Strength properties of various building stones of N.W.F.P., Pakistan

Abstract

Domestic resources of both dimension and crushed stones used for construction are adequate to fulfil the expected demand indefinitely in N.W.F.P. Various types of building and decorative stones including limestone, marble, granite, granitic gneisses, slate, quartzite, dolorite, gabbro, serpentinite etc are found in large amount in NWFP. Geotechnical properties of these rocks including compressive strength and tensile strength show compatible values to the recommended ASTM range for Thana marble, microporphyrites of Shewa Shabaz Ghari, Marbles of Nowshera and Pir-Sabak, limestones of Kohat, Cherat and NizamPur areas, and granites of Ambela, Utla and lower swat. Higher values for compressive, tensile and shear strength are for slate from Attock and Cherat ranges. Though the shear strength values for most of these rocks are low, they are free of geotechnical defects.

The data is useful not only for those using these rocks as building and foundation Stone and crushed and broken material but also for those interested in designing openings in these rocks.