Effects of weathering and lithology on the quality of aggregates in the alluvial fans of Northeast Rivand, Sabzevar, Iran

Abstract

Alluvial fans as depositional landforms can be considered as potential sources of aggregates. As the age of alluvial fans increases, their constituent sediments are exposed to longer periods of weathering and increased mineral alteration, resulting in a decrease in aggregate quality. In this study, physical properties and point load tests were used to assess the aggregate quality on three alluvial fan surfaces (relict, old and young) in the northeastern part of Rivand village in west of Sabzevar, Northeast Iran. Differentiating young from old and relict fans was carried out based on geomorphic criteria such as weathering features, fan surface morphology and drainage pattern. The young alluvial fan is characterized by sub-rounded and unvarnished clasts, distributary drainage patterns and a relatively flat surface, whereas old and relict fans are characterized by incised and rough surfaces, tributary drainage pattern and highly weathered and varnished clasts due to their long-term exposure to weathering. Due to a range of rock types occurring across each fan surface, lithological studies were performed to eliminate the effect of lithology on aggregate quality. A total of 18 rock types comprising comparable lithologies were sampled from each of the three alluvial fans. Results show that, in almost all 18 rock types, the point load test values increases from relict to young fans whereas porosity and percentage of water absorption decrease, implying that aggregate quality decreases with time as a function of duration of exposure to weathering. Also, the strength of aggregates in all three fans decreases from the fan apex to the fan toe. Data show that micaceous, intrusive igneous rocks, tuffs with high porosity and fine-grained extrusive igneous rocks with some porosity are more sensitive to physical weathering, and therefore have lower strength, particularly on the relict and old fans. Overall, variations in aggregate strength on these fans can be attributed to the relative ages of fans, with relict and old fans containing lower quality aggregates due to the longer-term exposure to weathering.