AGGREGATE SUITABILITY STUDIES OF HABIB RAHI FORMATION EXPOSED AT GULKI HILLS, ZINDAPIR ANTICLINE, DERA GHAZI KHAN, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The construction industry has a significant positive impact on the socioeconomic development of a country. The demand for building supplies in Pakistan has significantly increased since the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project got underway since 2015. The N-S trends of Zindapir anticline is doubly plunging anticline located in the easternmost part of the Sulaiman Range. In this context, a comprehensive evaluation was undertaken to investigate the suitability of limestone deposits from the Habib Rahi Formation as a potential source of coarse aggregate, for construction projects. In this study, the Limestone of Habib Rahi Formation from Zindapir Anticline has been used to examine its geochemistry, petrography, and physical-mechanical characteristics for usage of coarse aggregate. In petrographic terms, the Habib Rahi Formation aligns with the classification of mudstone and wackestone as per the Dunham classification scheme. It is predominantly composed of calcite and bioclast, which serve as the major constituents within a fine-grained micrite. The Limestone of Habib Rahi Formation was investigated through geochemistry (PXRF), the major mineral phases include CaO (48.7%), SiO2 (5.6%), Al2O3 (1.2%), Fe2O3 (1.2%), K2O (0.2%), and TiO2 (0.1%). Alkali-silica reaction in accordance with (ASTM C 1260) also reveal that the limestone of the Habib Rahi Formation has an expansion of less than (0.1%) indicating a safe nature. The geotechnical tests were performed in accordance with the requirements of the American Standards for Testing Materials (ASTM). The results of numerous tests for coarse aggregates, including those for specific gravity, and water absorption test (2.3%), flakiness and elongation test (5.9%), loss angeles abrasion test (28.6%), soundness test (5.7%), aggregate impact value test (25.1%), aggregate crushing value test (25.4%), unit weight test (1.29%), and coating and striping (>90%). Cumulatively, the findings derived from petrographic, geochemical, and geotechnical analyses are integrated to indicate the potential of the Habib Rahi Formation within the Zindapir Anticline as a prospective source of coarse aggregates for construction projects. Utilizing local resources like the Limestone of the Habib Rahi Formation in the progressing construction sector can significantly enhance sustainable practices, promoting both infrastructure development and economic growth.