Evalution of Suitaility of Rocks using Volumetric Joint Count for Dimension Stone Guarry in Supare, Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Fracture characterization of rocks in Supare, Ondo state, South western, Nigeria was examined in respect to their suitability for dimension stones. Detailed geological mapping of the area carried out on scale of 1:12,500 indicated that the dominant rocks are granite-gneisis followed by granite and migmatite. The principal joint direction trends NNE-SSW which also corresponds to the regional structural pattern of the area. The volumetric joint count for discontinuities was carried out via Scan Line mapping and values obtained from all examined outcrops ranges from 0.1to 5.33m^-3 with average spacing varies from 0.7 to 2.45m. The volumetric joints count revealed that most of outcrops have volumetric joint value less than3.0 and can be exploited economically for dimension stone production with potential of producing medium block. A few of the granite gnesis recorded volumetric joint less than 1.0 and have the potential of producing large block while a few of the granite outcrops have higher volumetric joint count greater than 3.0 and thus can be quarried as aggregates for construction use in building and road construction. It is suggested that the geologist and the mining engineers should take into cognizance the geological evaluation (joint density) as fundamental in prospecting and exploration for the dimension stone quarry.