Assessment of Bholari River Sand for Its Geotechnical Characterization as Fine Aggregate

Present study is aimed at assessment of Bholari river sand for its geo­technical characterization and suitability as fine aggregate which is being quarried in Jamshoro district,Sindh,Pakistan.For this purpose,sand samples(n=11)were collected from quarry sites and main river channel.Physical properties reveal that Bholari sand is mainly coarse to fine in size(0.2 mm-5 mm).Average values of fineness modulus,specific gravity,bulk density and void content of collected samples are 2.58,2.56,1659.90 kg/m^(3) and 35.12%respectively which varied within the corresponding permissible ranges of ACI(American Concrete Institute).Carbonate content of about 57.59%is also in agreement with corresponding range for fine aggregate.Petrographic examination revealed that Bholari River sand mainly compris­es of quartz and rock fragments with subordinate limestone fragments.As per classification of Dott(1964),Bholari sand is lithic arenite where quartz(50%)occurs as main mineral followed by rock fragments(30%),feldspars(15%)and other opaque minerals(5%).Texturally,the sediments are angu­lar(77%)to sub-round(33%).All these physical properties lie within the range set by National Highway Authority(NHA)and American Standard of Testing Material(ASTM).It is concluded that Bholari River sand is suita­ble for use in concrete mixed with cement and asphalt.