PETROLOGY AND PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF WADI ALLAQI ORNAMENTAL STONES, SOUTHERN EASTERN DESERT, EGYPT

The present paper deals with the suitability of igneous and metamorphic rocks outcropping at Wadi Umm Ashira and Wadi Tilal Al-Qulieb northwest Wadi Allaqi, Southern Eastern Desert, Egypt, to be used as ornamental stones. The igneous rocks are represented by granites and rhyolites. Meanwhile, the metamorphic rocks include white marble and colored or dolomitic marbles. The applied basic tests include petrography, physical and mechanical (apparent density, real density, volume of open pores, open porosity, water absorption and compression strength). All of these tests were carried out according to the requirements of the European Standard (EN) standards. Based on petrography and chemical analyses, the present study discusses the effect of the chemical and mineralogical compositions as well as the crystal sizes on the physical and mechanical properties of the studied rock units. The present work recommends quarrying the igneous rocks and marbles at the northwest Wadi Allaqi, as these rocks exhibit physical and mechanical properties similar to the requirements of the standards specification for ornamental stones.