The Effect of Mineralogy on Engineering Behaviour of Sand

Abstract

In this study, the changes in the engineering properties of sand with different minerolagical properties were tried to be investigated. Four different sand samples were taken from the Black Sea and Aegean Regions for the experiments. These sands were named as Trabzon, Sinop, Zonguldak and Çine. The engineering and mineralogical properties of the samples were determined. Shear box test and consolidation processes were implemented in order to determined to engineering properties of the sands. Grain distribution was determined with wet mechanical analysis. They were classified as “poorly graded sand”. Also, the index properties of the samples like specific weight and dry unit weight were determined. Mineralogical properties were determined by X-RD and SEM. Their origin were determined as sedimentary, magmatic and metaporphic. It was understood that different mineralogical properties cause to different engineering behaviours. As a result, it was understood that not only the mineralogy but also the marine or river origin are important in the grain distribution, void ratio and odeometre test. However, mineralogy is important in specific gravity, water content, shear box experiment.

Keywords: Sinop, sand, shear box, consolidation, mineralogy.