Engineering Properties of Volcanic Tuff from the Western Part of Yemen

Abstract

This paper deals with a study of the physical and mechanical characteristics of volcanic tuff and ignimbrite from six quarries located at different areas in the western part of Yemen (Manakha, Jahran, Bakhran, Dar Al-Hanash, Abaser and Soraifa). In the region, volcanic tuffs and ignimbrite are locally known by their location names and have been used as solid masonry and cladding stones. All the investigated pyroclastic rocks belong to the Tertiary volcanic. The standard physical and mechanical tests (void ratio, porosity, density, specific gravity, water absorption, uniaxial compressive strength and tensile strength) were carried out on the tuff and ignimbrite samples collected from different parts of the region. Laboratory tests revealed that the void ratio average values range between 0.12 and 0.37, the porosity ranges between 10.57 and 27.12%, the dry density ranges between 1.66 and 2.25 gm/cm3, specific gravity ranges from 1.45 to 1.94, and water absorption ranges from 4.69 to 16.39%. The measured uniaxial compressive strength values range from 24 to 68 MPa, and the tensile strength values range between 4 and 10 MPa. These tuffs and ignimbrites generally are light green, gray, beige, or yellowish in color. With these colors they are favoured for building, coating and decorative stone. This paper concludes that the studied stones have acceptable to good properties as dimension stone. Jahrani and Manakhi tuffs are the best quality, whereas Hanashi ignimbrite is of poorer quality.