative relationship between Young’s Modulus and porosity.