diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockCOO.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockCOO.java
index 1ad2cd57d01..d83a9263dc2 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockCOO.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockCOO.java
@@ -312,15 +312,15 @@ public int size(int r) {
 	public long size(int rl, int ru) {
 		return pos(ru) - pos(rl);
 	}
-	
+
 	@Override
 	public long size(int rl, int ru, int cl, int cu) {
 		long nnz = 0;
-		for(int i=rl; i<ru; i++)
-			if( !isEmpty(i) ) {
+		for(int i = rl; i < ru; i++)
+			if(!isEmpty(i)) {
 				int start = internPosFIndexGTE(i, cl);
-				int end = internPosFIndexGTE(i, cu);
-				nnz += (start!=-1) ? (end-start) : 0;
+				int end = internPosFIndexLTE(i, cu - 1);
+				nnz += (start != -1 && end != -1) ? (end - start + 1) : 0;
 			}
 		return nnz;
 	}
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockCSR.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockCSR.java
index 13e844007b4..68cc6c8f864 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockCSR.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockCSR.java
@@ -437,11 +437,11 @@ public long size(int rl, int ru) {
 	@Override
 	public long size(int rl, int ru, int cl, int cu) {
 		long nnz = 0;
-		for(int i=rl; i<ru; i++)
-			if( !isEmpty(i) ) {
+		for(int i = rl; i < ru; i++)
+			if(!isEmpty(i)) {
 				int start = internPosFIndexGTE(i, cl);
-				int end = internPosFIndexGTE(i, cu);
-				nnz += (start!=-1) ? (end-start) : 0;
+				int end = internPosFIndexLTE(i, cu - 1);
+				nnz += (start != -1 && end != -1) ? (end - start + 1) : 0;
 			}
 		return nnz;
 	}
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockFactory.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockFactory.java
index a6297f8f5b8..106dd36ba9c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockFactory.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockFactory.java
@@ -48,7 +48,12 @@ public static SparseBlock createSparseBlock(SparseBlock.Type type, SparseRow row
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	public static SparseBlock copySparseBlock( SparseBlock.Type type, SparseBlock sblock, boolean forceCopy )
+	public static SparseBlock copySparseBlock(SparseBlock.Type type, SparseBlock sblock, boolean forceCopy) {
+		//Call this method in case 'type' is row format
+		return copySparseBlock(type, sblock, forceCopy, 1000); // Default clen value
+	}
+
+	public static SparseBlock copySparseBlock( SparseBlock.Type type, SparseBlock sblock, boolean forceCopy , int clen)
 	{
 		//sanity check for empty inputs
 		if( sblock == null )
@@ -65,7 +70,7 @@ public static SparseBlock copySparseBlock( SparseBlock.Type type, SparseBlock sb
 			case CSR: return new SparseBlockCSR(sblock);
 			case COO: return new SparseBlockCOO(sblock);
 			case DCSR: return new SparseBlockDCSR(sblock);
-			case MCSC: return new SparseBlockMCSC(sblock);
+			case MCSC: return new SparseBlockMCSC(sblock, clen);
 			default:
 				throw new RuntimeException("Unexpected sparse block type: "+type.toString());
 		}
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockMCSC.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockMCSC.java
index ec744d60a78..7a12d3e7aaf 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockMCSC.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockMCSC.java
@@ -42,13 +42,16 @@ public class SparseBlockMCSC extends SparseBlock {
 
 	private SparseRow[] _columns = null;
 	private int _clenInferred = -1;
+	private int _rlen = -1;
 
 	public SparseBlockMCSC(SparseBlock sblock, int clen) {
 		_clenInferred = clen;
+		_rlen = sblock.numRows();
 		initialize(sblock);
 	}
 
 	public SparseBlockMCSC(SparseBlock sblock) {
+		_rlen = sblock.numRows();
 		initialize(sblock);
 	}
 
@@ -153,7 +156,8 @@ else if(columnSize == 1) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	public SparseBlockMCSC(SparseRow[] cols, boolean deep) {
+	public SparseBlockMCSC(SparseRow[] cols, boolean deep, int rlen) {
+		_rlen = rlen;
 		if(deep) {
 			_columns = new SparseRow[cols.length];
 			for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
@@ -171,7 +175,8 @@ public SparseBlockMCSC(int clen) {
 	}
 
 	public SparseBlockMCSC(int rlen, int clen) {
-		this(clen);
+		_rlen = rlen;
+		_columns = new SparseRow[clen];
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -239,28 +244,49 @@ public long getExactSizeInMemory() {
 	//SparseBlock implementation
 
 	@Override
-	public void allocate(int c) {
-		if(!isAllocated(c)) {
+	public void allocate(int r) {
+		for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
+			if(!isAllocatedCol(i))
+				_columns[i] = new SparseRowVector();
+		}
+	}
+
+	public void allocateCol(int c) {
+		if(!isAllocatedCol(c)) {
 			_columns[c] = new SparseRowVector();
 		}
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void allocate(int c, int nnz) {
+	public void allocate(int r, int nnz) {
+		allocate(r);
+	}
+
+	public void allocateCol(int c, int nnz) {
 		if(!isAllocated(c)) {
 			_columns[c] = (nnz == 1) ? new SparseRowScalar() : new SparseRowVector(nnz);
 		}
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void allocate(int c, int ennz, int maxnnz) {
+	public void allocate(int r, int ennz, int maxnnz) {
+		allocate(r);
+	}
+
+	public void allocateCol(int c, int ennz, int maxnnz) {
 		if(!isAllocated(c)) {
 			_columns[c] = (ennz == 1) ? new SparseRowScalar() : new SparseRowVector(ennz, maxnnz);
 		}
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void compact(int c) {
+	public void compact(int r) {
+		for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
+			compactCol(i);
+		}
+	}
+
+	public void compactCol(int c) {
 		if(isAllocated(c)) {
 			if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowVector && _columns[c].size() > SparseBlock.INIT_CAPACITY &&
 				_columns[c].size() * SparseBlock.RESIZE_FACTOR1 < ((SparseRowVector) _columns[c]).capacity()) {
@@ -272,13 +298,11 @@ else if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar) {
 					_columns[c] = null;
 			}
 		}
-
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public int numRows() {
-		// this is a column-oriented layout
-		return 0;
+		return _rlen;
 	}
 
 	public int numCols() {
@@ -296,7 +320,14 @@ public boolean isContiguous() {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public boolean isAllocated(int c) {
+	public boolean isAllocated(int r) {
+		for(SparseRow col : _columns)
+			if(col == null)
+				return false;
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	public boolean isAllocatedCol(int c) {
 		return _columns[c] != null;
 	}
 
@@ -319,8 +350,19 @@ public void reset(int ennz, int maxnnz) {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void reset(int c, int ennz, int maxnnz) {
-		if(isAllocated(c)) {
+	public void reset(int r, int ennz, int maxnnz) {
+		for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
+			if(isAllocatedCol(i)) {
+				if(_columns[i] instanceof SparseRowScalar && _columns[i].indexes()[0] == r)
+					_columns[i].set(r, 0);
+				else if(_columns[i] instanceof SparseRowVector)
+					_columns[i].set(r, 0);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	public void resetCol(int c, int ennz, int maxnnz) {
+		if(isAllocatedCol(c)) {
 			_columns[c].reset(ennz, maxnnz);
 		}
 	}
@@ -337,13 +379,33 @@ public long size() {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public int size(int c) {
+	public int size(int r) {
+		int nnz = 0;
+		for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
+			if(isAllocatedCol(i))
+				nnz += (_columns[i].get(r) != 0) ? 1 : 0;
+		}
+		return nnz;
+	}
+
+	public int sizeCol(int c) {
 		//prior check with isEmpty(r) expected
 		return isAllocated(c) ? _columns[c].size() : 0;
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public long size(int cl, int cu) {
+	public long size(int rl, int ru) {
+		long nnz = 0;
+		for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
+			if(isAllocatedCol(i)) {
+				for(int j = rl; j < ru; j++)
+					nnz += (_columns[i].get(j) != 0) ? 1 : 0;
+			}
+		}
+		return nnz;
+	}
+
+	public long sizeCol(int cl, int cu) {
 		long nnz = 0;
 		for(int i = cl; i < cu; i++) {
 			nnz += isAllocated(i) ? _columns[i].size() : 0;
@@ -355,17 +417,27 @@ public long size(int cl, int cu) {
 	public long size(int rl, int ru, int cl, int cu) {
 		long nnz = 0;
 		for(int i = cl; i < cu; i++) {
-			if(!isEmpty(i)) {
-				int start = posFIndexGTE(rl, i);
-				int end = posFIndexGTE(ru, i);
-				nnz += (start != -1) ? (end - start) : 0;
+			if(!isEmptyCol(i)) {
+				int start = posFIndexGTECol(rl, i);
+				int end = posFIndexLTECol(ru - 1, i);
+				nnz += (start != -1 && end != -1) ? (end - start + 1) : 0;
 			}
 		}
 		return nnz;
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public boolean isEmpty(int c) {
+	public boolean isEmpty(int r) {
+		for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
+			if(!isAllocatedCol(i))
+				continue;
+			else if(_columns[i].get(r) != 0)
+				return false;
+		}
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	public boolean isEmptyCol(int c) {
 		return _columns[c] == null || _columns[c].isEmpty();
 	}
 
@@ -413,26 +485,54 @@ public boolean checkValidity(int rlen, int clen, long nnz, boolean strict) {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public int[] indexes(int c) {
+	public int[] indexes(int r) {
+		//prior check with isEmpty(r) expected
+		int nnz = size(r);
+		int[] idx = new int[nnz];
+		int index = 0;
+		for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
+			if(isAllocatedCol(i) && _columns[i].get(r) != 0) {
+				idx[index] = i;
+				index++;
+			}
+		}
+		return idx;
+	}
+
+	public int[] indexesCol(int c) {
 		//prior check with isEmpty(c) expected
 		return _columns[c].indexes();
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public double[] values(int c) {
+	public double[] values(int r) {
+		//prior check with isEmpty(r) expected
+		int nnz = size(r);
+		double[] vals = new double[nnz];
+		int index = 0;
+		for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
+			if(isAllocatedCol(i) && _columns[i].get(r) != 0) {
+				vals[index] = _columns[i].get(r);
+				index++;
+			}
+		}
+		return vals;
+	}
+
+	public double[] valuesCol(int c) {
 		//prior check with isEmpty(c) expected
 		return _columns[c].values();
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public int pos(int c) {
-		//arrays per column (always start 0)
+	public int pos(int r) {
+		//arrays per row (always start 0)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public boolean set(int r, int c, double v) {
-		if(!isAllocated(c)) {
+		if(!isAllocatedCol(c)) {
 			_columns[c] = new SparseRowScalar();
 		}
 		else if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar && !_columns[c].isEmpty()) {
@@ -442,9 +542,17 @@ else if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar && !_columns[c].isEmpty()) {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void set(int c, SparseRow col, boolean deep) {
+	public void set(int r, SparseRow row, boolean deep) {
+		reset(r, 1, 1);
+		int nnz = row.size();
+		for(int i = 0; i < nnz; i++) {
+			set(r, row.indexes()[i], row.values()[i]);
+		}
+	}
+
+	public void setCol(int c, SparseRow col, boolean deep) {
 		//copy values into existing column to avoid allocation
-		if(isAllocated(c) && _columns[c] instanceof SparseRowVector &&
+		if(isAllocatedCol(c) && _columns[c] instanceof SparseRowVector &&
 			((SparseRowVector) _columns[c]).capacity() >= col.size() && deep) {
 			((SparseRowVector) _columns[c]).copy(col);
 			//set new sparse column (incl allocation if required)
@@ -456,7 +564,7 @@ public void set(int c, SparseRow col, boolean deep) {
 
 	@Override
 	public boolean add(int r, int c, double v) {
-		if(!isAllocated(c)) {
+		if(!isAllocatedCol(c)) {
 			_columns[c] = new SparseRowScalar();
 		}
 		else if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar && !_columns[c].isEmpty()) {
@@ -485,8 +593,16 @@ else if(_columns[c] == null) {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void setIndexRange(int c, int rl, int ru, double[] v, int vix, int vlen) {
-		if(!isAllocated(c)) {
+	public void setIndexRange(int r, int cl, int cu, double[] v, int vix, int vlen) {
+		int idx = vix;
+		for(int i = cl; i < cu; i++) {
+			set(r, i, v[idx]);
+			idx++;
+		}
+	}
+
+	public void setIndexRangeCol(int c, int rl, int ru, double[] v, int vix, int vlen) {
+		if(!isAllocatedCol(c)) {
 			_columns[c] = new SparseRowVector();
 		}
 		else if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar) {
@@ -496,8 +612,14 @@ else if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar) {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void setIndexRange(int c, int rl, int ru, double[] v, int[] vix, int vpos, int vlen) {
-		if(!isAllocated(c)) {
+	public void setIndexRange(int r, int cl, int cu, double[] v, int[] vix, int vpos, int vlen) {
+		for(int i = vpos; i < (vpos + vlen); i++) {
+			set(r, vix[i], v[i]);
+		}
+	}
+
+	public void setIndexRangeCol(int c, int rl, int ru, double[] v, int[] vix, int vpos, int vlen) {
+		if(!isAllocatedCol(c)) {
 			_columns[c] = new SparseRowVector();
 		}
 		else if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar) {
@@ -508,7 +630,18 @@ else if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar) {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void deleteIndexRange(int c, int rl, int ru) {
+	public void deleteIndexRange(int r, int cl, int cu) {
+		for(int i = cl; i < cu; i++) {
+			if(isAllocatedCol(i)) {
+				if(_columns[i] instanceof SparseRowScalar && _columns[i].indexes()[0] == r)
+					_columns[i].set(r, 0);
+				else if(_columns[i] instanceof SparseRowVector)
+					_columns[i].set(r, 0);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	public void deleteIndexRangeCol(int c, int rl, int ru) {
 		//prior check with isEmpty(c) expected
 		//different sparse row semantics: upper bound inclusive
 		if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar) {
@@ -527,26 +660,48 @@ public void sort() {
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public void sort(int c) {
+	public void sort(int r) {
+		//prior check with isEmpty(c) expected
+		sort();
+	}
+
+	public void sortCol(int c) {
 		//prior check with isEmpty(c) expected
 		_columns[c].sort();
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public double get(int r, int c) {
-		if(!isAllocated(c)) {
+		if(!isAllocatedCol(c)) {
 			return 0;
 		}
 		return _columns[c].get(r);
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public SparseRow get(int c) {
+	public SparseRow get(int r) {
+		SparseRow row = (size(r) == 1) ? new SparseRowScalar() : new SparseRowVector(size(r));
+		double v = 0;
+		for(int i = 0; i < _columns.length; i++) {
+			v = get(r, i);
+			if(v != 0)
+				row.set(i, v);
+		}
+		return row;
+	}
+
+	public SparseRow getCol(int c) {
 		return _columns[c];
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public int posFIndexLTE(int r, int c) {
+		//prior check with isEmpty(r) expected
+		SparseRow row = get(r);
+		return ((SparseRowVector) row).searchIndexesFirstLTE(c);
+	}
+
+	public int posFIndexLTECol(int r, int c) {
 		//prior check with isEmpty(c) expected
 		if(_columns[c] instanceof SparseRowScalar) {
 			_columns[c] = new SparseRowVector(_columns[c]);
@@ -556,17 +711,49 @@ public int posFIndexLTE(int r, int c) {
 
 	@Override
 	public int posFIndexGTE(int r, int c) {
+		SparseRow row = get(r);
+		return row.searchIndexesFirstGTE(c);
+	}
+
+	public int posFIndexGTECol(int r, int c) {
 		return _columns[c].searchIndexesFirstGTE(r);
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public int posFIndexGT(int r, int c) {
+		SparseRow row = get(r);
+		return row.searchIndexesFirstGT(c);
+	}
+
+	public int posFIndexGTCol(int r, int c) {
 		return _columns[c].searchIndexesFirstGT(r);
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public Iterator<Integer> getNonEmptyRowsIterator(int rl, int ru) {
-		throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Non-empty rows iterator is not supported in column layouts.");
+		return new NonEmptyRowsIteratorMCSC(rl, ru);
+	}
+
+	public class NonEmptyRowsIteratorMCSC implements Iterator<Integer> {
+		private int _rpos;
+		private final int _ru;
+
+		public NonEmptyRowsIteratorMCSC(int rl, int ru) {
+			_rpos = rl;
+			_ru = ru;
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public boolean hasNext() {
+			while(_rpos < _ru && isEmpty(_rpos))
+				_rpos++;
+			return _rpos < _ru;
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public Integer next() {
+			return _rpos++;
+		}
 	}
 
 	@Override
@@ -580,7 +767,7 @@ public String toString() {
 		sb.append("\n");
 		final int colDigits = (int) Math.max(Math.ceil(Math.log10(nCol)), 1);
 		for(int i = 0; i < nCol; i++) {
-			if(isEmpty(i))
+			if(isEmptyCol(i))
 				continue;
 			sb.append(String.format("%0" + colDigits + "d %s\n", i, _columns[i].toString()));
 		}
@@ -588,7 +775,71 @@ public String toString() {
 		return sb.toString();
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Helper function for MCSC
+	 *
+	 * @return the underlying array of columns {@link SparseRow}
+	 */
 	public SparseRow[] getCols() {
 		return _columns;
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Helper function for MCSC
+	 *
+	 * @return the corresponding array of rows {@link SparseRow}
+	 */
+
+	public SparseRow[] getRows() {
+		SparseRow[] rows = new SparseRow[numRows()];
+		for(int i = 0; i < numRows(); i++) {
+			rows[i] = get(i);
+		}
+		return rows;
+	}
+
+	public Iterator<Integer> getNonEmptyColumnsIterator(int cl, int cu) {
+		return new NonEmptyColumnsIteratorMCSC(cl, cu);
+	}
+
+	public class NonEmptyColumnsIteratorMCSC implements Iterator<Integer> {
+		private int _cpos;
+		private final int _cu;
+
+		public NonEmptyColumnsIteratorMCSC(int cl, int cu) {
+			_cpos = cl;
+			_cu = cu;
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public boolean hasNext() {
+			while(_cpos < _cu && isEmptyCol(_cpos)) {
+				_cpos++;
+			}
+			return _cpos < _cu;
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public Integer next() {
+			return _cpos++;
+		}
+
+	}
+
+	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
+	private class SparseNonEmptyColumnIterable implements Iterable<Integer> {
+		private final int _cl; //column lower
+		private final int _cu; //column upper
+
+		protected SparseNonEmptyColumnIterable(int cl, int cu) {
+			_cl = cl;
+			_cu = cu;
+		}
+
+		@Override
+		public Iterator<Integer> iterator() {
+			//use specialized non-empty row iterators of sparse blocks
+			return getNonEmptyColumnsIterator(_cl, _cu);
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockMCSR.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockMCSR.java
index 52b5d2e338a..d232a0041a6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockMCSR.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/sysds/runtime/data/SparseBlockMCSR.java
@@ -305,15 +305,15 @@ public long size(int rl, int ru) {
 			ret += isAllocated(i) ? _rows[i].size() : 0;
 		return ret;
 	}
-	
+
 	@Override
 	public long size(int rl, int ru, int cl, int cu) {
 		long nnz = 0;
-		for(int i=rl; i<ru; i++)
-			if( !isEmpty(i) ) {
+		for(int i = rl; i < ru; i++)
+			if(!isEmpty(i)) {
 				int start = posFIndexGTE(i, cl);
-				int end = posFIndexGTE(i, cu);
-				nnz += (start!=-1) ? (end-start) : 0;
+				int end = posFIndexLTE(i, cu - 1);
+				nnz += (start != -1 && end != -1) ? (end - start + 1) : 0;
 			}
 		return nnz;
 	}
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockAlignment.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockAlignment.java
index f6d2b73b692..41caea2e379 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockAlignment.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockAlignment.java
@@ -182,6 +182,21 @@ public void testSparseBlockDCSR3Neg()  {
 		runSparseBlockScanTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, sparsity3, false);
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1Neg()  {
+		runSparseBlockScanTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, false);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2Neg()  {
+		runSparseBlockScanTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, false);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3Neg()  {
+		runSparseBlockScanTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, false);
+	}
+
 	private void runSparseBlockScanTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity, boolean positive)
 	{
 		try
@@ -192,10 +207,10 @@ private void runSparseBlockScanTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity, bo
 			//init sparse block
 			MatrixBlock mbtmp = DataConverter.convertToMatrixBlock(A);
 			SparseBlock srtmp = mbtmp.getSparseBlock();
-			SparseBlock sblock = SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype, srtmp, true);
+			SparseBlock sblock = SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype, srtmp, true, cols);
 			
 			//init second sparse block and deep copy
-			SparseBlock sblock2 = SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype, sblock, true);
+			SparseBlock sblock2 = SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype, sblock, true, cols);
 			
 			//modify second block if necessary
 			if( !positive ) {
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockAppendSort.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockAppendSort.java
index 8c42af17af6..37bdd4fb874 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockAppendSort.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockAppendSort.java
@@ -230,68 +230,45 @@ private void runSparseBlockAppendSortTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsi
 					for( int j=0; j<cols; j++ )
 						sblock.append(i, j, A[i][j]);
 			}
-			else if( itype == InitType.RAND_SET ) {
+			else if(itype == InitType.RAND_SET) {
 				LongLongDoubleHashMap map = new LongLongDoubleHashMap();
-				for( int i=0; i<rows; i++ )
-					for( int j=0; j<cols; j++ )
+				for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
+					for(int j = 0; j < cols; j++)
 						map.addValue(i, j, A[i][j]);
 				Iterator<ADoubleEntry> iter = map.getIterator();
-				while( iter.hasNext() ) { //random hash order
+				while(iter.hasNext()) { //random hash order
 					ADoubleEntry e = iter.next();
-					sblock.append((int)e.getKey1(), (int)e.getKey2(), e.value);
+					sblock.append((int) e.getKey1(), (int) e.getKey2(), e.value);
 				}
-			}	
-			
+			}
+
 			//sort appended values
 			sblock.sort();
-			
+
 			//check for correct number of non-zeros
-			int[] rnnz = new int[rows];
-			int nnz = 0;
-			int[] cnnz = new int[cols];
-			for( int i=0; i<rows; i++ ) {
-				for( int j=0; j<cols; j++ ) {
-					cnnz[j] += (A[i][j] != 0) ? 1 : 0;
+			int[] rnnz = new int[rows]; int nnz = 0;
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
+				for(int j = 0; j < cols; j++)
 					rnnz[i] += (A[i][j] != 0) ? 1 : 0;
-				}
 				nnz += rnnz[i];
 			}
-			if( nnz != sblock.size() )
-				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: "+sblock.size()+", expected: "+nnz);
+
+			if(nnz != sblock.size())
+				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: " + sblock.size() + ", expected: " + nnz);
 
 			//check correct isEmpty return
-			if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC) {
-				for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++)
-					if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (cnnz[i] == 0))
-						Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(column) result for row nnz: " + cnnz[i]);
-			}
-			else {
-				for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
-					if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (rnnz[i] == 0))
-						Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(row) result for row nnz: " + rnnz[i]);
-			}
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
+				if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (rnnz[i] == 0))
+					Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(row) result for row nnz: " + rnnz[i]);
 
 			//check correct values
-			if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC) {
-				for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++) {
-					if(sblock.isEmpty(i)) continue;
-					for(int j = 0; j < rows; j++) {
-						double tmp = sblock.get(j, i);
-						if(tmp != A[j][i])
-							Assert.fail("Wrong get value for cell (" + i + "," + j + "): " + tmp + ", expected: " +
-								A[i][j]);
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			else {
-				for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
-					if(sblock.isEmpty(i)) continue;
-					for(int j = 0; j < cols; j++) {
-						double tmp = sblock.get(i, j);
-						if(tmp != A[i][j])
-							Assert.fail("Wrong get value for cell (" + i + "," + j + "): " + tmp + ", expected: " +
-								A[i][j]);
-					}
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
+				if(sblock.isEmpty(i))
+					continue;
+				for(int j = 0; j < cols; j++) {
+					double tmp = sblock.get(i, j);
+					if(tmp != A[i][j])
+						Assert.fail("Wrong get value for cell (" + i + "," + j + "): " + tmp + ", expected: " + A[i][j]);
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockDelete.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockDelete.java
index 9862659779f..7ac63c0cee6 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockDelete.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockDelete.java
@@ -111,6 +111,21 @@ public void testSparseBlockDCSR2()  {
 	public void testSparseBlockDCSR3()  {
 		runSparseBlockDeleteTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, sparsity3);
 	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1()  {
+		runSparseBlockDeleteTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2()  {
+		runSparseBlockDeleteTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3()  {
+		runSparseBlockDeleteTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3);
+	}
 	
 	private void runSparseBlockDeleteTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity)
 	{
@@ -122,7 +137,7 @@ private void runSparseBlockDeleteTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity)
 			//init sparse block
 			MatrixBlock mbtmp = DataConverter.convertToMatrixBlock(A);
 			SparseBlock srtmp = mbtmp.getSparseBlock();			
-			SparseBlock sblock = SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype, srtmp, true);
+			SparseBlock sblock = SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype, srtmp, true, cols);
 			
 			//delete range per row via set
 			for( int i=0; i<rows; i++ )
@@ -163,4 +178,4 @@ private void runSparseBlockDeleteTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity)
 			throw new RuntimeException(ex);
 		}
 	}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockGetFirstIndex.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockGetFirstIndex.java
index 1ad84df759a..5816ba6b26d 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockGetFirstIndex.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockGetFirstIndex.java
@@ -287,80 +287,69 @@ private void runSparseBlockGetFirstIndexTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double spa
 		try
 		{
 			//data generation
-			double[][] A = getRandomMatrix(rows, cols, -10, 10, sparsity, 3456); 
-			
+			double[][] A = getRandomMatrix(rows, cols, -10, 10, sparsity, 3456);
+
 			//init sparse block
 			SparseBlock sblock = null;
 			MatrixBlock mbtmp = DataConverter.convertToMatrixBlock(A);
 			SparseBlock srtmp = mbtmp.getSparseBlock();
-			switch( btype ) {
-				case MCSR: sblock = new SparseBlockMCSR(srtmp); break;
-				case CSR: sblock = new SparseBlockCSR(srtmp); break;
-				case COO: sblock = new SparseBlockCOO(srtmp); break;
-				case DCSR: sblock = new SparseBlockDCSR(srtmp); break;
-				case MCSC: sblock = new SparseBlockMCSC(srtmp, cols); break;
+			switch(btype) {
+				case MCSR:
+					sblock = new SparseBlockMCSR(srtmp);
+					break;
+				case CSR:
+					sblock = new SparseBlockCSR(srtmp);
+					break;
+				case COO:
+					sblock = new SparseBlockCOO(srtmp);
+					break;
+				case DCSR:
+					sblock = new SparseBlockDCSR(srtmp);
+					break;
+				case MCSC:
+					sblock = new SparseBlockMCSC(srtmp, cols);
+					break;
 			}
-			
+
 			//check for correct number of non-zeros
-			int[] rnnz = new int[rows]; int nnz = 0;
-			int[] cnnz =new int[cols];
-			for( int i=0; i<rows; i++ ) {
-				for( int j=0; j<cols; j++ ) {
-					cnnz[j] += (A[i][j] != 0) ? 1 : 0;
+			int[] rnnz = new int[rows];
+			int nnz = 0;
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
+				for(int j = 0; j < cols; j++)
 					rnnz[i] += (A[i][j] != 0) ? 1 : 0;
-				}
 				nnz += rnnz[i];
 			}
-			if( nnz != sblock.size() )
-				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: "+sblock.size()+", expected: "+nnz);
+
+			if(nnz != sblock.size())
+				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: " + sblock.size() + ", expected: " + nnz);
 
 			//check correct isEmpty return
-			if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC) {
-				for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++)
-					if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (cnnz[i] == 0))
-						Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(col) result for row nnz: " + cnnz[i]);
-			}
-			else {
-				for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
-					if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (rnnz[i] == 0))
-						Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(row) result for row nnz: " + rnnz[i]);
-			}
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
+				if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (rnnz[i] == 0))
+					Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(row) result for row nnz: " + rnnz[i]);
 
 			//check correct index values
-			if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC){
-				for (int i = 0; i < cols; i++) {
-					int ix = getFirstIxCol(A, i, i, itype);
-					int sixpos = -1;
-					switch (itype) {
-						case GT: sixpos = sblock.posFIndexGT(i, i); break;
-						case GTE: sixpos = sblock.posFIndexGTE(i, i); break;
-						case LTE: sixpos = sblock.posFIndexLTE(i, i); break;
-					}
-					int six = (sixpos >= 0) ?
-						sblock.indexes(i)[sblock.pos(i) + sixpos] : -1;
-					if (six != ix) {
-						Assert.fail("Wrong index returned by index probe (" +
-							itype.toString() + "," + i + "): " + six + ", expected: " + ix);
-					}
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
+				int ix = getFirstIx(A, i, i, itype);
+				int sixpos = -1;
+				switch(itype) {
+					case GT:
+						sixpos = sblock.posFIndexGT(i, i);
+						break;
+					case GTE:
+						sixpos = sblock.posFIndexGTE(i, i);
+						break;
+					case LTE:
+						sixpos = sblock.posFIndexLTE(i, i);
+						break;
 				}
-			}
-			else{
-				for( int i=0; i<rows; i++ ) {
-					int ix = getFirstIx(A, i, i, itype);
-					int sixpos = -1;
-					switch( itype ) {
-						case GT: sixpos = sblock.posFIndexGT(i, i); break;
-						case GTE: sixpos = sblock.posFIndexGTE(i, i); break;
-						case LTE: sixpos = sblock.posFIndexLTE(i, i); break;
-					}
-					int six = (sixpos>=0) ?
-						sblock.indexes(i)[sblock.pos(i)+sixpos] : -1;
-					if( six != ix ) {
-						Assert.fail("Wrong index returned by index probe ("+
-								itype.toString()+","+i+"): "+six+", expected: "+ix);
-					}
+				int six = (sixpos >= 0) ? sblock.indexes(i)[sblock.pos(i) + sixpos] : -1;
+				if(six != ix) {
+					Assert.fail("Wrong index returned by index probe (" + itype.toString() + "," + i + "): " +
+						six + ", expected: " + ix);
 				}
 			}
+
 		}
 		catch(Exception ex) {
 			ex.printStackTrace();
@@ -391,27 +380,4 @@ else if( type==IndexType.LTE ) {
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	private static int getFirstIxCol(double[][] A, int rix, int cix, IndexType type) {
-		if(type == IndexType.GT) {
-			for(int j = rix + 1; j < rows; j++)
-				if(A[j][cix] != 0)
-					return j;
-			return -1;
-		}
-		else if(type == IndexType.GTE) {
-			for(int j = rix; j < rows; j++)
-				if(A[j][cix] != 0)
-					return j;
-			return -1;
-		}
-		else if(type == IndexType.LTE) {
-			for(int j = rix; j >= 0; j--)
-				if(A[j][cix] != 0)
-					return j;
-			return -1;
-		}
-
-		return -1;
-	}
-
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockGetSet.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockGetSet.java
index bb284d34a47..2f357d3c8ab 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockGetSet.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockGetSet.java
@@ -244,47 +244,47 @@ public void testSparseBlockDCSR3Rand()  {
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1Bulk()  {
-		runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, InitType.BULK);
+		runSparseBlockGetSetTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, InitType.BULK);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2Bulk()  {
-		runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, InitType.BULK);
+		runSparseBlockGetSetTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, InitType.BULK);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3Bulk()  {
-		runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, InitType.BULK);
+		runSparseBlockGetSetTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, InitType.BULK);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1Seq()  {
-		runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, InitType.SEQ_SET);
+		runSparseBlockGetSetTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, InitType.SEQ_SET);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2Seq()  {
-		runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, InitType.SEQ_SET);
+		runSparseBlockGetSetTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, InitType.SEQ_SET);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3Seq()  {
-		runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, InitType.SEQ_SET);
+		runSparseBlockGetSetTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, InitType.SEQ_SET);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1Rand()  {
-		runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, InitType.RAND_SET);
+		runSparseBlockGetSetTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, InitType.RAND_SET);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2Rand()  {
-		runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, InitType.RAND_SET);
+		runSparseBlockGetSetTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, InitType.RAND_SET);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3Rand()  {
-		runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, InitType.RAND_SET);
+		runSparseBlockGetSetTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, InitType.RAND_SET);
 	}
 	
 	private void runSparseBlockGetSetTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity, InitType itype)
@@ -310,10 +310,6 @@ else if( itype == InitType.SEQ_SET || itype == InitType.RAND_SET ) {
 					case MCSC: sblock = new SparseBlockMCSC(rows, cols); break;
 				}
 
-				if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC){
-
-				}
-
 				if(itype == InitType.SEQ_SET) {
 					for( int i=0; i<rows; i++ )
 						for( int j=0; j<cols; j++ )
@@ -368,86 +364,4 @@ else if( itype == InitType.RAND_SET ) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	@SuppressWarnings("incomplete-switch")
-	private void runSparseBlockGetSetColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity, InitType itype)
-	{
-		try {
-			//data generation
-			double[][] A = getRandomMatrix(rows, cols, -10, 10, sparsity, 7654321);
-
-			//init sparse block
-			SparseBlockMCSC sblock = null;
-			if(itype == InitType.BULK) {
-				MatrixBlock mbtmp = DataConverter.convertToMatrixBlock(A);
-				SparseBlock srtmp = mbtmp.getSparseBlock();
-				switch(btype) {
-					case MCSC:
-						sblock = new SparseBlockMCSC(srtmp, cols);
-						break;
-				}
-			}
-			else if(itype == InitType.SEQ_SET || itype == InitType.RAND_SET) {
-				switch(btype) {
-					case MCSC:
-						sblock = new SparseBlockMCSC(rows, cols);
-						break;
-				}
-
-				if(itype == InitType.SEQ_SET) {
-					for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++)
-						for(int j = 0; j < rows; j++)
-							sblock.append(j, i, A[j][i]);
-				}
-				else if(itype == InitType.RAND_SET) {
-					LongLongDoubleHashMap map = new LongLongDoubleHashMap();
-					for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++)
-						for(int j = 0; j < rows; j++)
-							map.addValue(j, i, A[j][i]);
-					Iterator<ADoubleEntry> iter = map.getIterator();
-					while(iter.hasNext()) { //random hash order
-						ADoubleEntry e = iter.next();
-						int r = (int) e.getKey1();
-						int c = (int) e.getKey2();
-						sblock.set(r, c, e.value);
-					}
-				}
-			}
-
-			//check basic meta data
-			if(sblock.numCols() != cols)
-				Assert.fail("Wrong number of cols: " + sblock.numCols() + ", expected: " + cols);
-
-			//check for correct number of non-zeros
-			int[] cnnz = new int[cols];
-			int nnz = 0;
-			for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++) {
-				for(int j = 0; j < rows; j++)
-					cnnz[i] += (A[j][i] != 0) ? 1 : 0;
-				nnz += cnnz[i];
-			}
-			if(nnz != sblock.size())
-				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: " + sblock.size() + ", expected: " + nnz);
-
-			//check correct isEmpty return
-			for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++)
-				if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (cnnz[i] == 0))
-					Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(col) result for row nnz: " + cnnz[i] + "(column: " + i + ")");
-
-			//check correct values
-			for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++)
-				if(!sblock.isEmpty(i))
-					for(int j = 0; j < rows; j++) {
-						double tmp = sblock.get(j, i);
-						if(tmp != A[j][i])
-							Assert.fail(
-								"Wrong get value for cell (" + i + "," + j + "): " + tmp + ", expected: " + A[j][i]);
-					}
-
-		}
-		catch(Exception ex) {
-			ex.printStackTrace();
-			throw new RuntimeException(ex);
-		}
-	}
-
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockIndexRange.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockIndexRange.java
index 4a87f0d129e..d51f9d1f6da 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockIndexRange.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockIndexRange.java
@@ -43,8 +43,6 @@ public class SparseBlockIndexRange extends AutomatedTestBase
 	private final static int cols = 549;	
 	private final static int cl = 245;
 	private final static int cu = 425;
-	private final static int rl = 245;
-	private final static int ru = 525;
 	private final static double sparsity1 = 0.12;
 	private final static double sparsity2 = 0.22;
 	private final static double sparsity3 = 0.32;
@@ -181,32 +179,32 @@ public void testSparseBlockDCSR3Insert()  {
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1Delete()  {
-		runSparseBlockIndexRangeColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, UpdateType.DELETE);
+		runSparseBlockIndexRangeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, UpdateType.DELETE);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2Delete()  {
-		runSparseBlockIndexRangeColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, UpdateType.DELETE);
+		runSparseBlockIndexRangeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, UpdateType.DELETE);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3Delete()  {
-		runSparseBlockIndexRangeColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, UpdateType.DELETE);
+		runSparseBlockIndexRangeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, UpdateType.DELETE);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1Insert()  {
-		runSparseBlockIndexRangeColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, UpdateType.INSERT);
+		runSparseBlockIndexRangeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, UpdateType.INSERT);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2Insert()  {
-		runSparseBlockIndexRangeColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, UpdateType.INSERT);
+		runSparseBlockIndexRangeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, UpdateType.INSERT);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3Insert()  {
-		runSparseBlockIndexRangeColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, UpdateType.INSERT);
+		runSparseBlockIndexRangeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, UpdateType.INSERT);
 	}
 	
 	private void runSparseBlockIndexRangeTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity, UpdateType utype)
@@ -278,64 +276,4 @@ else if( utype == UpdateType.INSERT ) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	@SuppressWarnings("incomplete-switch")
-	private void runSparseBlockIndexRangeColumnTest(SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity, UpdateType utype) {
-		try {
-			//data generation
-			double[][] A = getRandomMatrix(rows, cols, -10, 10, sparsity, 456);
-
-			//init sparse block
-			SparseBlock sblock = null;
-			MatrixBlock mbtmp = DataConverter.convertToMatrixBlock(A);
-			SparseBlock srtmp = mbtmp.getSparseBlock();
-			switch(btype) {
-				case MCSC:
-					sblock = new SparseBlockMCSC(srtmp, cols);
-					break;
-			}
-
-			//delete range per row via set
-			if(utype == UpdateType.DELETE) {
-				for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++) {
-					sblock.deleteIndexRange(i, rl, ru);
-					for(int j = rl; j < ru; j++) {
-						A[j][i] = 0;  // Fill column-wise with zeros
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			else if(utype == UpdateType.INSERT) {
-				double[] vals = new double[ru - rl];
-				for(int j = rl; j < ru; j++)
-					vals[j - rl] = j;
-				for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++) {
-					sblock.setIndexRange(i, rl, ru, vals, 0, ru - rl);
-					for(int j = rl; j < ru; j++) {
-						A[j][i] = vals[j - rl];  // Update the matrix column-wise
-					}
-				}
-			}
-
-			//check for correct number of non-zeros
-			int[] cnnz = new int[cols];
-			int nnz = 0;
-			for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++) {
-				for(int j = 0; j < rows; j++)
-					cnnz[i] += (A[j][i] != 0) ? 1 : 0;
-				nnz += cnnz[i];
-			}
-			if(nnz != sblock.size())
-				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: " + sblock.size() + ", expected: " + nnz);
-
-			//check correct isEmpty return
-			for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++)
-				if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (cnnz[i] == 0))
-					Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(col) result for row nnz: " + cnnz[i]);
-
-			//TODO: Add 'check correct values', requires Iterator
-		}
-		catch(Exception ex) {
-			ex.printStackTrace();
-			throw new RuntimeException(ex);
-		}
-	}
 }
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockIterator.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockIterator.java
index 0039d5ac1ea..736f981025d 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockIterator.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockIterator.java
@@ -172,6 +172,36 @@ public void testSparseBlockDCSR3Partial() {
 		runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, sparsity3, true);
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1Full() {
+		runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, false);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2Full() {
+		runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, false);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3Full() {
+		runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, false);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1Partial() {
+		runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1, true);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2Partial() {
+		runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2, true);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3Partial() {
+		runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3, true);
+	}
+
 	private void runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity, boolean partial) {
 		try {
 			//data generation
@@ -181,7 +211,7 @@ private void runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity,
 			MatrixBlock mbtmp = DataConverter.convertToMatrixBlock(A);
 			SparseBlock srtmp = mbtmp.getSparseBlock();
 			SparseBlock sblock = SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype, srtmp, true);
-			
+
 			//check for correct number of non-zeros
 			int[] rnnz = new int[rows];
 			int nnz = 0;
@@ -215,9 +245,9 @@ private void runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity,
 			// check iterator over non-zero rows
 			List<Integer> manualNonZeroRows = new ArrayList<>();
 			List<Integer> iteratorNonZeroRows = new ArrayList<>();
-			Iterator<Integer> iterRows = !partial ?
-				sblock.getNonEmptyRowsIterator(0, rows) :
-				sblock.getNonEmptyRowsIterator(rl, rows);
+			Iterator<Integer> iterRows = !partial
+				? sblock.getNonEmptyRowsIterator(0, rows)
+				: sblock.getNonEmptyRowsIterator(rl, rows);
 
 			for(int i = rl; i < rows; i++)
 				if(!sblock.isEmpty(i))
@@ -230,6 +260,7 @@ private void runSparseBlockIteratorTest(SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity,
 			if(!manualNonZeroRows.equals(iteratorNonZeroRows)) {
 				Assert.fail("Verification of iterator over non-zero rows failed.");
 			}
+
 		}
 		catch(Exception ex) {
 			ex.printStackTrace();
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockMemEstimate.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockMemEstimate.java
index 36dc077fb06..1c0c2aa7c5c 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockMemEstimate.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockMemEstimate.java
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ private static void runSparseBlockMemoryTest( double sparsity)
 		}
 		else { //ultra-sparse (pref COO)
 			if( memMCSC < memCOO )
-				Assert.fail("SparseBlockMCS memory estimate smaller than SparseBlockCOO estimate.");
+				Assert.fail("SparseBlockMCSC memory estimate smaller than SparseBlockCOO estimate.");
 			if( memMCSR < memCOO )
 				Assert.fail("SparseBlockMCSR memory estimate smaller than SparseBlockCOO estimate.");
 			if( memCSR < memCOO )
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockMerge.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockMerge.java
index e5681e294e9..7c061eaf279 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockMerge.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockMerge.java
@@ -122,6 +122,26 @@ public void testMergeMCSR_DCSR_2()  {
 	public void testMergeMCSR_DCSR_3()  {
 		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, sparsity3);
 	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSR_MCSC_0()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity0);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSR_MCSC_1()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSR_MCSC_2()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSR_MCSC_3()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3);
+	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testMergeCSR_CSR_0()  {
@@ -202,6 +222,26 @@ public void testMergeCSR_COO_2()  {
 	public void testMergeCSR_COO_3()  {
 		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, SparseBlock.Type.COO, sparsity3);
 	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeCSR_MCSC_0()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity0);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeCSR_MCSC_1()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeCSR_MCSC_2()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeCSR_MCSC_3()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3);
+	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testMergeCOO_COO_0()  {
@@ -283,6 +323,26 @@ public void testMergeCOO_DCSR_3()  {
 		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, sparsity3);
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeCOO_MCSC_0()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity0);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeCOO_MCSC_1()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeCOO_MCSC_2()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeCOO_MCSC_3()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3);
+	}
+
 	@Test
 	public void testMergeDCSR_DCSR_0()  {
 		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, sparsity0);
@@ -363,7 +423,108 @@ public void testMergeDCSR_COO_3()  {
 		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, SparseBlock.Type.COO, sparsity3);
 	}
 
-	
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeDCSR_MCSC_0()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity0);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeDCSR_MCSC_1()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeDCSR_MCSC_2()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeDCSR_MCSC_3()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_MCSC_0()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity0);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_MCSC_1()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_MCSC_2()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_MCSC_3()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_CSR_0()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.CSR, sparsity0);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_CSR_1()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.CSR, sparsity1);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_CSR_2()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.CSR, sparsity2);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_CSR_3()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.CSR, sparsity3);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_MCSR_0()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, sparsity0);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_MCSR_1()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, sparsity1);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_MCSR_2()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, sparsity2);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_MCSR_3()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, sparsity3);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_COO_0()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.COO, sparsity0);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_COO_1()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.COO, sparsity1);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_COO_2()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.COO, sparsity2);
+	}
+
+	@Test
+	public void testMergeMCSC_COO_3()  {
+		runSparseBlockMergeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, SparseBlock.Type.COO, sparsity3);
+	}
+
+
+
 	private void runSparseBlockMergeTest( SparseBlock.Type btype1, SparseBlock.Type btype2, double sparsity)
 	{
 		try
@@ -387,8 +548,8 @@ private void runSparseBlockMergeTest( SparseBlock.Type btype1, SparseBlock.Type
 			MatrixBlock mb1 = DataConverter.convertToMatrixBlock(B1);
 			MatrixBlock mb2 = DataConverter.convertToMatrixBlock(B2);
 			long nnz = mb1.getNonZeros() + mb2.getNonZeros();
-			mb1.setSparseBlock(SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype1, mb1.getSparseBlock(), false));
-			mb2.setSparseBlock(SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype2, mb2.getSparseBlock(), false));
+			mb1.setSparseBlock(SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype1, mb1.getSparseBlock(), false, cols));
+			mb2.setSparseBlock(SparseBlockFactory.copySparseBlock(btype2, mb2.getSparseBlock(), false, cols));
 			
 			//execute merge
 			mb1 = mb1.merge(mb2, false);
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockScan.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockScan.java
index 98fe32792ed..8163b49a6ef 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockScan.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockScan.java
@@ -142,48 +142,32 @@ private void runSparseBlockScanTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity)
 			
 			//check for correct number of non-zeros
 			int[] rnnz = new int[rows]; int nnz = 0;
-			int[] cnnz = new int[cols];
-			for( int i=0; i<rows; i++ ) {
-				for( int j=0; j<cols; j++ ) {
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
+				for(int j = 0; j < cols; j++)
 					rnnz[i] += (A[i][j] != 0) ? 1 : 0;
-					cnnz[j] += (A[i][j] != 0) ? 1 : 0;
-				}
 				nnz += rnnz[i];
 			}
-			if( nnz != sblock.size() )
-				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: "+sblock.size()+", expected: "+nnz);
-		
+
+			if(nnz != sblock.size())
+				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: " + sblock.size() + ", expected: " + nnz);
+
 			//check correct isEmpty return
-			if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC) {
-				for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++)
-					if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (cnnz[i] == 0))
-						Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(col) result for column nnz: " + cnnz[i]);
-			}
-			else {
-				for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
-					if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (rnnz[i] == 0))
-						Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(row) result for row nnz: " + rnnz[i]);
-			}
-		
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
+				if(sblock.isEmpty(i) != (rnnz[i] == 0))
+					Assert.fail("Wrong isEmpty(row) result for row nnz: " + rnnz[i]);
+
 			//check correct values
-			int limit = rows;
-			if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC)
-				limit = cols;
 			int count = 0;
-			for( int i=0; i<limit; i++) {
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++) {
 				int alen = sblock.size(i);
 				int apos = sblock.pos(i);
 				int[] aix = sblock.indexes(i);
 				double[] avals = sblock.values(i);
-				for( int j=0; j<alen; j++ ) {
-					if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC){
-						if( avals[apos+j] != A[aix[apos+j]][i] )
-							Assert.fail("Wrong value returned by scan: "+avals[apos+j]+", expected: "+A[i][apos+aix[j]]);
-					} else {
-						if( avals[apos+j] != A[i][aix[apos+j]] )
-							Assert.fail("Wrong value returned by scan: "+avals[apos+j]+", expected: "+A[i][apos+aix[j]]);
-					}
-					count++;		
+				for(int j = 0; j < alen; j++) {
+					if(avals[apos + j] != A[i][aix[apos + j]])
+						Assert.fail(
+							"Wrong value returned by scan: " + avals[apos + j] + ", expected: " + A[i][apos + aix[j]]);
+					count++;
 				}
 			}
 			if( count != nnz )
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockSize.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockSize.java
index 0a917a9d65a..edc84098cad 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockSize.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/sysds/test/component/sparse/SparseBlockSize.java
@@ -36,15 +36,15 @@
  */
 public class SparseBlockSize extends AutomatedTestBase 
 {
-	private final static int rows = 324;
-	private final static int cols = 123;
-	private final static int rl = 31;
-	private final static int ru = 100;
-	private final static int cl = 30;
-	private final static int cu = 80;
-	private final static double sparsity1 = 0.12;
-	private final static double sparsity2 = 0.22;
-	private final static double sparsity3 = 0.32;
+	private final static int _rows = 324;
+	private final static int _cols = 123;
+	private final static int _rl = 31;
+	private final static int _ru = 100;
+	private final static int _cl = 30;
+	private final static int _cu = 80;
+	private final static double _sparsity1 = 0.12;
+	private final static double _sparsity2 = 0.22;
+	private final static double _sparsity3 = 0.32;
 	
 	@Override
 	public void setUp() {
@@ -53,154 +53,190 @@ public void setUp() {
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSR1()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, sparsity1);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, _sparsity1);
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSR2()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, sparsity2);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, _sparsity2);
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSR3()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, sparsity3);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSR, _sparsity3);
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockCSR1()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, sparsity1);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, _sparsity1);
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockCSR2()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, sparsity2);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, _sparsity2);
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockCSR3()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, sparsity3);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.CSR, _sparsity3);
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockCOO1()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, sparsity1);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, _sparsity1);
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockCOO2()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, sparsity2);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, _sparsity2);
 	}
 	
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockCOO3()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, sparsity3);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.COO, _sparsity3);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockDCSR1()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, sparsity1);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, _sparsity1);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockDCSR2()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, sparsity2);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, _sparsity2);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockDCSR3()  {
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, sparsity3);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.DCSR, _sparsity3);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC1(){
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity1);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, _sparsity1);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC2(){
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity2);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, _sparsity2);
 	}
 
 	@Test
 	public void testSparseBlockMCSC3(){
-		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, sparsity3);
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type.MCSC, _sparsity3);
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSRFixed1(){
+		double[][] A = getFixedData1();
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, 0, 4, 0, 6, SparseBlock.Type.MCSR);
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockCSRFixed1(){
+		double[][] A = getFixedData1();
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, 0, 4, 0, 6, SparseBlock.Type.CSR);
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockCOOFixed1(){
+		double[][] A = getFixedData1();
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, 0, 4, 0, 6, SparseBlock.Type.COO);
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSRFixed2(){
+		double[][] A = getFixedData2();
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, 0, 4, 2, 4, SparseBlock.Type.MCSR);
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockCSRFixed2(){
+		double[][] A = getFixedData2();
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, 0, 4, 2, 4, SparseBlock.Type.CSR);
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockCOOFixed2(){
+		double[][] A = getFixedData2();
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, 0, 4, 2, 4, SparseBlock.Type.COO);
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockMCSRFixed3(){
+		double[][] A = getFixedData3();
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, 0, 4, 3, 3, SparseBlock.Type.MCSR);
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockCSRFixed3(){
+		double[][] A = getFixedData3();
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, 0, 4, 3, 3, SparseBlock.Type.CSR);
+	}
+	
+	@Test
+	public void testSparseBlockCOOFixed3(){
+		double[][] A = getFixedData3();
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, 0, 4, 3, 3, SparseBlock.Type.COO);
+	}
+	
+	private void runSparseBlockSizeTest(SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity) {
+		double[][] A = getRandomMatrix(_rows, _cols, -10, 10, sparsity, 123); 
+		runSparseBlockSizeTest(A, _rl, _ru, _cl, _cu, btype);
 	}
 
-	private void runSparseBlockSizeTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity)
+	private void runSparseBlockSizeTest(double[][] A,
+		int rl, int ru, int cl, int cu, SparseBlock.Type btype)
 	{
 		try
 		{
-			//data generation
-			double[][] A = getRandomMatrix(rows, cols, -10, 10, sparsity, 123); 
-			
 			//init sparse block
 			SparseBlock sblock = null;
 			MatrixBlock mbtmp = DataConverter.convertToMatrixBlock(A);
+			int rows= mbtmp.getNumRows();
+			int cols= mbtmp.getNumColumns();
+			if( !mbtmp.isInSparseFormat() )
+				mbtmp.denseToSparse(true);
 			SparseBlock srtmp = mbtmp.getSparseBlock();
 			switch( btype ) {
 				case MCSR: sblock = new SparseBlockMCSR(srtmp); break;
 				case CSR: sblock = new SparseBlockCSR(srtmp); break;
 				case COO: sblock = new SparseBlockCOO(srtmp); break;
 				case DCSR: sblock = new SparseBlockDCSR(srtmp); break;
-				case MCSC: sblock = new SparseBlockMCSC(srtmp); break;
+				case MCSC: sblock = new SparseBlockMCSC(srtmp, cols); break;
 			}
 			
 			//prepare summary statistics nnz
 			int[] rnnz = new int[rows];
-			int[] cnnz = new int[cols];
 			int nnz = 0;
 			int nnz2 = 0;
 			for( int i=0; i<rows; i++ ) {
 				for( int j=0; j<cols; j++ ) {
-					cnnz[j] += (A[i][j]!=0) ? 1 : 0;
 					rnnz[i] += (A[i][j]!=0) ? 1 : 0;
-					nnz2 += (i>=rl && j>=cl && i<ru && j<cu && A[i][j]!=0) ? 1 : 0;
+					nnz2 += (i >= rl && j >= cl && i < ru && j < cu && A[i][j] != 0) ? 1 : 0;
 				}
 				nnz += rnnz[i];
 			}
-			
+
 			//check full block nnz
-			if( nnz != sblock.size() )
-				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: "+sblock.size()+", expected: "+nnz);
+			if(nnz != sblock.size())
+				Assert.fail("Wrong number of non-zeros: " + sblock.size() + ", expected: " + nnz);
 
 			//check row nnz
-			//for MCSC we check columns
-			if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC) {
-				for(int i = 0; i < cols; i++)
-					if(sblock.size(i) != cnnz[i]) {
-						Assert.fail("Wrong number of column non-zeros (" + i + "): " + sblock.size(i) + ", expected: " +
-							cnnz[i]);
-					}
-			}
-			else {
-				for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
-					if(sblock.size(i) != rnnz[i]) {
-						Assert.fail(
-							"Wrong number of row non-zeros (" + i + "): " + sblock.size(i) + ", expected: " + rnnz[i]);
-					}
-			}
+			for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
+				if(sblock.size(i) != rnnz[i])
+					Assert.fail("Wrong number of row non-zeros (" + i + "): " + sblock.size(i) + ", expected: " + rnnz[i]);
+
+			//check two row nnz
+			for(int i = 1; i < rows; i++)
+				if(sblock.size(i - 1, i + 1) != rnnz[i - 1] + rnnz[i]) {
+					Assert.fail("Wrong number of row block non-zeros (" + (i - 1) + "," + (i + 1) + "): " +
+						sblock.size(i - 1, i + 1) + ", expected: " + rnnz[i - 1] + rnnz[i]);
+				}
 
-			//check for two column nnz
-			if(sblock instanceof SparseBlockMCSC) {
-				for(int i = 1; i < cols; i++)
-					if(sblock.size(i - 1, i + 1) != cnnz[i - 1] + cnnz[i]) {
-						Assert.fail("Wrong number of column block non-zeros (" + (i - 1) + "," + (i + 1) + "): " +
-							sblock.size(i - 1, i + 1) + ", expected: " + cnnz[i - 1] + cnnz[i]);
-					}
-			}
-			else {
-				//check two row nnz
-				for(int i = 1; i < rows; i++)
-					if(sblock.size(i - 1, i + 1) != rnnz[i - 1] + rnnz[i]) {
-						Assert.fail("Wrong number of row block non-zeros (" + (i - 1) + "," + (i + 1) + "): " +
-							sblock.size(i - 1, i + 1) + ", expected: " + rnnz[i - 1] + rnnz[i]);
-					}
-			}
-			
 			//check index range nnz
-			if( sblock.size(rl, ru, cl, cu) != nnz2 )
-				Assert.fail("Wrong number of range non-zeros: " +
-						sblock.size(rl, ru, cl, cu)+", expected: "+nnz2);
+			if(sblock.size(rl, ru, cl, cu) != nnz2)
+				Assert.fail("Wrong number of range non-zeros: " + sblock.size(rl, ru, cl, cu) + ", expected: " + nnz2);
 
 		}
 		catch(Exception ex) {
@@ -208,4 +244,28 @@ private void runSparseBlockSizeTest( SparseBlock.Type btype, double sparsity)
 			throw new RuntimeException(ex);
 		}
 	}
+	
+	private double[][] getFixedData1(){
+		return new double[][]
+			{{10, 20, 0, 0, 0, 0},
+			{0, 30, 0, 40, 0, 0},
+			{0, 0, 50, 60, 70, 0},
+			{0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 80}};
+	}
+	
+	private double[][] getFixedData2(){
+		return new double[][]
+			{{10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 20},
+			{10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 20},
+			{10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 20},
+			{10, 10, 0, 0, 0, 20}};
+	}
+	
+	private double[][] getFixedData3(){
+		return new double[][]
+			{{10, 10, 0, 15, 0, 20},
+			{10, 10, 0, 15, 0, 20},
+			{10, 10, 0, 15, 0, 20},
+			{10, 10, 0, 15, 0, 20}};
+	}
 }