Assessment of alterability of basalt used for riprap by petrographic examination

Abstract

All engineering projects consist of several steps, and one of the main tasks is to identify and characterize the most important features of rock types that will be excavated, crushed, or mined for any particular usage purpose, from a single residential building to major works of infrastructure. Laboratory investigation on engineering geology is thus conducted in order to determine the most relevant rock properties when designing structures such as mining shafts, tunnels, buildings, or reservoir dams to be built in sites associated with rocks. A wide range of laboratory tests is available, making the correct choice of test methods greatly relevant to determine the key property for the planned use of the rock. This paper is an illustrative case of laboratory testing of basaltic rocks to be used as riprap in a reservoir dam. It shows the important role of the petrographic study carried out to analyze the distribution pattern of smectite clay minerals. Test results are explained for the assessment of rock alterability, an essential aspect for the selection of the most suitable basalt variety for the envisaged conditions of use. Keywords: Rock properties, Laboratory testing, Test methods, Petrographic analysis, Smectite clay minerals, Basaltic rocks, Accelerated weathering tests, Alterability