RESEARCH PROPOSAL

PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND PETROGRAPHIC

EVALUATION OF MARBLES FROM BAJAUR, KHYBER
PAKHTUNKHWA PAKISTAN
Introduction

Marble is a metamorphic crystalline rock that forms when limestone or dolomite

is recrystallized under the impact of heat, pressure and aqueous solutions.

Compositionally marble primarily contain calcite (CaCO 3) and dolomite (CaMg (CO3)2)

minerals. Marble is commonly used as a dimension and decorative stone since ancient

times. It can be preferred for a number of properties such as their attractive colures, good

polishing value, strength and trimming in to specific sizes and shapes. Amid the

determination of rocks to use as a dimension stone and as well as for engineering works,

their physico-mechanical properties is considered. The mineralogical composition of rock

is one of the intrinsic parameter controlling the mechanical properties (Ulusay et

al., 1994). According to Mendes et al. (1966) Petrograpical and rock fabric parameters

such as grain sizes, grain shape affecting the mechanical properties of rocks. All over the

world, rocks have been studied for their geotechnical characterization on the basis of

petrograpical and mechanical assessment (Origlia et al., 2013, Arif et al., 2013, Naeem et

al., 2014).

Hamid et al. (2015) have studied five different varieties of marbles from Egypt.

Their conclusions is based on the effect of petrographic features on the engineering

properties of some ornamental stones. They stated that with the decrease of grain size

rock strength increases which are favorable for the use as building and decorative stones.

Various research works also mention that heat is one of the principle factor which effect
the mechanical and physical properties of rocks (e.g Peng et al., 2016 and Ferrero and

Marini, 2001). Ferrero and Marini. (2001) heated the marble sample up to 600 C° and

concluded that porosity increases due to new fractures developed in the marble samples

under heat treatment. Yavuz et al. (2010) investigated the effects of heat on the different

physical properties like effective porosity, Bulk density and p wave velocity of two

marble and three limestone samples.

Pakistan have an Approximately 300 billion tons of marbles reserves occurring in

different parts mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the tribal belt and Balochistan (Bilqees et

al., 2017). Huge reserves of marbles have been identified in Reshun, Shoghore, Gahiret

and Shishi valleys of Chitral (Shakirullah and Afridi, 2004). Along these huge deposits of

marbles in various places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bajaur area have also some good

quality deposits of marbles (Saif, 1971). Very less or no data available on geotechnical

characterization and petrographic evaluation of Bajaur marbles. The proposed work is

focusing to investigate the geotechnical and petrograpical evaluation of Bajaur marbles

through extensive field work and lab analysis.

The study area of this research work is Bajaur which is located in the north

western part of Pakistan where varieties of marbles deposits are present having different

colors like white, grey and greenish. The four major marbles deposits identified in Bajaur

Area are found near Nawagai, Doda (lat.34 ° 41' N, long. 71̊ 20' E), Bar Kamangara (lat.

34̊ 40' 40" N, long.70̊ 16' E) and Khari Kamangara (lat. 34̊ 42' 30" N, long. 71̊ 17' 30" E)

having estimated reserves of 9 million cubic meter (Asrarullah and Hussain, 1985).

Tectonically, the study area have several slices south of the Kohistan Fault which

includes the Malakand slice, the Dargai and Nawagai melange zone (Dipietro et al.,

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2000).The Nawagai melange and Nawagai Marbles is underlain by the Nawagai fault

(Tahirkheli, 1979). Nawagai Marble are pure calcite Marble that crops out primarily near

the Afghan border. Marbles of Bajaur Agency is associated with meta-sedimentary rocks

belonging to Paleozoic age (Asrarullah and Hussain, 1985).

Figure 1. Tectonic map of northwest Himalaya Pakistan (after Dipietro et al.,

2000). Box showing the study area.

Aim and objectives

The present study focuses on the physico-mechanical assessment of marble of

Bajaur area which can be achieved through the following objectives.

1) To investigate the physico-mechanical properties of Marbles.

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 2) To reveal the petrographic influence on physical and mechanical

properties.

3) To investigate the thermal effect on the physico-mechanical responses and

on the petrographic properties.

4) To check out alternative scale for physico-mechanical properties

measurement through Ultrasonic pulse velocity measurement technique

(UPV).

Significance of the research work

As the literature review shows that the Bajaur area have huge outcrops of marbles,

so the predictable outcomes will help to categories it in terms of their physico-mechanical

properties. The data obtained from the current research work will elaborate the proper use

of marbles in various economic designing of buildings and engineering works. The

current study is not only important to industry but will also play a vital role in the socio-

economic improvement of the area. The data will be shared with different industries and

for academic applications.

Methodology

In the methodology of present work will include field and laboratory studies from the

selected localities.

Field studies

A detailed field work will be arranged to the bajaur area. The field studies will

include, out crop observation, collection of samples, description and characteristics from

the proposed area. Bulk rock samples (minimum 1ft3) will be collected from the proposed

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area on the basis of textural and lithological variation for petrographic and Physico-

mechanical evaluations. Scaled photographs will also be taken in the field.

Laboratory analysis

Thin-sections for detailed petrographic studies will be prepared at thin section

preparation laboratory, National Centre of Excellence in Geology (NCEG), University of

Peshawar. Thin sections of rock samples will be studied under polarizing microscope for

mineralogy in petrography lab.

For detail engineering properties core samples will be ascertain from the bulk

rock samples. Different physico-mechanical properties tests will include porosity, water

absorption test, specific gravity test, unconfined tensile strength, uniaxial compressive

strength, point load test, flexural strength and ultra-sonic wave velocity test. All these

tests will be performed in the geotechnical laboratory. Heat treatment method of different

samples will be carried out in the geochemistry and in geotechnical laboratory.

Work plan

The current analysis work will be carried out using the following work plan;

Activities 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter

Literature review and

Field work  

Laboratory work

Analysis and
Interpretation  

Thesis writing up  

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References
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