The Geological, Petrographical and Engineering Properties of Rhyolitic Tuffs (Çan Stone) in Çan-Etili Area (Çanakkale), NW Turkey: Their Usage as Building and Covering Stones

Abstract

In this study, the geological, petrographical properties of rhyolitic tuffs exposed around ?an-Etili in the Biga Peninsula (NW Turkey) which are pyroclastic products of Late Oligocene-Early Miocene aged ?an Volcanism were investigated, also physical and mechanical characteristics of tuffs introduced and tried to determine the impact on engineering properties of petrographical features. In the region, rhyolitic tuffs called locally “?an stone” have been used as covering and building stones for many years. These tuffs generally have light yellowish, beige, brown colored and different patterns with light yellowish, cream, reddish and brown colors caused by iron oxidation of hydrothermal alteration. They are preferred as coatings and decorative stone with these patterns. ?an stone which consisted of rhyolitic composition, lithic and locally crystalline tuffs has compact structure. The mineral assemblage of tuffs is mainly composed of quartz, plagioclase, rarely biotite, amphibole (hornblende) phenocrystals and opaque mineral with particles of volcanic glass and lithic fragments. Not only petrographical and geochemical analyses were carried out but also standard rock mechanic tests (unit weight, specific gravity, porosity, water absorption and uniaxial compressive strength) on rhyolitic tuffs samples collected from four different quarries (Hoppa Hill, Halilaga, Uzunalan, Dereoba). Simple regression analysis of test results obtained from four different regions and correlations were found good correlation between engineering proper- ties and the petrographical and chemical properties of rhyolitic tuffs.