Composition, Texture, and Weathering Controls on the Physical and Strength Properties of Selected Intrusive Igneous Rocks from Northern Pakistan
This study examines the mineralogy, texture, and weathering grades of intrusive igneous rocks from northern Pakistan, as well as their impacts on physical and strength properties. In comparison to felsic rocks, mafic and intermediate rocks have lower cumulative proportions of quartz, feldspar, and p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Geosciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/7/273 |
| _version_ | 1797406225711759360 |
|---|---|
| author | Muhammad Yasir Waqas Ahmed Ihtisham Islam Muhammad Sajid Hammad Tariq Janjuhah George Kontakiotis |
| author_facet | Muhammad Yasir Waqas Ahmed Ihtisham Islam Muhammad Sajid Hammad Tariq Janjuhah George Kontakiotis |
| author_sort | Muhammad Yasir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines the mineralogy, texture, and weathering grades of intrusive igneous rocks from northern Pakistan, as well as their impacts on physical and strength properties. In comparison to felsic rocks, mafic and intermediate rocks have lower cumulative proportions of quartz, feldspar, and plagioclase, as well as higher specific gravity, strength (i.e., UCS and R-value), and UPV values. Similarly, samples with anhedral grain shapes, irregular boundaries, and fine to medium grain sizes (UD, ANS, and CGN) exhibited greater strength values, with compressive strengths of 121, 118, and 91 MPa and tensile strengths of 11, 9, and 12 MPa, respectively. The physical and strength properties of the investigated samples corresponded well with the weathering grades assigned to them, such as fresh (WG-I), slightly weathered (WG-II), and highly weathered (WG-III). That is, as the grade increased from WG-I to WG-III, the porosity and water absorption increased (0.28% and 0.72%, respectively), whereas the specific gravity, compressive strength, and tensile strength decreased (2.04, 20, and 2.5 MPa, respectively, for CGA). Although the presence of quartz impacts rock strength, no significant association was found between the strength and the maximum and mean grain sizes of other minerals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:22:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-38bc177b92bb4f8f8feb60280feb51a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:22:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-38bc177b92bb4f8f8feb60280feb51a32023-12-03T15:06:34ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632022-07-0112727310.3390/geosciences12070273Composition, Texture, and Weathering Controls on the Physical and Strength Properties of Selected Intrusive Igneous Rocks from Northern PakistanMuhammad Yasir0Waqas Ahmed1Ihtisham Islam2Muhammad Sajid3Hammad Tariq Janjuhah4George Kontakiotis5National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, PakistanNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, PakistanNational Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, PakistanDepartment of Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, PakistanDepartment of Geology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Sheringal 18000, PakistanDepartment of Historical Geology-Paleontology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, School of Earth Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15784 Athens, GreeceThis study examines the mineralogy, texture, and weathering grades of intrusive igneous rocks from northern Pakistan, as well as their impacts on physical and strength properties. In comparison to felsic rocks, mafic and intermediate rocks have lower cumulative proportions of quartz, feldspar, and plagioclase, as well as higher specific gravity, strength (i.e., UCS and R-value), and UPV values. Similarly, samples with anhedral grain shapes, irregular boundaries, and fine to medium grain sizes (UD, ANS, and CGN) exhibited greater strength values, with compressive strengths of 121, 118, and 91 MPa and tensile strengths of 11, 9, and 12 MPa, respectively. The physical and strength properties of the investigated samples corresponded well with the weathering grades assigned to them, such as fresh (WG-I), slightly weathered (WG-II), and highly weathered (WG-III). That is, as the grade increased from WG-I to WG-III, the porosity and water absorption increased (0.28% and 0.72%, respectively), whereas the specific gravity, compressive strength, and tensile strength decreased (2.04, 20, and 2.5 MPa, respectively, for CGA). Although the presence of quartz impacts rock strength, no significant association was found between the strength and the maximum and mean grain sizes of other minerals.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/7/273intrusive rockspetrographycompositionphysical propertiesstrength |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Yasir Waqas Ahmed Ihtisham Islam Muhammad Sajid Hammad Tariq Janjuhah George Kontakiotis Composition, Texture, and Weathering Controls on the Physical and Strength Properties of Selected Intrusive Igneous Rocks from Northern Pakistan Geosciences intrusive rocks petrography composition physical properties strength |
| title | Composition, Texture, and Weathering Controls on the Physical and Strength Properties of Selected Intrusive Igneous Rocks from Northern Pakistan |
| title_full | Composition, Texture, and Weathering Controls on the Physical and Strength Properties of Selected Intrusive Igneous Rocks from Northern Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Composition, Texture, and Weathering Controls on the Physical and Strength Properties of Selected Intrusive Igneous Rocks from Northern Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Composition, Texture, and Weathering Controls on the Physical and Strength Properties of Selected Intrusive Igneous Rocks from Northern Pakistan |
| title_short | Composition, Texture, and Weathering Controls on the Physical and Strength Properties of Selected Intrusive Igneous Rocks from Northern Pakistan |
| title_sort | composition texture and weathering controls on the physical and strength properties of selected intrusive igneous rocks from northern pakistan |
| topic | intrusive rocks petrography composition physical properties strength |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/7/273 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT muhammadyasir compositiontextureandweatheringcontrolsonthephysicalandstrengthpropertiesofselectedintrusiveigneousrocksfromnorthernpakistan AT waqasahmed compositiontextureandweatheringcontrolsonthephysicalandstrengthpropertiesofselectedintrusiveigneousrocksfromnorthernpakistan AT ihtishamislam compositiontextureandweatheringcontrolsonthephysicalandstrengthpropertiesofselectedintrusiveigneousrocksfromnorthernpakistan AT muhammadsajid compositiontextureandweatheringcontrolsonthephysicalandstrengthpropertiesofselectedintrusiveigneousrocksfromnorthernpakistan AT hammadtariqjanjuhah compositiontextureandweatheringcontrolsonthephysicalandstrengthpropertiesofselectedintrusiveigneousrocksfromnorthernpakistan AT georgekontakiotis compositiontextureandweatheringcontrolsonthephysicalandstrengthpropertiesofselectedintrusiveigneousrocksfromnorthernpakistan |