Nanoindentation-Based Characterization of Mesoscale Mechanical Behavior in Dolomite Crystals

Conventional rock mechanical testing approaches encounter significant limitations when applied to deeply buried fractured formations, constrained by formidable sampling difficulties, prohibitive costs, and intricate specimen preparation demands. This investigation pioneers an innovative nanoindentation-based multiscale methodology (XRD–ED–SEM integration) that revolutionizes the mechanical characterization of dolostone through drill cuttings analysis, effectively bypassing conventional coring requirements. Our integrated approach combines precision surface polishing with advanced indenter calibration protocols, enabling the continuous stiffness method to achieve unprecedented measurement accuracy in determining micromechanical properties—notably an elastic modulus of 119.47 GPa and hardness of 5.88 GPa—while simultaneously resolving complex indentation size effect mechanisms. The methodology reveals three critical advancements: remarkable 92.7% dolomite homogeneity establishes statistically significant elastic modulus–hardness correlations (R2 > 0.89), while residual imprint analysis uncovers a unique brittle–plastic interaction mechanism through predominant rhomboid plasticity (84% occurrence) accompanied by microscale radial cracking (2.1–4.8 μm). Particularly noteworthy is the identification of load-dependent property variations, where surface hardening effects and defect interactions cause 28.7% parameter dispersion below 50 mN loads, progressively stabilizing to <8% variance at higher loading regimes. By developing a micro–macro bridging model that correlates nanoindentation results with triaxial test data within a 12% deviation, this work establishes a groundbreaking protocol for carbonate reservoir evaluation using minimal drill cutting material. The demonstrated methodology not only provides crucial insights for optimizing hydraulic fracture designs and wellbore stability assessments, but it also fundamentally transforms microstructural analysis paradigms in geomechanics through its successful application of nanoindentation technology to complex geological systems.