Petrography and Mechanical Properties of Dandot Formation, Pidh Village, Eastern Salt range, Pakistan (P-0960) (MFN 5517)

Abstract

The Dandot Formation of Early Permian age, well exposed in eastern Salt range was selected for the present petrographic study. The Formation is well represented in the eastern and central Salt Range, but is not developed in western Salt Range and Khisor Range. Fifteen samples were collected for detailed analysis. On the basis of grain size exposed section is divided into three parts. Lower part is mostly very fine with some fine units in the middle section. Middle part is generally fine and upper part is medium grain. The grain contacts are long and concave-convex. Formation is texturally sub-mature. Framework grains in the studied samples essentially consists of variable amount of quartz (62.24%-73.05%), feldspar (10.01% to 19.28%), and rock fragments (3.1%-6.2%). Accessory minerals include muscovite, biotite, etc. The cement in the samples is clayey ferruginous. The model composition suggested that on the basis of relative proportion of three essential framework constituents (quartz, feldspar and rock fragments) and matrix cements all the samples can be classified as Arkosic arenites. In the present study strength test like unconfined compressive strength test, unconfined tensile strength test, shear strength, specific gravity, and water absorption test were employed on the rock samples to access their mechanical properties. After analyzing physical properties and other essential properties of rock strength, the test result obtained showed that the sandstone rocks are very weak for construction purposes.