Ingeniería y Gestión Industrial

Characterization and Evaluation of the Potential of Limestone Jebels Bent Saidane, Bou Garnine Raous and Bridge of Fahs (North East Tunisia)

Abstract

Boussen Slim, Chaabani Fredj and Jouirou Mohamed

At Zaghouan locality, north eastern Tunisia, significant sedimentary ores took place (e.g. sand, clay, limestone…). This sedimentary ores were largely extended and covered partially by quaternary deposits. In this paper, multidiscipline approaches with petrographic, mineralogical, chemical and geotechnical analyses were involved to valorize these materials in various industrial uses. The carbonates of the Lower Jurassic (Oust Formation) present good criteria and higher quality to be use in engineering application moreover huge reserves. The gray carbonates of the Lower Jurassic (Oust Formation) are constituted by limestones with packstone or grainstone texture, with relatively abundant lithoclasts which are well coated by a micritic matrix. Mineralogical studies reveal the presence of calcite with a small content of quartz and dolomite. The major element compositions of this limestone show higher content in CaO, ranging from 53% to 55%, and from 94.65% and 98.21% expressed as CaCO3. The limestone of Oust Formation display low amount of Al2O3, SiO2 and Fe2O3 which ranging from 2% to 5%. Other minor elements (Na2O and K2O) are also detected. Geotechnical tests (e.g. Los Angles, Humid Micro Deval, Density Index) conducted on the Lower Jurassic limestone at studied area show dense materials (2,55 to 2,81 g/cm3) and well resistant to the fragmentation. Depending on the provenance of the limestone rock of the Oust Formation, different employments can be proposed. The Bent SaÑ—dane and Bou Garnine Mountains can be used to produce the aggregates while Rouas Mountains for marble manufactures. Either this applications, Lower Jurassic limestone from studied area can be used in the manufacture of Portland cement when mixed with Lower Cretaceous clay from the Zaghouan locality.