title: Petrography and physicomechanical properties of rocks from the Ambela granitic complex, NW Pakistan.
abstract: Petrography and physicomechanical properties of alkali granites, alkali quartz syenite, and nepheline syenite from Ambela, NW Pakistan, have been investigated. Whereas the alkali quartz syenite and most of the alkali granites are megaporphyritic, the nepheline syenite and some of the alkali granites are microporphyritic. Their phenocryst shape and size and abundance of groundmass are also different. The values of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) are the lowest and highest for megaporphyritic alkali granite and alkali quartz syenite, respectively. However, all the four rock types are moderately strong. Correspondingly, their specific gravity and water absorption values are within the permissible range for use as construction material. The UCS for the alkali quartz syenite is the highest, most probably because (i) it has roughly equal amounts of phenocryst and groundmass, (ii) it displays maximum size contrast between phenocryst and groundmass, (iii) its phenocrysts are highly irregular, and (iv) it contains substantial amounts of quartz.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arif
authors.forename: S Wajid Hanif
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Bukhari
authors.forename: Noor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sajid
mesh_terms: D019245:Compressive Strength; D006244:Hardness; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D010154:Pakistan; D010316:Particle Size; D012031:Refractometry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; C007886:granite; D012822:Silicon Dioxide