Abstract
(1) The mineral deposits are the base resources of materials used in building and environmental engineering applications, especially available locally. Two wells of volcanic tuff deposits in the Khmelnytsky region of Ukraine were investigated in this regard. (2) Physical-mechanical, chemical, and mineralogical analyses of the core samples were carried out. (3) The tuff samples were characterized by visible colour, low compressive strength (4.34–11.13 MPa), and high water absorption (30%). The dominant minerals of the upper horizon were chlorite, pyroxene, kaolinite, quartz, hematite, and calcite, while those of the lower horizon included analcime, quartz, hematite, and calcite. (4) The studied volcanic tuffs seem to be only partly useful for construction applications, and considering their visible colour, the exterior decoration of engineering objects could be possible. The peculiarity of the minerals of the upper horizon is that their crystals consist of Fe2+. An analysis of existing scientific data made it possible to say that these minerals can be considered as an alternative to expensive metallic iron in reducing the toxicity of chromium, uranium, and halogenated organic compounds. The significant presence of hematite allows the application of tuffs to technologies of water purification from As5+, As3+, Cr6+, Cr3+, U6+, Sb5+, and Se4+ oxyanions.
Highlights
Volcanic tuffs are natural building materials that have been used since historical times because of their softness, ease of processing, and low thermal conductivity [1,2]
(3) The tuff samples were characterized by visible colour, low compressive strength (4.34–11.13 MPa), and high water absorption (30%)
The SiO2 content is positively correlated with the pozzolan activity of the additives, which was confirmed in the research on cement prepared based on Turkish tuff [10]
Summary
Volcanic tuffs are natural building materials that have been used since historical times because of their softness, ease of processing, and low thermal conductivity [1,2]. Their popularity follows from their common occurrence and a large variety of colours, textures, compositions, and grain sizes [3]. Volcanic tuffs are considered as replacements for Portland cement at different replacement levels As it has been shown, the addition of volcanic tuff can increase the compressive and flexural strength of mortar [5,6] as well as improve the resistance of concrete to sulphates and alkali-silica reactions [7]. The SiO2 content is positively correlated with the pozzolan activity of the additives, which was confirmed in the research on cement prepared based on Turkish tuff [10]
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