Sains Malaysiana 42(6)(2013): 773–781

Potential Alkali-Reactivity of Granite Aggregates in the Bukit Lagong Area, Selangor,

Peninsular Malaysia

(Potensi Tindak Balas Alkali Batuan Agregat Granit di Kawasan Bukit Lagong, Selangor, Semenanjung Malaysia)

Ng Tham Fatt*, John K. Raj & Azman A. Ghani

Department of Geology, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 21 November 2011/Accepted: 16 December 2012

ABSTRACT

The Bukit Lagong area is the most important aggregate supply centre in Selangor. Geological studies were carried out in four quarries in the Bukit Lagong area and samples were subjected to petrographic examination and accelerated expansion tests to assess the potential alkali-aggregate reactivity of granite aggregates. The granitic rocks comprise mainly of coarse grained megacrystic granite, minor medium grained megacrystic granite and microgranite. Petrographic examination showed that the primary minerals in these undeformed granitic rocks are not alkali reactive. Faulting and related alteration and mineralization have produced potentially alkali reactive minerals including microcrystalline and strained quartz and fine phyllosilicates. Marginally deleterious and deleterious expansion is shown by the accelerated mortar bar tests. Although alkali reactive rocks are present in some quarries in Bukit Lagong, their volume is small. When blended with the undeformed granitic rocks, the aggregates produced are not expected to cause alkali-aggregate reaction in concrete.

Keywords: Alkali-aggregate reaction; cataclasite; granite aggregate

ABSTRAK

Kawasan Bukit Lagong merupakan sumber batuan agregat yang terpenting di Selangor. Kajian geologi telah dijalankan di empat kuari di kawasan Bukit Lagong dan kajian petrografi serta ujian pengembangan terpecut dilakukan untuk menilai potensi tindak balas alkali agregat untuk agregat granit. Granit megahablur berbutir kasar adalah batuan utama di kawasan kajian dan terdapat sedikit granit megahablur berbutir sederhana dan mikrogranit. Kajian petrografi menunjukkan bahawa mineral primer yang ada pada batuan granit yang tidak mengalami canggaan adalah tidak alkali reaktif. Sesar serta perubahan dan pemineralan yang berkaitan telah menghasilkan mineral yang mungkin alkali reaktif seperti kuarza keterikan, kuarza mikrohabluran dan filosilikat halus. Ujian batang lepa terpecut menunjukkan pengembangan pinggiran mudarat dan mudarat. Walaupun batuan alkali reaktif wujud dalam kuari di Bukit Lagong, isi padu batuan tersebut adalah kecil. Selepas dicampur dengan granit yang tidak mengalami canggaan, agregat yang dihasilkan tidak dijangka akan menyebabkan tindak balas alkali-agregat dalam konkrit.

Kata kunci: Agregat granit; kataklasit; tindak balas alkali agregat

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*Corresponding author; email address: ntf@um.edu.my