TESTING AND ASSESSMENT OF SOME EGYPTIAN MARBLE TYPES

Abstract

Marble is one of the most important materials in the field of interior design for houses and buildings. Marble is a natural material with aesthetic values that may vary from one type to another depending on its mineral compositions and its properties. In this research, the necessary tests were done for six types of Egyptian marble to (The main aims of this research) are: To compare the differences between geological, chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of the same marble type in the different areas and to quantify the different characteristics and uses of selected marble types. The tests were physical, mechanical (according to ASTM standards), chemical, as well as petrography analysis. It was found that: South Sinai Teriesta marble samples had the highest values of major oxides, as SiO 2 1.03%, MgO 0.638%, Al 2 O 3 0.355%, Fe 2 O 3 0.339%, and the lowest value of CaO 54.6%, compared with other studied marble types. Zaafarana marble samples had the lowest values of water absorption with average of 0.356% and the apparent porosity with average of 0.894%, the highest average values of: bulk density 2.729 gm/cm3, abrasion resistance 2.345, and compressive strength 100.29 MPa compared with other studied marble types. Elminya Selvia marble samples had the highest values of water absorption with average of 1.488% and the apparent porosity with average of 3.770%., the lowest average values of: bulk density with 2.468 gm/cm3, abrasion resistance 1.145, and compressive strength 41.37 MPa. Modulus of rupture ranged from 7.2 to 13.8 MPa, for dry and wet conditions and the flexural strength ranged from 6.4 to 12.25 MPa, for dry and wet conditions. It was cleared that Red Sea Zaafarana marble is the strongest type and Elminya Selvia marble is the weakest one. aluminium oxide, 0.157% iron oxide, 0.875% silicon oxide, and traces of other elements. The grain size of this type is very fine to medium grained, and its colour is light beige. The average values of physic-mechanical tests results are water absorption is 1.19 % of its volume, apparent porosity is 3.18%, bulk density is 2.68 gm/cm3, abrasion resistance is 1.31, loss of thickness is 2.37 mm, dry and wet compressive strength are 54.21 MPa and 45.84 MPa respectively, dry, and wet modulus of rupture are 9.86 MPa and 7.81 MPa respectively, and dry and wet flexural strength are 9.52 MPa and 7.59 MPa respectively. The type of salvia contains 57.5% calcium oxide, 0.096% magnesium oxide, 0.049% aluminium oxide, 0.041% iron oxide, 0.188% silicon oxide, and traces of other elements. The grain size of this type is very fine to medium grained, and its colour is light beige. The average values of physic mechanical tests results are water absorption is 1.49% of its volume, apparent porosity is 3.77%, bulk density is 2.47 gm/cm3, abrasion resistance is 1.15, loss of thickness is 2.74 mm, dry and wet compressive strength are 41.37 MPa and 36.93 MPa respectively, dry, and wet modulus of rupture are 8.1 MPa and 8.53 MPa respectively, and dry and wet flexural strength are 8.48 MPa and 7.47 MPa respectively. Therefore, these marble types show low physical and mechanical properties (according to ASTM - C503 compared with other studied marble types. This is explained by presence of fossils and shell fragments in great amounts as large to medium sized and embedded in the matrix of very fine to medium grained calcite (micrite). Micrite to sparite