Exploring Petrographic and Geotechnical Properties of Metamorphosed Calcareous Rocks exposed in Dargai and Swat regions, North West Pakistan
Keywords:
Kashala Formation, Rock aggregate, Petrography, Geotechnical propertiesAbstract
This study evaluates the petrographic and geotechnical properties of calcitic marble of the Kashala Formation exposed in the Palai (Dargai) and Barikot (Swat), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The bulk rock samples and aggregate were collected from three different quarries in the Palai area and two quarries in the Swat Barikot area. Mineralogically, the Kashala Formation comprises recrystallized calcite, plagioclase, muscovite, and biotite as essential minerals; quartz, epidote, and sericite as accessory minerals, while chlorite and opaque minerals in trace amounts. Quartz grains exhibit overgrowth and intra-granular fractures, showing deformation-related recrystallization. The petrographic investigation shows textural uniformity. The investigated geotechnical tests include unconfined compressive strength (UCS), unconfined tensile strength (UTS), shear strength, point load, soundness, alkali-silica reaction (ASR), alkali-carbonate reaction (ACR), Los Angeles abrasion (LA), water absorption, porosity, specific gravity, and impact value. The obtained average results of UCS are 36.9, 39.5, 42.5, 40.9, and 33.06 MPa for bulk samples A, B, C, D, and E, respectively. Similarly, the obtained average results of UTS are 7.94, 8.8, 10.55, 6.85, and 4.97 MPa for bulk samples A, B, C, D, and E, respectively. The average values for soundness and point load are 2.45% and 3.31 MPa, respectively. The average values for LA, water absorption, porosity, specific gravity, and impact value are 27%, 0.60%, 1.79%, 2.68%, and 17.65%, respectively. Overall, the studied rocks fall within the moderate to moderately strong categories, and aggregates show acceptable properties to be utilized in engineering projects.
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