Petrographic Composition, Physico-Chemical Characteristics, And Mechanical Properties of The Renzikhel Marbles In Central Afghanistan

Abstract

This article presents the geological and engineering geological characteristics of Ranzi Khel marbles.  The Ranzi Khel mine is located in Maidan Wardak province. Geologically, it lies within the Helmand tectonic zone. To achieve the objectives, several samples were collected from different sites of the marble areas and transported to laboratories in Kabul city. Several slides were prepared from representative samples to characterize the petrographic composition under a polarizing microscope. The preliminary chemical composition of marbles was determined through X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The physical and mechanical characteristics of marbles were assessed using various physico-mechanical tests. The petrographical study indicates that calcite is the main mineral in the slides. The physico-mechanical tests show that the specific gravity is 2.7, the bulk density is 2.7, the water absorption is 0.02%, the marble's resistance to impact and pressure is 13.67%, the marble's resistance to abrasion is 26.13%, and the marble durability index is 97.39%. The findings indicate that the marble samples exhibit excellent resistance to uniaxial compression and point load, with a durability of 97.49%. The results show that Ranzi Khel marbles are considered quite satisfactory for various applications from a physico-mechanical perspective. The results of the XRF analysis indicate that calcium has the highest proportion among the elements. Besides calcium, Ranzi Khel marbles also contain magnesium, iron, silicon, and aluminum. The findings of this study may contribute to sustainable mining development in Afghanistan in various ways