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A study of the durability of some shales, mudrocks and siltstones from Brazil

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Abstract

In spite of the considerable area covered by argillaceous sedimentary rocks (comprising shales, mudrocks and siltstones) in Brazil and the number of engineering works associated with these materials, little is known about their geotechnical, physical, chemical, mineralogical and textural characteristics and the effects of weathering processes on them. This work presents results obtained in a research project aiming primarily at identifying degradation processes responsible for the weathering of some of these rocks in Brazil. The rocks under investigation come from two different parts of the country, each one related to a specific engineering problem and to different geoenvironments. The project involved a comprehensive laboratory testing program for basic characterization (chemical and mineralogical composition, index properties, etc.) and evaluation of durability characteristics of these rocks. The present paper describes the testing program carried out and discusses the results obtained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, Federal University of Viçosa-Av, P. H. Rolfs s/n, Campus Universitário, Viçosa (MG), CEP, 36570-000, Brazil

    Eduardo A. G. Marques

  2. Geology Department, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Eduardo A. G. Marques, Eurípedes Do A. Vargas Jr. & Franklin S. Antunes

  3. Civil Engineering Department, Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Eurípedes Do A. Vargas Jr. & Franklin S. Antunes

Authors
  1. Eduardo A. G. Marques
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  2. Eurípedes Do A. Vargas Jr.
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  3. Franklin S. Antunes
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Correspondence to Eduardo A. G. Marques.

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Marques, E.A.G., Vargas, E.D.A. & Antunes, F.S. A study of the durability of some shales, mudrocks and siltstones from Brazil. Geotech Geol Eng 23, 321–348 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-004-1605-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-004-1605-5

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