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Evaluation of building and dimension stone using physico-mechanical and petrographic properties: a case study from the Kohistan and Ladakh batholith, Northern Pakistan

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Abstract

This study evaluates the geotechnical characteristics of granite from the Kohistan and Ladakh batholiths of Gilgit and surrounding areas (Pakistan). For this purpose, 27 rock samples from 9 locations were collected to determine the physico-mechanical and petrographic properties as building and dimension stones. A petrographic study was carried out to understand the performance of the rock based on its mineralogical properties. Petrographic observations like mineralogy, grain size, presence of micro-fractures and void spaces, alteration of minerals and weathering grade also help to find petrographic reliance on strength properties. Compressive strength (UCS), tensile strength, Schmidt rebound number, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), specific gravity, water absorption and porosity tests of the representative granite type samples were performed to evaluate the strength properties. Based on its mechanical behavior, as well as physical and petrographic properties, granite is classified into two strength classes, the granites with high (Grade-I) strength properties (6 of 9) and the low quality (Grade-II) granites (3 of 9). The results indicate that all granites exceed minimum strength values by ASTM standard and are recommended for use as dimension stones for all applications except for the Das-Bala (DB) porphyritic granite, Satpara granite (SL) and Jaglote granite (JG), whose mean values are lower than standard. An integrated evaluation of physico-mechanical and petrographic observations shows a statistically significant correlation between quartz percentage, grain size and specific gravity against UCS. Whereas porosity, water absorption, R-value and UPV dry have no statistically significant correlation with UCS. These comprehensive studies and analyses of results concluded that the texture of granites, quartz percentage, mineralogy and alteration of minerals, volume of void spaces, the occurrence of micro fractures and grain size of minerals all contribute to the overall strength properties of the granite from the study area.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the reviewer for valuable suggestions which improve the manuscript. The Director Institute of Geology has been acknowledged to provide the transport facility during the field work. This study was partially supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologiain the frame of the UIDB/00073/2020 and UIDP/00073/2020 projects of the I&D unit Geosciences Center (CGEO).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan

    Izhar Ahmed, Muhammad Basharat & Muhammad Saleem Mughal

  2. Department of Geology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    Luís Sousa

  3. CGeo Research Centre, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Luís Sousa

  4. Department of Earth Sciences, Karakoram Internatioanl University, Gilgit, Pakistan

    Izhar Ahmed

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Correspondence to Muhammad Basharat.

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This article is part of a Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on “Building Stones and Geomaterials through History and Environments—from Quarry to Heritage. Insights of the Conditioning Factors”, guest edited by Siegfried Siegesmund, Luís Manuel Oliveira Sousa, and Rubén Alfonso López-Doncel.

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Ahmed, I., Basharat, M., Sousa, L. et al. Evaluation of building and dimension stone using physico-mechanical and petrographic properties: a case study from the Kohistan and Ladakh batholith, Northern Pakistan. Environ Earth Sci 80, 759 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-10007-y

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