Quality assessment of Bertoua Eastern quarry aggregates (East-Cameroon): implications in civil engineering works

The study area is covered with fine and coarse-grained granite and amphibolite. Construction companies used these rocks extensively for various purposes such as structural loading, pavements, and wall cladding. This study aims to analyze the quality of aggregates from the Bertoua Eastern quarry to consider their implications in civil engineering works. Both field and laboratory work were done. Concerning the petrographic analysis, fine and coarse-grained granite and amphibolite are rich in feldspars, quartz, biotite, and amphibole. As for the structural analysis, it highlights the presence of fractures, foliations, schistosity, veins, and cracks on the rock mass. On the physical and mechanical properties, amphibolite has satisfactory densities, limited mechanical fragmentation strength, and satisfactory wear strength. Moreover, fine-grained granite has satisfactory densities, limited to satisfactory mechanical fragmentation strength, and limited wear strength. Finally, coarse-grained granite has satisfactory densities, limited to satisfactory mechanical fragmentation strength and limited to satisfactory wear strength. Given the above, according to the European norm, amphibolite, fine-grained granites, and coarse-grained granites have acceptable qualities and can therefore be used in civil engineering works.