Investigation of geological, geotechnical and geophysical properties of Kiratli (Bayburt, NE Turkey) travertine

• Published in: Carbonates and evaporites 2018-09, Vol.33 (3), p.421-429
• Main Authors: Yalcinalp, Bulent, Ogretmen Aydin, Zeynep, Ersoy, Hakan, Seren, Aysel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Colour; Compressive strength; Cores; Data acquisition; Discontinuity; Drying; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Freezing; Geology; Geophysical exploration; Geophysical methods; Geotechnical engineering; Ground penetrating radar; Investigations; Laboratory tests; Mineral Resources; Mineralogy; Natural stone; Orientation; Original Article; Orogeny; P waves; Properties; Quarries; Radar; Raw materials; Rocks; Tensile strength; Tests; Thawing; Travertine; Wave velocity; Wetting
• ISSN: 0891-2556; 1878-5212
• DOI: 10.1007/s13146-017-0344-7

There are good quality natural stones having different color and texture especially in the Turkey located in Alpine–Himalayan Orogenic Belt. However, there are limited natural stone reserves in NE Turkey. Because Kiratli travertine site is the second largest area with a reserve of 250,000 m 3 in the region, this travertine site was chosen as a pilot site for this study. Geological, geophysical and geotechnical investigations were carried out in the study and laboratory tests were conducted. The discontinuity properties of travertine mass were investigated using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method to guide for suitable operating techniques in the natural stone quarry. According to the tests results uniaxial compressive strength values are 25 and 51 MPa, indirect tensile strength values are 3.98–9.18 MPa, P-wave velocities for dry condition are 3717 and 4154 m/s, respectively, for parallel and perpendicular core samples to the deposition direction. The uniaxial compressive strength of the samples was also determined after cycling tests such as wetting–drying and freezing–thawing tests. The travertine samples have less than 10% deterioration after these tests. On the investigated area, the GPR data were acquired with 100 MHz antenna using GPR technique being one of geophysical methods on 7 lines parallel each other in the study. The data were processed utilizing with ReflexW software. It was concluded that the reflection boundaries observed on obtained radargrams originated in discontinuities and weathered parts in dominant rock. It has been suggested that productive raw materials could not be got during the extraction of material travertine in the orientation of quarry when it comes to discontinuities and weathered parts in dominant rock. In these parts, quality travertine material can not be obtained.