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Bulletin of the Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, Vol. 14 , 2011, pp. 7782
Cen
gy
olo
t
lD
Ge
ra
epar
tment of
Kirtipur
ABSTRACT
Construction material assessment is the crucial part of the hydroelectric power projects. The quality and quantity of the construction material
is the major concern when exploring construction material. Four quarry sites (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4) were identified and assessed for both quantity
and quality. Distribution of rock quarry sites was taken for quantitative assessment of reserves. The rock samples were obtained from the sites
and were analysed for physical, mechanical and petrographic features. Rock types in quarry sites were schistose marble (in Q1), augen gneiss
(in Q2), and banded gneisses (in Q3 and Q4). The analytical results showed that water absorption values were < 1% in all the samples, but was
the highest in Q2 (0.92%). Contrarily, Q2 possessed the least specific gravity among the samples. Sodium sulphate soundness values ranged
from 0.21 to 0.77, which was the highest in Q2. Samples Q1, Q3 and Q4 yielded Los Angeles Abrasion value below 45%, whereas Q2 gave
57.5%. Similarly, Q2 also yielded the least value (1.82 MPa) of point-load strength index tested along the foliation. Augen gneiss (Q2) showed
the low abrasion resistance and soundness to freeze and thaw because of weak bonding between platy and other constituents of the rock , whereas
schistose marble and banded gneisses yielded better resistance to abrasion and freeze and thaw, and possessed better strength perhaps due to
well bonding among the mineralogical constituents due to the presence of appreciable amount of carbonate minerals.
r
to mine and haulage to the corresponding construction
ve
Ri
sites. Therefore, the purpose is to identify the quarry
ki
da
n sites, quantify the material, and characterise the
iga
physical and petrographic properties of the material.
l
Ka
Chaktan
METHODOLOGY
The 1:10,000 scale topographic survey map was
used as a base map to prepare a geological map (Fig.2)
Dhampu showing potential resources of the construction
material suitable for the project. The Geological map
was prepared by walk over survey using Brunton
compass, tape and GPS. The area for hard rock quarry
a
78
Construction material assessment from quarry sites at Chaktan-Ghasa-Kaligandaki River area, western Nepal
Q1 Kokethanti
STDS
N
Khola
Chaktan Q2 Dhampu
27
FIII 2600 2895 0 2 Km
ola
Kh Scale
Kalapani u
np
Lete Pa
la
Lete Kho
Q3 Deurali
40
35
FII
la
2390 3140 ho
unK
kh
Q4 an
Tibetan Tethys Sediment mr
Ghasa Si
Formation III (FIII) 35
K hola Nauli Ghyar
Formation II (FII) Thaplyan
42 28o3500N
Formation I (FI) 2915 50
MCT Main Central Thrust FII
Fig. 2 A geological map of the study site (After Upreti and Yoshida, 2003) showing the location of quarry site sampling location.
The percentage of abrasion was calculated on the about 2 km upstream from the Headworks site. The
basis of the tests. area lies at the close vicinity of (South Tibetan
Detachment System) STDS. The attitude of
SITE INVESTIGATION OF discontinuity of rock mass is given in Table 2. The
outcrop comprises of light brownish grey to bluish
CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL grey, strong to moderately strong, slightly weathered
In all four quarry sites were explored for evaluation to fresh schistose marble. Under thin-section, a banded
of construction material in the form of hard rock. texture is developed due to preferred arrangement of
These areas were surveyed by walk over GPS and biotite and muscovite over calicte and dolomite (Fig.
compass measurement so as to estimate thickness, 3). The sample comprises chiefly carbonate minerals
strike extension and width of the deposits. While and subordinately quartz and biotite. (Table 3). Along
selecting the rock quarry site the slope stability and with micas, siliceous bands with a granular equant
environmental conditions were also taken into quartz (50120 microns) in association with calcite,
consideration. Some block samples were collected dolomite and mica roughly alternate with calcite rich
from different locations of the deposit for testing in bands. The extractable volume of rock of the quarry
the laboratory. Geological parameters of different Q1 is 133948575 m3 (Table 4).
outcrops were measured and plotted in a base map.
Detail of quarry sites are summarized and presented Quarry Site Q2: augen gneiss
in Table 1.
The quarry site (Q2) is located at the right bank
of the Kaligandaki River across the weir axis of
Quarry Site Q1: schistose marble
headworks site. The outcrop comprises of milky white
The quarry site (Q1) is located near to confluence and black, strong to moderately strong, slightly
of the Kaligandaki River and the Chhaktan Khola at weathered to fresh augen gneiss. Garnet is also found
79
U. Raghubanshi and N. K. Tamrakar/ Bulletin of the Department of Geology, Vol. 14, 2011, pp. 7782
C
M Q
B
M P
C C
B
B Q Q
Q
C B
C
B B
C
P
O P
M 0.2 mm 0.4 mm M
Fig. 3 Photomicrograph of schistose marble from quarry site Fig. 4 Photomicrograph of Augen gneiss from quarry site Q2.
Q1. C = calcite; B = biotite; M = muscovite; Q = quartz. B = biotite; M = muscovite; Q = quartz; P = plagioclase; O =
orthoclase.
at some part of the rock. The dominant constituent (Helicitic). Quartz crystals are generally 200300
of the rock is quartz and the subordinate constituents microns, or 11.5 mm. They are polygonal, equant
are plagioclase, microcline and muscovite (Table 3). and with sutured grain boundaries. The extractable
Under the thin-section, a gneissose texture is volume of rock at the quarry is 67647800 m3 (Table
developed including augens. Biotite distributes 4).
roughly along foliation (Fig. 4). Biotites are smaller
and thiner compared to muscovites. Muscovites are Quarry Site Q3: banded gneiss
commonly giant grains of tabular shape. Plagioclase The quarry site (Q3) is located at the right bank
(1.6 to 2 mm) (Fig. 4) and muscovite (23 mm long) of the Kaligandaki River a few meter downstream
produce very large crystals. They are poikiloblastic from the confluence of the Kaligandaki River and the
Lete Khola at Tallo Lete. The outcrop comprises of
Table 3: Constituents of rock samples
light greenish grey, strong to very strong, slightly
Minerals Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 weathered to fresh banded gneiss. Under the thin-
section, gneissose texture or well banding is observed
Quartz 20 55 40 50 (Fig. 5). Quartz is the dominant constituent which is
Orthoclase - - 11 - followed by biotite, orthoclase, muscovite, and so on
Microcline - 10 5 - (Table 3). Chiefly biotite and minorly muscovite form
Plagioclase - 15 5 9
dark bandings and are associated with microcline,
plagioclase, orthoclase and quartz. Quartz and feldspar
Biotite 10 7 23 25
bands alternating with biotite bands also contain biotite
Muscovite 6 10 7 10 and some muscovite. These bands contain equant to
Sericite - - 5 - slightly elongate quartz interlocked with orthoclase,
Calcite 40 - 3 5 plagioclase and microcline. Feldspars show alteration
Dolomite 23 - - - to sericites and give dusty looking. Calcite occurs in
- - -
isolated patches because muscovites and some
Tourmaline 3
feldspars are replaced by calcite. The extractable
Opaque 1 - 1 1 volume of rock at the quarry is 428761000 m3.
80
Construction material assessment from quarry sites at Chaktan-Ghasa-Kaligandaki River area, western Nepal
Quarry Strike length X- section X- section X- section Mean Volume Type of material
No m Area(A1) m2 Area(A2) m2 Area(A3) m2 Area m2 m3
Q1 450 359221 236106 297663.5 133948575 Schistose marble
81
U. Raghubanshi and N. K. Tamrakar/ Bulletin of the Department of Geology, Vol. 14, 2011, pp. 7782
increases possibility of reaction with deleterious perpendicular to foliation of the rock but the value
constituents (clay or reactive silica) and induces decreases substantially in augen gneiss Q2 while tested
swelling. parallel to the foliation of the rock. This indicates
weak bonding of mineral grains perpendicular to the
Point-load strength index perpendicular to foliation
foliation. This condition also explains why Q2 results
ranges from 4.87 to 7.71 Mpa and those parallel to
high Los Angeles Abrasion value.
foliation ranges from 1.82 to 7.98 MPa. The greatest
heterogeneity (1.827.71 MPa) is recorded to augen
gneisses of the quarry site Q2. Excluding this ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
heterogeneous result, the other values yielded by the Authors are thankful to East Management and
samples show rocks with good strengths. Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd. and Central Department
The Los Angeles Abrasion test results of hard rock of Geology for providing laboratory facilities.
are less than the limiting value 45 % (IS 2386 Part
IV (IS, 1975)) except the value of the hard rock sample REFERENCES
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Q3 and Q4 also showed abrasion resistance below
Specifications for Transportation Materials and
the limiting range and the sample Q2 exceeds (57.5%)
Methods of Sampling and Testing (PartII), the
to this limit.
American Association of State Highway and Transport
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out on the samples collected from the quarries to AASHTO,1982b. Soundness of aggregate by use of
determine the durability of aggregates against physical sodium Sulphate, Standard No.T104-77, Standard
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limit, which could be due to splitting of grains from and their relation to petrographic properties. Geoscience
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The point load value, which indicates the strength Campus, 165p.
of the rocks are high to very high and the values are
more or less similar in all rock types while tested
82