Determination of the regions used as facing and building stone according to the material characteristics in an andesite quarry

The purpose of this study is to determine the variations within a certain area in the values of unit volume weight, water absorption capacity by mass, uniaxial compression strength, and bohme surface abrasion resistance, which are among the physical and mechanical properties of andesite existing in the andesitic marble quarry in the cubuk district in the city of Ankara, Turkey. In line with this purpose, the working area was divided into grids at equal intervals and tests were done by taking andesite samples from each grid point. The data obtained aims to determine the regions of andesite in the working area that are suitable and unsuitable for being facing and building stone, according to the TSE standards. Hence, unnecessary production will be avoided by ensuring that production occurs in this andesite quarry only in the areas which are suitable for facing and building stone. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.