A Geological and Physico - Mechanical Characterization of Marble of the Bidzar Quarry North-Cameroon

Abstract

This study of the geological and physico-mechanical characteristics of the Bidzar quarry white marble exploited for cement manufacture has given rise to an exploitation model. This model has enabled the reduction in the size of the blast products through site reconnaissance and laboratory testing. The outcrops of white marble, dolomitic marble, quartzite and shales which were revealed on the ground surface and were foliated and fractured. The foliation plans however, showed two main directions of orientation on white marble: [NNE - SSW and NNW - SSE]. Likewise, the two main directions of fractures [NNW - SSE (N160°E) in N - S and NNE - SSW (N10°E)] and two secondary directions [W - E and NNW - SSE (N140°E)] were present on white marble which is richer in CaO (52.65 to 55.45%) than the dolomitic one (30.15 to 31.78%). It came out that the quartzite was richer in SiO2 (95.43 to 98.86%) than shale (45.67 to 79.12%). The physical and mechanical characteristics of the white marble were: absolute density (2.77g/cm³) and bulk density (2.75 g/cm³). The mechanical fragmentation strength on the 6/10 mm and 10/14 mm fractions was 32% and 31%. The wear resistance on the same fractions was 33% and 25% respectively.