Exploring the potential of late permian aggregate resources for utilization in engineering structures through geotechnical, geochemical and petrographic analyses

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an ongoing mega-construction project in Pakistan that necessitates further exploration of new natural resources of aggregate to facilitate the extensive construction. Therefore, the Late Permian strata of Chhidru and Wargal Limestone for aggregates resources were envisaged to evaluate their optimal way of construction usage through detailed geotechnical, geochemical, and petrographic analyses. Geotechnical analysis was performed under BS and ASTM standards with the help of employing different laboratory tests. A simple regression analysis was employed to ascertain mutual correlations between physical parameters. Based on the petrographic analysis, the Wargal Limestone is classified into mudstones and wackestone, and Chhidru Formation is categorized into wackestone and floatstone microfacies, both containing primary constituents of calcite and bioclasts. The geochemical analysis revealed that the Wargal Limestone and Chhidru Formation encompass calcium oxide (CaO) as the dominant mineral content. These analyses also depicted that the Wargal Limestone aggregates bear no vulnerability to alkali-aggregate reactions (AAR), whereas the Chhidru Formation tends to be susceptible to AAR and deleterious. Moreover, the coefficient of determination and strength characteristics, for instance, unconfined compressive strength and point load test were found inversely associated with bioclast concentrations and directly linked to calcite contents. Based on the geotechnical, petrographic, and geochemical analyses, the Wargal Limestone proved to be a significant potential source for both small and large-scale construction projects, such as CPEC, but the Chhidru Formation aggregates should be used with extra caution due to high silica content.