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Influence of composition on the physico-mechanical properties of granitic rocks used in floor covering and building cladding in Najran Region, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

Different kinds of igneous rocks can be used as building stones due to their durability, appearance, and availability. Because of their hardness and durability, granitic rocks have been used as building stones. In this research, 48 rock samples of granitic rocks collected from two sites in the study area in Najran were evaluated based on the geological, petro-physical, and geo-mechanical properties. Mineralogically, granite consists mainly of coarse-grained quartz, potassium feldspar, sodium feldspar, and hematite, as well as the secondary minerals such as mica (muscovite and biotite) and hornblende. The primary wave velocity (Vp) measurements of rocks in dry conditions showed average of 4.65 and 4.55 km/s for black granite (BG) and grey granite (GG), respectively. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the tested specimens under dry conditions was generally high, averaging 173 and 137 MPa for BG and GG, respectively. Correspondingly, the impact strength index (ISI) had an average of 79%. The measured Brazilian strength value had an average of 17.84 and 14.15 MPa for BG and GG, respectively. Finally, in BG and GG, the Böhme test had minimum values of 2.25, 8.68 cm3/50 cm2, maximum values being 10.2, 13.43 cm3/50 cm2, and average values being 6.80, 10.33 cm3/50 cm2, respectively. The results were used to calculate the weights and estimates of the physical-mechanical aspects as well as the quality index (QI) for the studied specimens. The QI values are 70 for BG and 58 for GG rocks in the Najran region which are rated very good. These QI values indicate that they are ideal for building and floor covering purposes. The present study concludes that Najran granite can be used for all purposes related to interior cladding and exterior wall-facing stones.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the Deanship of Scientific Research at Najran University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for their financial and technical support under code number NU/ESCI/17/014. The authors would also like to acknowledge Bin Harkil Co. Ltd. for granite for their logistic support during the research. Moreover, the authors are indebted to the editor in chief of Arabian Journal of Geosciences and the anonymous reviewers for their worthy time and comments that reconstructed and improved the quality of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Research Centre, Najran University, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Mabkhoot A Alsaiari

  2. Empty Quarter Research Unit, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science and Arts at Sharurah, Najran University, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Mabkhoot A Alsaiari

  3. Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Ahmed Abd El Aal

  4. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (Assiut Branch), Assiut, Egypt

    Ahmed Abd El Aal

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  1. Mabkhoot A Alsaiari
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Correspondence to Mabkhoot A Alsaiari.

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Responsible Editor: Zeynal Abiddin Erguler

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Alsaiari, M.A., El Aal, A.A. Influence of composition on the physico-mechanical properties of granitic rocks used in floor covering and building cladding in Najran Region, Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 14, 2100 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08387-3

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