Client File # R-014-002

M/s. Al Ejtiyaz Company.

Proj: Completion of Some Roads in Hail (Group-15) / (Group 2).
Consultant : M/s. Saudi Arabian Parsons Ltd.

18th January 2013

REPORT ON PETROGRAPHIC
EXAMINATION OF BLENDED
COARSE AND FINE AGGREGATE
SAMPLES.
1.0

INTRODUCTION

At the request of M/s. Al Ejtiyaz Company, AL-JAZZAR (OMAR JAZZAR CONSULTING

ENGINEERS) has conducted petrographic examination of blended Coarse Aggregate (3/4
55% and 3/8 45%) and fine aggregate Wadi Sand for the proposed Completion of Some
Roads in Hail (Group-15) / (Group 2).
Presented in this report is data contained from Petrographic Examination to include
petrological description, distribution of rock types on the basis of number of particles and
weighted percentage together with conclusion and recommendation.
2.0.

SUMMARY OF METHOD USED

The petrographic examination was conducted with reference to ASTM C-295, using
microscopic (hand specimen), hardness (Moh's scale), and chemical testing (acid reaction)
techniques.
Classification, surface texture and particle shape were described as per ASTM C 294, BS
812, Section 6.1 to 6.5 and Geological Society Special Publication No.9.
3.0

SAMPLE PREPARATION

The coarse aggregate samples were quartered to reduce it to the testing quantity and then
separated into relevant ASTM E-11 sieve fractions as per sieve analysis test ASTM C-136.

BLENDED COARSE AGGREGATE ( 3/4" :55% AND 3/8" :45%)

4.0.

PETROLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

The sample of coarse aggregate was predominantly composed of the volcanic and plutonic
rock particles of extrusive and intrusive igneous and metamorphic rock.
Various constituents present were described as below:Contd . . . /2
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Client File # R-014-002

M/s. Al Ejtiyaz Company.
Proj: Completion of Some Roads in Hail (Group-15) / (Group 2).
Consultant : M/s. Saudi Arabian Parsons Ltd.
4.1.

18th January 2013

BASALT PARTICLES

Dark gray to blackish gray, angular, strong, slightly to moderately weathered, fine grained,
angular to sub angular, particles of Basalt rock.
It is a fine-grained basic volcanic extrusive rock consisting of calcic-plagioclase feldspar
and pyroxene as main minerals. Apatite and magnetite are also present.
4.2.

ANDESITE

Medium grey to greenish grey, fine grained, angular to sub angular, moderately strong to
strong, slightly weathered particles of Andesite rock.
It is a basic, intermediate, volcanic and extrusive, fine grained igneous rock. This
intermediate volcanic rock consists of silica, plagioclase feldspar is the most significant
constituents along with pyroxene, amphibole and biotite mica.
4.3.

PINK MICROGRANITE.

Pink, angular to sub angular, moderately weathered, medium grained, acidic igneous rock
with more than 65% total silica. Usually forms in dyke and sills, from the solidifying of
magma.
4.4.

CHLORITE SCHIST

Very light to light green to greenish grey, greenish angular to sub angular, moderately
weathered, fine grained metamorphic rock. It is composed of the mineral chlorite having a
layered texture.
4.5.

WEATHERED PARTICLES

Medium to dark Grey colored, moderately weak, sub rounded to irregular, partly discolored
and weathered particles of volcanic origin were occasionally present.
5.0

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS

It is assumed that the sample supplied was representative of the stockpile or the in-situ
material.
Results obtained from the petrographic examination of the supplied blended coarse
aggregate indicate that the sample is predominantly composed of strong to moderately
strong, slightly to moderately weathered particles of Basalt, Andesite, Microgranite and
Chlorite Schist that is @ 91.2%, 1.8%, 2..6%, and 3.7% respectively by weight percent of
whole sample. Other constituent such as weathered particles is present @ 0.3 % by weight
percent of the whole sample. (See table # 2)
Contd . . . /3
Client File # R-014-002
18th January 2013
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M/s. Al Ejtiyaz Company.

Proj: Completion of Some Roads in Hail (Group-15) / (Group 2).
Consultant : M/s. Saudi Arabian Parsons Ltd.
In view of the Petrographic examination and potential Alkali Reactivity (ASTM C 289) test
results, blended coarse aggregate 3/4 and 3/8 sample is considered suitable for concrete
and asphalt use.
Also, we would recommend that the quality of the coarse aggregate should be tested and
monitored by means of detailed physico-chemical and mechanical testing in accordance
with ASTM C 33 and BS 882 or relevant job specifications.

FINE AGGREGATE
NATURAL WADI SAND
6.0

PETROLOGICAL DESCRIPTION

The fine aggregate, natural sand sample is composed of granite, Basalt and free Quartz.
Various related constituents are as described below.
6.1

GRANITE PARTICLES

Pinkish gray, gray, whitish gray and greyish pink, irregular texture, moderately strong to
strong, fine to medium grained, dense, compact, sub angular to sub rounded,
constituents of granite rock particles.
6.2

BASALT PARTICLES

Medium to dark grey, irregular texture, moderately strong to strong, medium grained,
dense, compact, angular to sub angular constituents of basalt rock particles.
6.3

FREE QUARTZ PARTICLE

Gray, white, pinkish white, and light gray colored particles of Quartz, fine grained, sub
angular to rounded, irregular texture, strong to very strong, dense hard (7 on Moh s scale)
free quartz.

Note: In view of microscopic study of the material finer than 600 micron indicating
that material was petrologically similar to the course fraction of the sand sample.

Contd . . . /4

Client File # R-014-002

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18th January 2013

M/s. Al Ejtiyaz Company.

Proj: Completion of Some Roads in Hail (Group-15) / (Group 2).
Consultant : M/s. Saudi Arabian Parsons Ltd.
9.0 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
Based on data obtained, petro graphic examination test indicate that the fine aggregate
natural sand is predominantly composed of moderately strong, sub angular to rounded,
constituents of Granite rock particles, Basalt rock particles and free quartz particles that is
@ 15.8%, 2.4%, and 4.2% respectively by weight percent of the whole sample retained on
1.19mm sieve.
Potentially deleterious weathered particles were present in a small quantity and were not
expected to affect the quality of concrete.
In view of petrographic examination test result, the fine aggregate material natural sand
sample is considered suitable for concrete use.

FOR OMAR JAZZAR CONSULTING ENGINEERS

_____________________________
Engr. S.M. Akram Hassan, M.Sc.,
Senior Geologist.

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