TITLE:
Characterization of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of the Harrat Ash Shaam Basalt (HASB)/Northeast Jordan
AUTHORS:
Khaled Tarawneh, Mazen Amaireh, Nafeth Abdelhadi, Awaad Titi, Mohammad Dweirj
KEYWORDS:
Jordan, Basalt, Aggregate, Physical Properties, Mechanical Properties
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Civil Engineering,
Vol.12 No.4,
December
5,
2022
ABSTRACT: Due to the mass demand for excellent construction materials for infrared and
super structures in Jordan, intensive field and laboratory works were carried
out to determine the quality of basalt as a source for construction uses or as
aggregate materials. Representative basaltic samples were collected from four
quarries in Harrat Ash Shaam Basalt (HASB), northeast Jordan (Al-Azraq,
Tel-Hassan, Q’a-Khanna and Al-Aritayin). Necessary and accentual quality
control tests were carried out on 17 samples of basalt to determine the physical
and mechanical properties of target samples, whereas petrographic and chemical
analysis for some representative samples have been carried out using a polarizing microscope and X-ray fluorescence (XRF).
This study aims to focus on the main engineering characteristics of the basalt
rocks and to shed some light on their properties. This work represents the
results of petrographic and chemical analysis, tests of abrasion, absorption,
specific gravity, unit weight and void ratio, sieve analysis (gradation), soundness,
flakiness and elongation indices, pulse velocity and compressive strength.
Petrographic studies show that the basalt is characterized by a presence mainly of calcic-plagioclase
feldspar, pyroxene-augite and olivine. The composition of the basaltic samples
reflects ultrabasic-basic (Basanite-Tholeiitic basalt type). The basalt is characterized by higher specific gravity, lower
absorption and medium abrasion loss values, and resistance to corrosion, with medium to high
compressive strength. The results of the studied physical and mechanical
properties of the basalt that have been tested comply with the standard
requirements. In most of the studies, basalt has good physical and mechanical properties that can be
used for engineering applications.