Abstract:
Abstract
Knowledge of the geology of the ground to be excavated in surface mines and foundations, especially
in civil engineering works, is very important to decide on the appropriate excavation method and
equipment and ensure human and equipment safety with time and cost savings. For this purpose, the
engineering geological properties and excavatability classification of rocks around the Haroglu
Mountain located in the northeast of Baskil in Elazig were studied. The research started with a desktop
study and then continued with a walkover, the determination, and mapping of lithostratigraphic units
outcropping in this study area. Yuksekova Formation, Kuscular Formation, Seske Formation, Kirkgecit
Formation, and surficial deposits are the lithostratigraphic units in order of occurrence from old to
young. Yuksekova Formation, the oldest unit between them, makes up of a group of plutonic,
hypabyssal, volcanic, and pyroclastic rocks. After Yuksekova Formation occurs which is magmatic, the
sedimentary sequence begins to form with Middle Paleocene-aged rocks. Sedimentary rocks are
divided into three formations according to their stratigraphic properties. In order of occurrence from
old to young, these sedimentary formations are composed of Kuscular conglomerate, Seske Formation,
Kirkgecit Formation. Also, surficial deposits as the youngest unit are formed occasionally over other
formations. The structural geological properties of the formations, one of the most important
parameters of the excavability, were mapped. The set number, roughness, magnitude of the angle of
dip, azimuth of strike or dip of discontinuities or joints, and the block volume are the significant
parameters that are influenced excavatability. The azimuths of strikes of discontinuities were measured
and carried out the rose diagrams from them. As a result of these measurements, the discontinuities or
fractures in Yuksekova Formation have been usually found in the azimuth of a strike having NNE and
a 45-90 SW of angle and azimuth of dip. It was determined that the orientation of K60W of excavation
is the orientation of a very favorable excavation based on the discontinuity attitudes in the study area. It
was established that the orientation of a very unfavorable excavation also is in the azimuth of the strike
of fracture, namely N30E. Excavatability of the rocks was determined by assessment of lower and
upper discontinuity spacing index and point load strength values. Yuksekova Formation requires
methods that can be excavated from very hard to extremely hard ripping (D 9)–blasting by taking into
consideration formations exposed in the study area. Kuscular Formation can be excavated by methods
of easy ripping (D 6-D 7) to hard ripping (D 8) and Seske Formation also easy ripping (D 6-D 7)-very
hard ripping (D 9). Kirkgecit Formation has the capabilities of being excavated by methods of hard
digging (CAT 245) to very hard ripping (D 9). As a result of this study, the order of excavatability as
the rocks from hard to easy can be expressed as the micro-diorite, granite, andesite, and diorite of
Yuksekova Formation, the conglomerate of Kırkgecit Formation and the conglomerate of Kuscular
Formation. Finally, the limestone and shale of Kirkgecit Formation would be also excavated the easiest
respectively. Additionally, it has been revealed that surficial deposits can be also excavated optimally
by easy digging method.
