TITLE:
Comprehensive Review of Studies on Metamorphic Rocks
AUTHORS:
Hakan Citak, Mustafa Coramik, Huseyin Gunes, Sabri Bicakci, Yavuz Ege
KEYWORDS:
Marble, Metamorphic Rock, Ultrasonic Test, Crack, Cutting Direction
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: Marble is a metamorphic rock, which is one of the 3
basic rock types (magmatic, sedimentary, metamorphic) forming the earth’s
crust. The major characteristic sought after in a rock mass in the field for it
to be exportable and usable as marble is its suitability to be cut in blocks.
In the process of producing marble slabs from marble blocks, the blocks are
expected not to contain potentially problematic hard or weak zones and their
geomechanical and chemical properties should conform to the relevant standards.
Ignoring of the geological properties of the rock in the process of deciding
for marble production at a marble site and determination of production
location, direction and method is the most important parameter that would
increase production loss. In order to reduce losses by determination of
geological properties of marble, many academic studies have been conducted on
the effects of water saturation, temperature, freezing and thawing on its
mechanical and fracture properties. There are further studies on crack
propagation in marble under stress. However, even those marble blocks that are
obtained based on geological parameters may suffer serious cracks or fractures
due to stresses caused by their weight and geometry. Therefore, cutting
direction is of critical importance in order to minimize marble waste in the
process of cutting a marble block which is brought to the inventory or
processing site with cracks, cavities or fractures. Certain studies exist
within such context, where the geometry of the discontinuity within a block is
determined using non-destructive methods, such as ultrasonic testing, in order
to determine the appropriate cutting direction. Such studies made use of
ultrasonic waves to determine the physical
and chemical structures of magmatic and sedimentary rocks by measuring the
progress velocity of sonic waves in the rock. Said studies, however,
mostly worked on sedimentary and magmatic rock specimens, focusing less on
metamorphic rocks such as marble due to their anisotropic properties.
Understanding the academic literature studies on marble would provide
significant contribution to the reduction of production losses during the
processing marble blocks in processing plants and the achievement of production
efficiency levels that are within economic
limits. Within such scope, this study has reviewed the past academic
studies on marble, classified them under 6 categories, and comprehensively
analyzed each category based on materials,
testing setups, test specimens, test parameters and research techniques.