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Magnesium oxysulfate cement (MOS) prepared by light-burned dolomite has excellent performance in terms of light weight, high strength and low carbon dioxide emission. In this research, dolomite ores are used to produce MOS cement at different calcination temperatures and calcination times; the parameters investigated are the rate of loss on ignition, free lime (f-CaO), dihydrate gypsum (CaSO4×2H2O) and impact of active magnesium oxide (α-MgO) content exerted on the setting time and compressive strength of the MOS cement. X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, the time of colour change for citric acid and hydration-heat release rate were adopted to assess the effects of calcination temperature, calcination time and the molar ratio of α-magnesium oxide/magnesium sulfate on the MOS cement. The experimental results showed that the MOS cement prepared by dolomite ores at the calcination temperature of 850°C for 30 min with the α-magnesium oxide/magnesium sulfate molar ratio of 4 demonstrates better mechanical properties than those made in other circumstances. In addition, the main strength phase of MOS cement with tri-sodium citrate dihydrate (Na3C6H5O7·2H2O) generated by light-burned dolomite ores is the needle-like 5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·7H2O crystal phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]