Petrographic, mechanical and chemical properties of sand resources in Lebanon, eastern mediterranean

Abstract

In a previous study, the results of extensive surveys and investigations covering 80 percent of the Lebanese territory to locate the major sand resources, were reported. Forty-one samples representing major operating sand quarries or sand excavation sites were located, described, and sampled. The research program reported in this paper was designed to evaluate the 41 sand samples based on petrographic analysis, mechanical and chemical acceptance tests, and results of tests conducted on fresh and hardened concrete samples identical except for the type of sand. Conclusions are presented concerning each sand source.