GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON CARBONATES AND THEIR SUITABILITY FOR ROAD BASES AND CEMENT INDUSTRIES, ELQATAMIYA- AIN SUKHNA ROAD, EGYPT

The present study deals with geochemical, geotechnical and mineralogical studies of Lower Eocene
carbonate rocks at El-Qatamiya- Ain Sukhna road and their suitability for road base and cement industries.
The studied area lies between Latitudes 29º 37' 43ʹʹ and 29º 59 ' 45ʹʹ N. and longitudes 32º 20' 43ʹʹ and 32º
19' 48ʹʹ E.
Lithologic studies of Lower Eocene (Ypresian) sediments are subdivided into two Formations in the G.
Galala area from base to top: Galala Fm. and Minia Fm. were recorded. Physical properties studies of
Lower Eocene carbonate rocks were made (at Arab Contractor Labs) on some raw materials (Limestone,
Dolomite and Clay) detected in the studied area show their validity for road base constructions.
The chemical composition major oxides were done using X-ray flourcense analysis on carbonate
sections shows their suitability for cement industry. Silica modulus (S.M) factor, Alumina ratio (A.R) and
Lime saturation factor (L.S.F) in Portland cement reveals that the studied carbonate sections (Galala area)
raw materials are very suitable for cement industry.