The poor durability of some dolerites affects the life cycle of the road as they can deteriorate rapidly when used in the base course. The life cycle of road pavements is based on their anticipated behavior under the prevailing conditions. From the literature, the prevailing conditions under which rapid deterioration of dolerite occurred on the road are somewhat contradictory.

Deterioration of road pavements located in wet and moderate areas was evidenced by the presence of swelling secondary minerals (smectites) in the material inherited from the source (i.e. caused by deuteric alteration during or shortly after its crystallisation). Road samples that inherited secondary minerals with smectites showed unacceptablely high Plasticity Index (PI) values. The alteration observed in wet and moderate areas did not affect the PIs, but the availability of smectite inherited from the source affected the PIs. Road Samples that inherited secondary minerals with no swell potential showed acceptable PI values. Not all dolerites were found to be problematic in terms of mineral composition.

[1] indicates that dolerite is situated mostly in the main basin of the Karoo Supergroup in South Africa which covers approximately 700,000 km² (57%) of the country’s land surface area. Investigations into the durability of basic crystalline rocks and specifications for their use as road base aggregate have been conducted for many years in South Africa [1] - [8].

[2] reported the phenomenon of accelerated deterioration of dolerite when in service and carried out early research to identify the causes. Different research studies with different approaches have subsequently been conducted, but the results were partially different.

[7] established relationships in durability, physical, mechanical, and mineralogical results in samples that were drilled in various localities of Kwa-Zulu Natal. There were no control samples to indicate whether the problem influencing deterioration was inherited or developed when the material was in service.

[1] was widespread in the eastern areas of South Africa and the Karoo main basin. It was done in areas where N-values range between 3 and 9, where climatic conditions do not always favour chemical decomposition. Material sampled included crushed stone G1 and G2 base and samples were obtained from quarries and existing road pavements. Tests carried out included petrographic examinations, XRD, AIV, DMI, Compressive and shear wave velocity, PI, Modified ethylene glycol durability index, and water absorption. The plasticity index was obtained during the Durability Mill Index (DMI) test.

[9] was focused on the eastern parts of the Free state, the Gauteng/Mpumalanga border area and southern Mpumalanga. The study was based in areas where the N-value is below 3, where climatic conditions favour chemical decomposition. Material sampled included highly decomposed dolerite and crushed dolerite and the samples were obtained from borrow pits and quarries. Tests carried out included the semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis to determine the mineralogical composition, and the plasticity index (PI). Material passing sieve 0.425 mm and 0.075 mm was used for PI determination.

[1] [10] indicated that the material has undergone some form of degradation as the petrographic properties of some case study sites were different due to evidence of secondary mineral alteration to smectite clays. The process of deterioration, whereby there is a change in mineral composition (decomposition), occurs mostly in wet regions where Weinert N-value is less than 3. Decomposition is the change of primary minerals into secondary minerals by oxidation, hydrolysis and hydration, and only rocks which consist of minerals able to undergo these changes decompose if environmental conditions favour chemical action on them, otherwise, they disintegrate [11]. An extended investigation has been done in this research study, as [9] indicated that the deterioration was not due to decomposition.

[9] indicated that the short-term artificial weathering does not result in an increase in smectite content and therefore dolerite does not decompose and generate clay in the short term. Rapid deterioration of material is not caused by the accelerated decomposition of the dolerite minerals, but due to mechanical exposure, the harsh operating environment of road pavement and subsequent release of the inherent clay minerals to participate in the PI measurement. An extended investigation has been done in this research study, as [1] reported the evidence of alteration to smectite clays.

[9] confirmed that to obtain a fuller picture, the investigation should be extended to dolerites where Weinert N-value is higher than 3. [9] and [1] required to be extended to drier and wetter areas respectively. Findings are also partially contradictory and therefore necessitate the study that will take into consideration both the [9] and [1] methods using a common sample and differing climates. In this study, the investigation done by [9] and [1] has been partially extended to drier and wetter areas respectively. This study focused mainly on the mineralogical composition, durability and plasticity index (PI) of the material as rapid deterioration of dolerite material has mostly been linked to these properties.

The objective of the study was to provide insight into what influences rapid deterioration in dolerite when used in the base of the road pavement by conducting field investigations and laboratory experiments which comprise mineralogical analysis and standard engineering tests. The Specific objectives of the study were to determine changes in mineralogical and engineering properties that lead to deterioration of dolerite when it is in service, to determine the effect of secondary minerals on engineering properties in dolerite, to determine the phase (material in service/material in source) on which rapid deterioration of dolerite takes place, to identify environmental conditions and other confounding factors that enable changes in mineralogical and engineering properties when dolerite is in service, and to identify dolerites that are susceptible to rapid deterioration when in service.

A quantitative research approach was used for this study. Various investigation methods were used, and these research methods comprised field investigations, laboratory testing and instrumental analytical techniques.

A process was followed whereby two samples (control sample from quarry and investigated sample from road) were considered for laboratory testing where the results of the sample being investigated were compared with the control test sample results. Areas that have been included in the research are those located on the eastern side of South Africa. The targeted population for research comprises crushed dolerites located in wet, moderate, and dry regions.

Methods of evaluation and measurement are indicated in Table 1. The requirements of materials investigated were according to [12]. All test results were evaluated for compliance with material requirements indicated in [12] and cross checked with [13].

The results comprise both engineering and mineralogical test results. For engineering testing, test methods contained in [16] were followed.

Findings from the two methods that were followed for investigation were compared.

The comparison is indicated in Table 17.

· Crushed dolerite base Method: In wet and moderate areas, there were signs of alteration evidenced by the identification of new secondary minerals in the samples investigated. Secondary minerals (smectites) with high swelling potential and plasticities were already part of the fresh dolerite (control sample). The PI values of the investigated samples were unacceptable for crushed stone aggregate as the values mostly exceeded the specified limits.

In dry areas, there were no signs of alteration identified in the samples investigated. The secondary minerals were already part of the fresh dolerite. The PI values were acceptable as the values were within the specified limits. The presence of secondary minerals and high moisture content did not affect the PI requirements.

· Fines Method: In wet and moderate areas, there were signs of alteration evidenced by the identification of new secondary minerals in the samples investigated. Samples for this method were all obtained from the quarry (source). Smectites were also identified in either control or investigated sample. The presence of smectites, however, did not affect the PIs, which were within the specified limits. This could be due to the conditions where the fines exposed were not the same as crushed dolerite base. The material was not in-service. In addition to the atmospheric influences, material properties can be influenced by the other factors that include traffic loading, pavement moisture content, drainage conditions, temperature, etc.

In dry areas, there were no signs of alteration identified in the samples investigated. The secondary minerals were already part of the fresh dolerite, and they had no swell potential. The PI values were acceptable as the values were within the limits. According to the durability requirements of [2] it is clear that what is generally accepted, is that the secondary minerals were already part of the fresh dolerite. In this case, the presence of secondary minerals and high moisture content in the investigated samples did not affect the PI values.

The mineralogical findings using both methods were slightly different. The Fines method only revealed problematic dolerites (an indication that the source contains smectite) and non-problematic dolerites. There are no clear signs of alteration revealed by this method. This could be due to the conditions where the fines exposed were not the same as the crushed dolerite base. The material tested was not from in-service bases. In addition to the climatic effects, material properties can be influenced by other factors that include traffic loading, pavement moisture content, drainage conditions, temperature, etc).

The Crushed dolerite base Method revealed problematic dolerites and clear signs that alteration took place in dolerites that have a potential to alter. Alteration could not have affected the PIs and influenced the deterioration significantly as the alteration products were found to have no swell potential, but the availability of swelling secondary minerals (smectites) in the material inherited from the source affected the PIs and could lead to deterioration. Samples that inherited secondary minerals with no swell potential showed acceptable PI values. Samples that inherited secondary minerals that included smectites showed unacceptable PI values.

It can be concluded that both methods revealed that the problematic dolerites inherited the secondary minerals (smectites) with swelling potential from the original material sources (control samples).

There were no problems in engineering material properties revealed by the fines method. This could be due to the conditions where the fines exposed were not the same as crushed dolerite base. The material was not in-service.

It must be noted that it is not only mineral composition that influences deterioration of dolerite when it is in service as some secondary minerals do not have high swell potential, but other engineering properties of material might have an impact. In dry areas, no mineralogical alteration took place: however, material deterioration had taken place. According to [18], the temperature variation directly influences the stiffness of the overlying bituminous surfacing layers, which alters the stress, strain and deflection conditions through the pavement. That could lead to the loss of particle interlock and affect the performance of the crushed dolerite base.

The grading of nearly all samples was out of specification. It is expected that slushing should remove a large percentage of the fines from the road; however, it is not always the case because some samples exhibited a large quantity of fines that exceeded the upper limit of the specification.

Of particular interest, was the fact that many of the samples tested showed no smectite presence. This is an important finding, as it is generally believed in South Africa that almost all basic crystalline rocks, especially dolerites, have an inherent smectite content. Additional X-ray diffraction testing was carried out to ensure that the first indications of this were correct.

The conclusions below are made based on the outcomes of the study:

There was deterioration of dolerite used in base course of road pavements located in wet and moderate areas. It was evidenced by the availability of swelling secondary minerals (smectites) in the material inherited from the source. Smectites were released from the aggregate particles during construction and trafficking and affected the PIs when material was in service. The alteration of primary minerals to secondary minerals could not have affected the PIs and influenced the deterioration as the alteration products were found to have no swell potential.

Alteration observed in wet and moderate areas did not affect the PIs, but the availability of smectite inherited from the source materials affected the PIs. Samples that inherited secondary minerals with no swell potential showed acceptable PI values in service. Samples that inherited secondary minerals that included smectites showed unacceptably high PI values. The distribution of fines after slushing is unknown, but it is expected that slushing should remove a large percentage of the fines (including clays already present in the crushed material) from the road. This suggests future research on changes undergone by material after construction.

According to [2] the amount of secondary minerals acceptable in fresh rock should be less than 15% in wet areas, increasing to up to 80% in dry areas (N> 7). The amounts of smectites detected in the investigated samples were still within the permissible limit, but were found to have triggered the deterioration of road pavements built with dolerite. Research that will be based on adjustment of durability lines should be considered.

High average moisture contents measured in wet and moderate areas were probably due to the ingress of water through the cracking that was present. The ingress of water could encourage swelling in smectites contained in the material, and that would have led to some of the failures.

It is proven that the low plasticity in crushed dolerite is not necessarily an indication of the absence of deleterious minerals available in the material. One of the fines samples with significant amounts of smectite registered PIs that met the specification.

An interesting conclusion was that, contrary to conventional wisdom, not all of the dolerites investigated contained discernible smectite contents.

Based on the findings and results of the study, the following recommendations are made:

· In wet and moderate areas, the presence of secondary minerals with high swell potential in dolerite can affect the PI values when material is in service regardless of amount present. Therefore, the secondary minerals accepted in crushed rock should not include smectites, and Weinert’s durability limits should be considered only as a guideline.

· Stabilisation of crushed dolerite base with a small amount (1%) of lime (or cement) should be considered when dolerites are used, even if the percentage of smectite content is within the permissible limit specified by [13] to ensure that materials will perform well when in a road pavement.

· Not only standard engineering properties should be determined when assessing the suitability of dolerite for base course, but mineralogical composition should be included. One set of tests alone (either engineering or mineralogical) does not fully reveal the overall properties of material.

· Requirements for G1, G2, and G3 materials are specified in [13]. Expectations on material after construction should be clarified better. The distribution of fines after slushing is unknown, but it is expected that slushing should remove a large percentage of the fines (including clays already present in the crushed material) from the road. The as-built records of dolerite base courses should include full testing of material for engineering properties, and durability in particular.

· Royal HaskoningDHV: The sponsor.

· South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL): Permission to use their sites for investigation, assisting with gathering required data, and sampling.

· Department of Transport (DoT) Eastern Cape and Free State Provinces: Permission to use their sites for Investigation, assisting with gathering required data, and sampling.

· LABCO Southern Africa: Laboratory Testing (Engineering tests) and access to the facility.

· Xrd Analytical & Consulting: X-ray Diffraction (Clay analysis).

Family, Colleagues, & other Individuals: Encouragement and support.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Futshane, A., Paige-Green, P. and Anochie-Boateng, J.K. (2022) Understanding Durability Problems with Dolerite in Roads in South Africa. World Journal of Engineering and Technology, 10, 574-592. https://doi.org/10.4236/wjet.2022.103037