Abstract
To cater for the demands for various rock aggregates for the numerous engineering construction projects in Malaysia, such as dams, highways, housing developments, etc., the location of suitable quarry sites at or in the immediate vicinities of the project sites has been the responsibility and constant duty of the engineering geologist. This paper summarises the various engineering geologic factors that are considered in the location of potential quarry sites, in particular with reference to the practices in Malaysia. The factors considered include, among other things, the lithology, degree of weathering, overburden soil cover, geologic structures such as jointing or fracturing, engineering properties of the aggregates, operational difficulties such as benching, blasting and rock slope stability, and environmental considerations. Various case studies from Malaysia are presented, emphasis being on the problems that are often encountered here such as the high degree of weathering, inability to do benching in quarry sited on limestone cliffs, conflict with other landuse, etc.
Résumé
Pour satisfaire les besoins en granulats de roches variées requis par les nombreux projects en Malaisie (barrages, routes, logements etc.), la localisation de sites convenables de carrières, au voisinage ou à proximité immédiate des sites de projects a été la responsabilité et la préoccupation constante du géologue de travaux publics.
La présente communication résume les nombreux facteurs à considérer dans la recherche de sites potentiels de carrière, avec référence, en particulier à la pratique qui a cours en Malaisie.
Les facteurs considérés comprennent, entre autres, la lithologie, le degré d'altération superficielle, l'épaisseur du recouvrement stérile, la structure géologique (joints et fractures), les propriétés géotechniques des granulats, les difficultés d'exploitation telles que la possibilité d'établissement de gradins, d'abattage à l'explosif, la stabilité des pentes rocheuses ainsi que des considérations d'environnement.
Des études de cas variés, en Malaisie, sont présentés, en insistant sur les problèmes qui y sont souvent rencontrés: importance de l'altération superficielle, difficultés d'établir des gradins dans les carrières le long de falaises calcaires, conflits avec les autres usages du sol, etc.
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References
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Boon Kong, T. Quarry site selection in Malaysia. Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology 29, 181–185 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02594399
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02594399