HAZARDS AND POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS OF CARBONATE DEPOSITS FROM ABU ROASH, SOUTHWEST CAIRO
ESMAT A. ABOU EL-ANWAR AND AHMED A. MELEGY
Department Geological and Geophysical Sciences, National Research Center |
The carbonate rocks of three quarries excavated at Abu-Roash area (Late Cretaceous) have potential application in building. industry and purification the environment.
Petrographical lv, the carbonate deposits of both Mid Streed and Mahmoud Saad quarries are mudstone facies whilee those of Plox quarry are mudstone to wackestone facies. Diagenetically. the carbonate sediments of the three quarries were subjected to three paragenetic stages. Mineralogically, the carbonates of the three quarries are composed mainly of calcite with minor amounts of dolomite, quartz and clay minerals. Geochemically, they have very high Ca/ Mg ratio, but impoverished in Na2O, K2O, SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3.
Physically, the carbonates of the Mid Streed quarry have the minimum value of water absorption, while Mahmoud Saad and Plox quarries record have intermediate values. Bulk density of the examined carbonates decreases with increasing apparent porosity and water absorption. Mechanically, the carbonates of the three quarries record have an average value of strength. i’he Mid Streed quarry represents the lowest value for aggregate crushahility and Loss Angeles abrasion, while those of Mahmoud Saad and Plox quarries record relatively higher values.
The concentrations of some selected metals; Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni,Se and Sr are under the maximum permissible limits in the studied carbonate quarries of Ahu Raosh area. Consequently, there is no endemic disease might occur due to differential element distribution.
The petrographical, geochemical, physical-mechanical observations as well as the risks and deterioration studies are recommended the utilization of the carbonate deposits of the three quarries in industry, building and environmental applications, especially for the new cities around the Abu Roash area.
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