Abstract
In northeastern Sicily (Italy), sandstone rock masses widely crop out as cover deposits over crystalline terrains belonging to the orogenic belt. Despite being part of the same geological formation, these sandstones are characterized by highly different features in terms of texture and physico-mechanical properties. This poses a scientific question on the possibility of tracing these rocks to a single statistical model, which could be representative of their main engineering geological properties. Therefore, it is worth investigating on the possible reasons of such differences, that should be searched either in the current geographical sandstone distribution or in the rock texture. For this study, sandstone samples were collected from different sites and were analyzed at both the hand and thin section scales. Three sandstone types were recognized, characterized by a different texture. Then, the laboratory characterization allowed estimating their main physico-mechanical and ultrasonic properties, such as porosity, density, mechanical strength, deformability, and ultrasonic velocities. The rock mechanical strength proved linked to the rock compactness and to the presence of lithic fragments, while pores and a pseudo-matrix between grains represent weakening features. Rock data were also statistically analyzed by grouping the specimens according to a geographical criterion, with respect to their sampling area, but no link was found between location and rock properties. Finally, with the aim of achieving mathematical laws that could be used to predict some rock properties from others, useful for practical purposes when dealing with such a high property variability, single and multiple regression analyses were carried out. Results show that the Uniaxial Compressive Strength, porosity, and P-wave velocity are the best predictors for a quick, indirect estimation of the main physico-mechanical parameters. The methodological approach developed for this research can be taken as reference to study other worldwide cases, involving rocks characterized by a wide range of physico-mechanical properties and covering large regional territories.
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Acknowledgements
This research was carried out under the financial support of University of Catania, in the frame of the following project: “CH2V – Cultural Heritage Hazard and Vulnerability” Piaceri linea 2, PI Giovanna Pappalardo. The rock physical-mechanical characterization was carried out at the Laboratory of Applied Geology, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences of Catania University. The Authors would like to thank Riccardo Leonardi for his help during the rock specimen preparation and Vittorio Scribano for his friendly support in the analysis of thin sections.
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Funding note: Open access funding provided by Università degli Studi di Catania within the CRUI-CARE Agreement.
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Simone Mineo and Giovanna Pappalardo: Conceptualization, methodology, supervision; Simone Mineo, Giovanna Pappalardo and Giordana Zocco: Laboratory tests and rock data processing; Serafina Carbone: Rock hand-scale description;
Serafina Carbone and Carmelo Monaco, Geological and structural setting; All the authors Field activity; Giovanna Pappalardo, Funding acquisition.
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Pappalardo, G., Carbone, S., Monaco, C. et al. Statistical analysis of physico-mechanical parameters of sandstones occurring in orogenic settings. J. Mt. Sci. 21, 1388–1402 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8497-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-023-8497-4