PREDICTION OF MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR FROM PETROGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCKHART LIMESTONE

Abstract

The goal of the current work is to estimate mechanical behaviour using petrographic data from Paleocene Lockhart Limestone exposed in Rumli, Islamabad. Clay and shale are interbedded with the mostly nodular, fossiliferous limestone. In the Rumli area, Lockhart Limestone Samples have UCS values ranging from 46.4 MPa to 85 MPa, Point Load Test (PLT) values ranging from 2.10 MPa to 7 MPa, and Schmidt Hammer values ranging from 28 MPa to 41.2 MPa. Collected field samples and their petrographic studies indicate that the Lockhart Limestone belongs to mudstone and wackstone category. Applying regression analysis of the Lockhart Limestone's main mineralogical characteristics with its mechanical properties (UCS, PLT, and SRH) yields a linear equation for the regression coefficient (R2) value and the best-fit line.