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Investigations carried out revealed that multi blend cements containing fly ash, granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), and low-and cement-grade limestone have performance (particularly strength development characteristics) comparable in their respective mortar samples. This paper highlights the impact of the addition of low-grade limestone on the performance of mortar samples prepared using multi blend cements and on the hydration mechanism of neat pastes of multi blend cement. The results indicate that in a multi blend cement of fly ash, GBFS, low-grade limestone and clinker, up to 70 % of clinker can be replaced gainfully and the performance of resultant mortar samples prepared using multi blend cement containing cement-grade and lowgrade limestone were comparable. Investigations on the hydration mechanism indicated that hydrated multi blend cements containing low-and cement-grade limestone contained the additional phase of calcium carbo aluminate. Further, the rate of formation of calcium carbo aluminate is comparable in hydrated systems containing both low-and cement-grade limestone. The investigations revealed that the quality of limestone, particularly its calcium carbonate content, did not affect the hydration mechanism in multi blend cement. Therefore, low-grade limestone can be gainfully utilised in the manufacture of multi blend cement.

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