Effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah

Abstract This paper discusses the effect of micro-fabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah. Volcanic rocks consist of basalt and andesite, aged from Pliocene to Quaternary. Weathered rock samples with grade range from slightly weathered (II) to completely weathered...

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Main Authors: Hennie Fitria Wulandary Soehady Erfen, Baba Musta
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Malaysia Sabah 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/19427/1/Effect%20of%20microfabrics%20on%20uniaxial%20strength%20of%20weathered%20volcanic%20rocks%20from%20Tawau.pdf
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author Hennie Fitria Wulandary Soehady Erfen
Baba Musta
author_facet Hennie Fitria Wulandary Soehady Erfen
Baba Musta
author_sort Hennie Fitria Wulandary Soehady Erfen
collection UMS
description Abstract This paper discusses the effect of micro-fabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah. Volcanic rocks consist of basalt and andesite, aged from Pliocene to Quaternary. Weathered rock samples with grade range from slightly weathered (II) to completely weathered (VI) were collected from the road-cut slopes. Micro-fabric analysis was performed using polarizing microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) techniques. Uniaxial strength analysis involved Point Load Test index (PLT) and Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) test. The petrography analysis of basalt showed the domination of plagioclase with existence of orthoclase and pyroxene in aphanite texture. Meanwhile andesite consists of plagioclase, feldspar and amphibole in porphyritic matrix. Basalt samples with weathering grade from II to V showed the alteration of primary minerals from 12% to 55% and Imp (micro-petrography index) value ranging from 8.8 to < 0.2. Meanwhile andesite showed alteration of primary minerals ranging from 15% to 60% with Imp value of 4.9 to < 0.4. Andesite contains 16.8% stable minerals of quartz and feldspar phenocrysts that remain intact throughout the weathering process. Uniaxial strength results indicated that andesite exhibited a higher strength with value from 181.2 to 87.7 MPa while basalt showed 127.2 to 35 MPa. The porosity of andesite with Grade II to V was 4.1% to 49.5% whereas basalt ranged from2.5% to 47.8%. The uniaxial strength of Grade V showed basalt is slightly higher than andesite with 0.3 MPa and 0.2 MPa respectively. This is due to the presence of more clay minerals in basaltic soil (75.1%) than in andesite soil (65.2%). This study showed that the weathering process is able to alter the microfabric characteristics of rocks which contributes to the decrement of the strength of volcanic rocks.
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spelling ums.eprints-194272018-03-22T03:45:38Z https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/19427/ Effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah Hennie Fitria Wulandary Soehady Erfen Baba Musta QE Geology Abstract This paper discusses the effect of micro-fabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah. Volcanic rocks consist of basalt and andesite, aged from Pliocene to Quaternary. Weathered rock samples with grade range from slightly weathered (II) to completely weathered (VI) were collected from the road-cut slopes. Micro-fabric analysis was performed using polarizing microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) techniques. Uniaxial strength analysis involved Point Load Test index (PLT) and Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) test. The petrography analysis of basalt showed the domination of plagioclase with existence of orthoclase and pyroxene in aphanite texture. Meanwhile andesite consists of plagioclase, feldspar and amphibole in porphyritic matrix. Basalt samples with weathering grade from II to V showed the alteration of primary minerals from 12% to 55% and Imp (micro-petrography index) value ranging from 8.8 to < 0.2. Meanwhile andesite showed alteration of primary minerals ranging from 15% to 60% with Imp value of 4.9 to < 0.4. Andesite contains 16.8% stable minerals of quartz and feldspar phenocrysts that remain intact throughout the weathering process. Uniaxial strength results indicated that andesite exhibited a higher strength with value from 181.2 to 87.7 MPa while basalt showed 127.2 to 35 MPa. The porosity of andesite with Grade II to V was 4.1% to 49.5% whereas basalt ranged from2.5% to 47.8%. The uniaxial strength of Grade V showed basalt is slightly higher than andesite with 0.3 MPa and 0.2 MPa respectively. This is due to the presence of more clay minerals in basaltic soil (75.1%) than in andesite soil (65.2%). This study showed that the weathering process is able to alter the microfabric characteristics of rocks which contributes to the decrement of the strength of volcanic rocks. Universiti Malaysia Sabah 2012-03 Article PeerReviewed text en https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/19427/1/Effect%20of%20microfabrics%20on%20uniaxial%20strength%20of%20weathered%20volcanic%20rocks%20from%20Tawau.pdf Hennie Fitria Wulandary Soehady Erfen and Baba Musta (2012) Effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah. Borneo Science, 30. pp. 14-23. ISSN 1394-4339 http://borneoscience.ums.edu.my/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EFFECT-OF-MICRO-FABRICS-ON-UNIAXIAL-STRENGTH-OF-WEATHERED-VOLCANIC-ROCKS-FROM-TAWAU-SABAH1.pdf
spellingShingle QE Geology
Hennie Fitria Wulandary Soehady Erfen
Baba Musta
Effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah
title Effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah
title_full Effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah
title_fullStr Effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah
title_full_unstemmed Effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah
title_short Effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from Tawau, Sabah
title_sort effect of microfabrics on uniaxial strength of weathered volcanic rocks from tawau sabah
topic QE Geology
url https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/19427/1/Effect%20of%20microfabrics%20on%20uniaxial%20strength%20of%20weathered%20volcanic%20rocks%20from%20Tawau.pdf
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