Abstract
Mixtures of volcanic and zeolitic tuffs from Jordan with other natural materials such as marl, sand, kaolinite and bentonite were prepared and tested for Proctor compaction in order to determine the best blend to achieve the highest dry density for use in a landfill liner. Compaction tests indicate that volcanic tuffs have higher dry densities than the zeolitic tuffs. The presence of zeolitic tuff in a mix decreases the dry density and increases the optimum moisture content. The study indicated that two mixtures of zeolitic tuff, marl, bentonite, kaolinite and sand gave the highest dry densities which, combined with the high cation exchange capacity of zeolitic tuff and bentonite, provide mixtures suitable for potential low cost landfill liners, if the shrinkage tests confirm that they are appropriate. The liquid limits measured using the cone penetration method of the volcanic tuffs were higher than those obtained using the Casagrande method except for the Rmah Tuff (RT) which showed the reverse. This needs further investigation.
Résumé
Des tufs volcaniques et zéolitiques de Jordanie ont été mélangés à d’autres matériaux naturels tels que des marnes, des sables, de la kaolinite et de la bentonite pour des essais de compactage Proctor afin de déterminer les meilleures associations permettant d’obtenir les plus fortes densités sèches pour des usages en couvertures de remblais. Les essais de compactage indiquent que les tufs volcaniques conduisent à des densités sèches plus fortes que les tufs zéolitiques. La présence de tufs zéolitiques dans les mélanges fait baisser la densité sèche et augmenter la teneur en eau optimale. L’étude a indiqué que deux mélanges de tufs zéolitiques, de marne, de bentonite et de sable ont donné la plus forte densité sèche. Considérant par ailleurs la forte capacité d’échange de cations des tufs zéolitiques et de la bentonite, ces mélanges apparaissent adaptés pour des couvertures économiques de remblais. Les limites de liquidité mesurées sur les tufs volcaniques par la méthode du cône de pénétration étaient plus grandes que celles obtenues par la méthode de Casagrande, sauf pour le tuf de Rmah (RT) qui a donné un résultat opposé. Ceci nécessite de nouvelles investigations.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank the University of Jordan for supporting and financing the project (No. 106/2008–2009). The analyses were mostly undertaken at the Department of Applied Geology and Environment laboratories, University of Jordan. XRD analyses were carried out by the Jordanian Natural Resources Authority (NRA). Thanks are given to the students Nancy Refai and Mutaz Al Omari for their help in undertaking the laboratory analyses.
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Shaqour, F., White, S. & Webb, J. Geotechnical characterization of geomaterial blends with zeolitic tuffs for use as landfill liners. Bull Eng Geol Environ 70, 691–697 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0375-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-011-0375-6