Aggregate Evaluation and Geochemical Investigation of Limestone for Construction Industries in Pakistan: An Approach for Sustainable Economic Development

Abstract

The present study investigates the aggregate suitability and geochemical characteristics of limestone (LS) from the Samana Suk Formation, Pakistan, for the construction industry. With the advent of CPEC, the demand for construction materials has seen a manifold increase. The Sheikh Budin Hills and Trans Indus Ranges comprise huge deposits of limestone and provide great potential for source rocks for construction materials in the region. In the Upper Indus Basin of Pakistan, the Samana Suk Formation is acknowledged as the most significant carbonate deposits of Mesozoic strata. The results of aggregate parameters reveal that specific gravity (SG = 2.6); water absorption (WA = 0.47%); bulk density (BD = 1.58 g/cm3); flakiness index (FI = 16.8%); elongation index (EI = 16.39%); soundness (S = 1.6%); aggregate impact value (AIV = 14%); Los Angeles Abrasion value (LAAV = 23.51%); clay lumps (CL = 0.35%); uniaxial compressive strength (UCS = 86.7 MPa); point load test (PLT = 5.18 MPa); ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV = 5290 m/s); and Schmidt hammer rebound test (SHRT = 49 N) are in accordance with the ASTM, ISRM, and BSI. Petrographically, the LS is dominantly composed of ooids, peloids, bioclasts, and calcite mineral (CaCO3) with a trace concentration of dolomite [(Ca,Mg)CO3]. The mineralogical and geochemical study (n = 18) revealed that the LS is dominantly composed of calcite (95.81%); on average, it is composed of 52.08 wt.% CaO; 1.13 wt.% SiO2; 0.66 wt.% MgO; 0.80 wt.% Al2O3; and 0.76 wt.% Fe2O3, and loss on ignition (LOI) was recorded as 42.13 wt.%. On the other hand, P2O5, TiO2, MnO, K2O and Na2O were found in trace amounts. The regression analysis demonstrated that the empirical correlation equation for estimating uniaxial compressive strength with ultrasonic pulse velocity is more reliable than the Schmidt hammer rebound test and point load test. Consequently, the feasibility of using LS of the Samana Suk Formation as an aggregate for construction materials and cement manufacturing is recommended based on the testing results of mechanical, physical, and geochemical properties.

Exploring the potential of late permian aggregate resources for utilization in engineering structures through geotechnical, geochemical and petrographic analyses

“…According to Table .1 , limestone samples in the study area can be compared with limestone samples from different well-known limestone deposits in Pakistan. Physical and strength tests on aggregates from the Wargal Limestone and Chhidru Formation yielded findings that were equivalent or parallel to those found in other investigations 5 , 21 , 23 , 42 , 61 . Aggregates with high strengths tend to have low soundness, abrasion value, impact value, crushing value, and porosity whereas lesser strength aggregates have greater soundness, Los Angeles abrasion value, aggregate crushing value, and aggregate porosity 5 , 62 – 64 .…”

“…The same characteristics were compared by Naeem et al 5 , who worked on Margalla Hill Limestone (ML) and Lockhart limestone (LL) in the Rumli region of Islamabad, Pakistan, and Asif et al 61 , who worked on Eocene carbonates for utilizing in engineering structures. Moreover, Zada et al 16 and Kamran et al 23 made the same correlation for aggregates and attained the same significant results. In contrast to the current investigation, a comparable positive relationship between UCS and calcite and PLT and Calcite contents exists, and an inverse relationship between UCS and bioclasts and porosity is observed.…”

“…Lockhart Limestone (LL) has the largest value of bulk density 2.70–2.78 g/cm 3 and has a specific gravity of 2.63 and 2.59, respectively, which is fairly parallel to other limestones. On the contrary, Wargal and Chhidru formations have water absorption values of 0.39 and 0.46, respectively, which are comparable to KW, SH, SSF, WL, LL WL, and MF 5 , 16 , 23 , 42 , 61 , 62 . Similar both the formations have aggregate porosity values that are greater than KW, SH, and SSF and somewhat lower than ML and LL and the porosity values of the Wargal and Chhidru Formation remain at 2.02 and 2.0%, respectively.…”

“…Based on the mineralogical and geochemical analyses, the limestone samples of both formations are mostly composed of the mineral calcite and lime mude i.e. micrite qualifying the international standards required for cement manufacture as shown in the previous studies of Shah (Yasir et al 10 ), (Naeem et al 5 ), (Asif et al 61 ), (Kamran et al 23 ) and (Zada et al 16 ). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed positive relationships between CaCO3, CaO, and LOI.…”

“…(e.g. Naeem et al 5 ; Naseem et al 18 ; Majeed and Abu Bakar 19 ; Mustafa et al 20 ; Akram et al 20 ; Rehman et al 21 ; Ullah et al 22 , Kamran et al 23 ; Zada et al 16 . Physicochemical, geochemical, and petrographic analyses play a crucial role in determining the suitability of aggregates for construction.…”