GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON CARBONATES AND THEIR SUITABILITY FOR ROAD BASES AND CEMENT INDUSTRIES, ELQATAMIYA- AIN SUKHNA ROAD, EGYPT

Abstract

The present study deals with geochemical, geotechnical and mineralogical studies of Lower Eocene carbonate rocks at El-QatamiyaAin Sukhna road and their suitability for road base and cement industries. The studied area lies between Latitudes 29o 37' 43ʹʹ and 29o 59 ' 45ʹʹ N. and longitudes 32o 20' 43ʹʹ and 32o 19' 48ʹʹ E. Lithologic studies of Lower Eocene (Ypresian) sediments are subdivided into two Formations in the G. Galala area from base to top: Galala Fm. and Minia Fm. were recorded. Physical properties studies of Lower Eocene carbonate rocks were made (at Arab Contractor Labs) on some raw materials (Limestone, Dolomite and Clay) detected in the studied area show their validity for road base constructions. The chemical composition major oxides were done using X-ray flourcense analysis on carbonate sections shows their suitability for cement industry. Silica modulus (S.M) factor, Alumina ratio (A.R) and Lime saturation factor (L.S.F) in Portland cement reveals that the studied carbonate sections (Galala area) raw materials are very suitable for cement industry.