Abstract
The Murree Formation is a part of the Miocene molasse sequence of the Peshawar Basin and
consists of a series of alternating beds of sandstone, siltstone and shale with subordinate marls and
conglomerates. In the present study Murree Formation lies at the Southern margin of Peshawar
Basin, Jena Kor area, FR Peshawar. The primary focus of this research is sandstone of the respective
formation, which is predominantly fine to medium-grained and moderately to well-sorted. The
framework grains (quartz, feldspar and rock fragments) are angular to sub-angular to sub-rounded.
Their relative modal abundance and petrographic features reflect the Murree Sandstone is
mineralogically submature and texturally immature. The observed heavy minerals include chlorite,
zircon, epidote, rutile, illmenite, chromite, sphene, apatite and tourmaline. The sandstone contains an
average matrix abundance of 36% and hence classified as wacke. The relative proportion of
framework grains of most of the samples lie in the category of arkosic wacke. In order to assess the
potential of Murree Sandstone for use in construction, uniaxial compressive strength (77.07+21.61),
uniaxial tensile strength (11.53+2.24), shear strength, porosity (1.21%), specific gravity (3.12) and
water absorption (0.389%) of three bulk samples were determined. On the basis of these results
obtained, sandstones of Murree Formation are regarded as appropriate for construction purposes.
Mustafa Yar, Mohammad Arif, Arif Khan Afridi, Muhammad Saeed, Muhammad Ziad, Arshad Ali. (2017) Petrographic and Mechanical Properties of Sandstone from Murree Formation, Jena Kor Area, Peshawar Basin. A Case Study, Pakistan Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, VOLUME 20, Issue 1.
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