Geoengineering properties of the Sandstones of Upper Murree Formation, Jammu and Kashmir: A case study

Abstract

Sandstones play a vital role in various geotechnical and civil engineering applications. Understanding the relationship between its petrographic characteristics and geoengineering properties is crucial for reliable design and construction practices. This paper provides a concise overview of the research investigating the relation between the petrographic characteristics and corresponding geoengineering properties of upper Murree sandstone. The Murree Group consists of mudstones and sandstones, which are exposed linearly in the Outer Himalayan belt of Jammu and Kashmir. The sandstones of Murree are the only source of aggregate or building material in this region. The petrographic analysis of the samples revealed that the sandstone is of coarse to fine-grained, stably cemented, unweathered to slightly weathered and having medium strength. These rocks show fractured as well as intergranular porosity whereas, the grains are showing floating contacts, line contacts, point contacts and concavo-convex contacts. Preliminary findings of this study reveal that mineral composition, texture, fabric and the deformation of these sndstones significantly influence their geoengineering behavior. The higher concentration of quartz is an example of such behavior which generally leads to improved strength and lower deformability and on the contrary, higher concentration of clay and mica contribute to decreased strength and increased deformability. In present study, negative correlation between the porosity and compressive strength and positive correlation between cementation and strength of these rocks has been observed.