US EPA

3069238 

Journal Article 

Quarry Site Selection and Geotechnical Characterization of Ballast Aggregate for Ambo-Ijaji Railway Project in Central Ethiopia: An Integrated GIS and Geotechnical Approach 

Bayisa, R; Kumar, RT; Seifu, K 

2015 

329-335 

10.1007/978-3-319-09060-3_56 

WOS:000359016200056 

The main objective of the present study was to select potential quarry sites and to characterize the rock for ballast aggregate for proposed Ambo-Ijaji railway project in central Ethiopia. The study area is located in the Oromia Regional state which is around 120 km from Addis Ababa on way to Ambo town. The quarry site selection criteria was formulated and applied in GIS environment by incorporating factors such as; slope of the quarry rock face, distance of the quarry site, land use/land cover, accessibility, overburden thickness, rock type and degree of weathering. Thus, six quarry sites were evaluated for their suitability. Further, representative rock samples from quarry sites were collected and tested for physical, mechanical and chemical properties to ensure that the source rock is suitable for ballast aggregate. In addition, petrographic analysis was also made to understand the correlation of engineering properties with petrographic parameters. The results revealed that all six quarry sites satisfies the selection criteria and are suitable to provide ballast aggregate. The engineering laboratory tests indicates that the test values for unit weight, Los Angeles Abrasion value, soundness test by sodium sulfate, specific gravity, and unconfined compressive strength are within the specified limits except for three quarry sites which have water absorption values higher than the standard specifications. From the correlation of petrographic test with different engineering test results it has been found that the petrographic parameters has an important role in controlling engineering properties of rocks. 

Potential quarry; Ballast aggregate; Los-Angeles abrasion; Aggregate soundness; Water absorption