Petrographic and Mechanical Properties of Sandstone from Murree Formation, Jena Kor Area, Peshawar Basin. A Case Study
Abstract
The Murree Formation is a part of the Miocene molasse sequence of the Peshawar Basin and consists of a series of alternating beds of sandstone, siltstone and shale with subordinate marls and conglomerates. In the present study Murree Formation lies at the Southern margin of Peshawar Basin, Jena Kor area, FR Peshawar. The primary focus of this research is sandstone of the respective formation, which is predominantly fine to medium-grained and moderately to well-sorted. The framework grains (quartz, feldspar and rock fragments) are angular to sub-angular to sub-rounded. Their relative modal abundance and petrographic features reflect the Murree Sandstone is mineralogically submature and texturally immature. The observed heavy minerals include chlorite, zircon, epidote, rutile, illmenite, chromite, sphene, apatite and tourmaline. The sandstone contains an average matrix abundance of 36% and hence classified as wacke. The relative proportion of framework grains of most of the samples lie in the category of arkosic wacke. In order to assess the potential of Murree Sandstone for use in construction, uniaxial compressive strength (77.07+21.61), uniaxial tensile strength (11.53+2.24), shear strength, porosity (1.21%), specific gravity (3.12) and water absorption (0.389%) of three bulk samples were determined. On the basis of these results obtained, sandstones of Murree Formation are regarded as appropriate for construction purposes.References
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[18] Bell, F. G., & Culshaw, M. G. 1998. Petrographic and engineering properties of sandstone from the Snienton Formation Nottinghamshire, England. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 31, 5-21.
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[2] Zeitler, P. K. 1985. Cooling history of the NW Himalaya, Pakistan. Tectonics, 4, 127-51.
[3] Kazmi, A. H and Rana, R. A., 1982. Tectonic map of Pakistan. Geol. Surv. Pak., Quetta.
[4] Bell, F. G. 2007. Engineering Geology, 2nd edition. Butterworth-Heinemann: an imprint of Elsevier, United Kingdom. 581.
[5] Sims, I. 1991. Quality and durability of stone for construction. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 24, 67-74.
[6] Arif, M., Mulk, A., Mehmood, M. T., & Shah, S. M. H. 1999. Petrography and mechanical properties of the Mansehra granite, Hazara, Pakistan. Geological Bulletin University of Peshawar, 32, 41-49.
[7] Blyth, F. G. H., & DeFreitas, M. H. 1974. A geology for engineers. ELBS and Edward Arnold, London.
[8] Malik, M. H., & Rashid, S. 1997. Correlation of some engineering geological properties of the Murree Formation at Lower Topa (Murree District), Pakistan. Geol. Bull. Univ. Peshawar 30, 69-81.
[9] Prothero, D. R., & Schwab, F. 2004. Sedimentary Geology, 2nd edition, New York: W.H. Freeman & Company.
[10] Anon, 1977. The description of rock masses for engineering purposes. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 10, 355-388.
[11] Shakoor, A., & Bonelli, R. E. 1991. Relationship between petrographic characteristics, engineering index properties and mechanical properties of selected sandstone. Bulletin of the Association of Engineering Geologists, 28, 55-71.
[12] Vutukuri, V. S., Lama, R. D., & Saluja, S. S. 1974. Handbook on Mechanical properties of Rock, Testing Technique and Results Volume 1. Trans Technical Publications, Cluasthal, Germany. 280.
[13] Fahy, M. P., & Guccione, M. J. 1979. Estimating the strength of sandstone using petrographic thin section data. Bulletin of the Association of the Engineering Geologists, 16, 467-485.
[14] Ulusay, R., Turrell, K., & Ider, M. H. 1994. Prediction of engineering properties of a selected litharenite sandstone from its petrographic properties using correlation and multi-variate statistical techniques. Engineering Geology, 37, 135-157.
[15] Zorlu, K., Ulusay, R., Ocakoglu, F., Gokceoglu, C., & Sonmez, H. 2004. Predicting intact rock properties of selected sandstones using petrographic thin section data. International Journal of Mechanics and Mining sciences, 41, 93-98.
[16] Yates, P. G. J. 1992. The material strength of sandstones of the Sherwood sandstone Group of North Staffordshire with reference to micro-fabric. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 25, 107-113.
[17] Zorlu, K., Gokceoglu, C., Ocakoglu, F., Nefeslioglu, H. A., & Acikalin, S. 2008. Prediction of uniaxial compressive strength of sandstones using petrography based models. Engineering Geology, 96, 141-158.
[18] Bell, F. G., & Culshaw, M. G. 1998. Petrographic and engineering properties of sandstone from the Snienton Formation Nottinghamshire, England. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 31, 5-21.
[19] Blatt, H., Tracy, R. J., & Owens, D. E. 2006. Petrology (Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic), 3rd edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, 530.
[20] Tamrakar, N. K., Yokota, S., & Shrestha, S. D. 2007. Relationships among mechanical, physical and petrographic properties of Siwalik sandstones, Central Nepal Sub-Himalayas. Engineering Geology, 90, 105-123.
[21] Bell, F. G., & Lindsay, P. 1999. The petrographic and geomechanical properties of some sandstone from the Newspaper member of the Natal group near Durban, South Africa. Engineering Geology, 53, 57-81.
[22] Bell, F. G. 1978. The physical and mechanical properties of the Fell sandstone, Northumberland, England. Engineering Geology, 12, 11-29.
[23] Anon, 1979. Classification of rocks and soils for engineering geological mapping. Part 1- Rock and soil materials. Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology, 19, 364-371.
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Published
2017-02-15
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Section
Civil Engineering,Structures, Construction, Geo technology, Water, Transportation
