Abstract
Several studies have addressed the elaboration of petrographic indices, applicability, and their execution in the characterization of weathering grades. Petrographic indices directly depend on a visual criterion used to distinguish fresh mineral from weathered mineral, which is usually not shown. As investigated, this causes a lack of coherence among petrographic indices data for mechanical properties estimation aiming at engineering geology applications. This paper involved a readjustment of technique for the calculation of weathering indices and the establishment of criteria to gather the minerals under weathering into the petrographic index's formula based on a standardized classification of textural and micromorphological modifications. The results have shown that varying the criteria influence indices values for the same physical–mechanical properties, resulting in different types of best-fit lines, but with reasonable coefficients of determination along the weathering grades. This in part explains the variability of literature correlations. The use of a standardized classification of rock-forming minerals contributed to finding closely related mechanical degradation tendencies among literature data.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
(Modifies from Vieira et al. (2014))
(Modified from Monticelli (2019))
Similar content being viewed by others
Availability of data and material
All data are available.
Code availability
Not applicable.
References
Alavi Nezhad Khalil Abad SV, Tugrul A, Gokceoglu C, Jahed Armaghani D (2016) Characteristics of weathering zones of granitic rocks in malaysia for geotechnical engineering design. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2015.12.006
Aydin A, Duzgoren-Aydin NS (2002) Indices for scaling and predicting weathering-induced changes in rock properties. Environ Eng Geosci. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.8.2.121
Basu A, Celestino TB, Bortolucci AA (2009) Evaluation of rock mechanical behaviors under uniaxial compression with reference to assessed weathering grades. Rock Mech Rock Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-008-0170-2
Basu A, Ghosh N, Das M (2012) Categorizing weathering grades of quartzitic materials and assessing Brazilian tensile strength with reference to assigned grades. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2011.11.012
BS 5930 (1999) Code of Practice for Site Investigations. British Standards Institution, London
Ceryan S, Tudes S, Ceryan N (2008) A new quantitative weathering classification for igneous rocks. Environ Geol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1080-4
Cole WF, Sandy MJ (1980) Proposed secondary mineral rating for basalt road aggregate durability. Aust Road Res 10:27–36
Dearman WR, Baynes FJ, Irfan TY (1978) Engineering grading of weathered granite. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7952(78)90018-2
Deer WA, Howie RA, Zussman J (2013) An introduction to the rock-forming minerals. Longman, London
Deere D, Patton FD (1971) Slope stability in residual soils. In: 4th Panamerican conference of soil mec fund engineering. 525: 87–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/0267-7261(96)00001-2
Delvigne JE (1998) Atlas of Micromorphology of Mineral Alteration and Weathering. The Canadian Mineralogist, Ontario. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/41.3.475-a
Delvigne J, Stoops G (1990) Morphology of mineral weathering and neoformation. I Weathering of most Common Silicates. Dev Soil Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-2481(08)70362-3
Dewandel B, Lachassagne P, Wyns R, Maréchal JC, Krishnamurthy NS (2006) A generalized 3-D geological and hydrogeological conceptual model of granite aquifers controlled by single or multiphase weathering. J Hydrol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.03.026
Esaki T, Jiang K (2000) Comprehensive study of the weathered condition of welded tuff from a historic stone bridge in Kagoshima, Japan. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-1250(00)80028-0
Franklin JA, Chandra R (1972) The slake durability test. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-062(72)90001-0
Freire-Lista DM, Fort R (2017) Exfoliation microcracks in building granite. Implications for anisotropy. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.01.027
Gorbatsevich FF (2003) Decompaction mechanism of deep crystalline rocks under stress relief. Tectonophysics. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-1951(03)00181-1
Gribble CD, Hall AJ (1993) Optical mineralogy: Principles and practice. Taylor & Francis Group, Abingdon
Gupta AS, Rao KS (2000) Weathering effects on the strength and deformational behaviour of crystalline rocks under uniaxial compression state. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0013-7952(99)00090-3
Gupta AS, Rao KS (2001) Weathering indices and their applicability for crystalline rocks. Bull Eng Geol Environ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s100640100113
Harnois L (1988) The CIW index: a new chemical index of weathering. Sediment Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/0037-0738(88)90137-6
Heidari M, Momeni AA, Naseri F (2013) New weathering classifications for granitic rocks based on geomechanical parameters. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.08.007
Hoek E, Brown ET (1997) Practical estimates of rock mass strength. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1365-1609(97)80069-X
Irfan TY, Dearman WR (1978) The engineering petrography of a weathered granite in Cornwall, England. Q J Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1144/GSL.QJEG.1978.011.03.03
ISRM (2015) The ISRM suggested methods for rock characterization, testing and monitoring: 2007–2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07713-0
Khanlari GR, Heidari M, Momeni AA (2012) Assessment of weathering processes effect on engineering properties of Alvand granitic rocks (west of Iran), based on weathering indices. Environ Earth Sci 67:713–725. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1518-6
Lumb P (1962) The properties of decomposed granite. Geotechnique. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1962.12.3.226
Marques EAG, Barroso EV, Menezes Filho AP, Vargas EA (2010) Weathering zones on metamorphic rocks from Rio de Janeiro-Physical, mineralogical and geomechanical characterization. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2009.11.001
Mendes FM, Aires-Barros L, Peres Rodrigues FR (1966) The use of modal analysis in the mechanical characterization of rock masses. 1st ISRM Congress 217–223
Momeni AA, Khanlari GR, Heidari M, Sepahi AA, Bazvand E (2015) New engineering geological weathering classifications for granitoid rocks. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2014.11.012
Monticelli JP (2019) Weathering study of the gneissic rock mass from the Monte Seco tunnel region, southeastern Brazil. Dissertation, University of São Paulo. https://doi.org/10.11606/D.3.2019.tde-17072019-142432
Monticelli JP, Ribeiro RP, Futai MM (2020) Relationship between durability index and uniaxial compressive strength of a gneissic rock at different weathering grades. Bull Eng Geol Environ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01625-9
Nesse WD (1991) Introduction to optical mineralogy, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New York
Onodera TF, Yoshinaka R, Oda M (1974) Weathering and its relation to mechanical properties of granite. In: 3rd congress of international society of rock mechanics advances in rock mechanics, Denver
Ordaz J, Esbert RM, Suarez RLM (1978) A proposed petrographical index to define mineral and rock deterioration in granitic rocks. In: Colloque international alteration et protection Des Monuments En Pierre (RILEM), Paris
Parker A (1970) An index of weathering for silicate rocks. Geol Mag. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756800058581
Price JR, Velbel MA (2003) Chemical weathering indices applied to weathering profiles developed on heterogeneous felsic metamorphic parent rocks. Chem Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2002.11.001
Sousa LM, Suarez LMR, Calleja L, Argandoña VGR, Rey AR (2005) Influence of microfractures and porosity on the physico-mechanical properties and weathering of ornamental granites. Eng Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2004.10.001
Ündül Ö, Tuǧrul A (2012) The influence of weathering on the engineering properties of dunites. Rock Mech Rock Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-011-0174-1
Vieira VS, Silva MA, Corrêa TR, Lopes MHB (2014) Mapa Geológico do Espírito Santo - Escala 1:400.000. In: Simpósio Brasileiro de Exploração Mineral. Ouro Preto
Ziegler M, Loew S, Bahat D (2014) Growth of exfoliation joins and near–surface stress orientations inferred from fractographic markings observed in the upper Aar valley (Swiss Alps). Tectonophysics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2014.03.017
Acknowledgements
We thank CNPq (National Council for Scientific Research) for the scholarship and the Department of Sedimentary and Environmental Geology of the Institute of Geosciences and the Engineering School of the University of São Paulo, which made the development of this research possible. Special thanks to Ph.D. Rogério P. Ribeiro, from Department of Geotechnical Engineering (USP), for their comments during the development of this study, and to the journal reviewers for the comments which helped to improve the paper.
Funding
This study was funded by the National Council for Scientific Research (CNPq).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Not applicable.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Monticelli, J.P., Sígolo, J.B. & Futai, M.M. On weathering understanding and its characterization by petrographic indices: a study case about the criterion establishment for the textural classification of rock-forming minerals under weathering. Environ Earth Sci 80, 408 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09687-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09687-3