Relation between microstructure and physical and engineering properties of sandstones, with emphasis on quartz content

The composition, texture and microstructure of rocks affect their physical and mechanical properties such as dry unit weight, porosity, p-wave velocity and Brazilian tensile strength. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mineralogy sandstone characteristics on physical and mechanical properties of sandstone in three groups with low mean quartz (less than 65%), moderate (65 to 80%) and high (more than 80% ) and 26 samples were collected from southern province of Zanjan city Then, a comprehensive program of rock mechanic tests are planned and mineralogical properties and engineering parameters such as dry unit weight, porosity, P-wave velocity and Brazilian tensile strength were determined and their relationship was investigated using linear regression analysis. The results show that the mineral composition is effective on the strength properties and increasing the quartz mineral content in the samples, two physical parameters of dry unit weight and P-wave velocity and a mechanical parameter Brazilian tensile strength increase. Also, due to the correlation between physical parameters, P-wave velocity can be predicted with appropriate approximation using porosity parameter for sandstone in studied regions and the results can be used in geomechanical studies.