Eocene Kohat Formation suitability as an aggregate from Kohat Range, Sub-Himalayas, Pakistan, based on outcrop, petrographic and geotechnical properties

This paper evaluates the physicochemical and mechanical characteristics of the Limestone of the Kohat Formation. The Eocene Kohat limestone is generally exposed in the Kohat, Hangu, and Bannu districts. Kohat Formation limestone is well exposed throughout the Northern Kohat fold and thrust belt at Togh Bala village. It is cream to grey, hard, compact, well-bedded and fossiliferous. Kohat Formation has been identified into two lithofacies which are from base to top calcareous shale lithofacies with large benthic foraminifera and limestone lithofacies. The faunal assemblage indicates that the Kohat Formation was deposited in an inner to middle shelf environment. The petrographic analyses of samples of the Kohat Formation depict that it principally consists of calcite (60-90%) with a small to trace assemblage of dolomite (0-3%), ungraded quartz (0-1.5%), opaque minerals (0-1.2%) and fossils (8-40%). Aggregate physical properties like water absorption (0.88%), specific gravity (2.69), soundness (2.55%), Los Angeles abrasion value (23.06%), aggregate crushing value (11.56%), aggregate impact value (12.68%), flaky index (9.90%), elongation index (12.76%) and coating and stripping values (96.27%) conform to available standards. Our results indicate that Kohat Limestone is safe in terms of Alkali Carbonate Reactivity (ACR) and Alkali-Silica Reactivity (ASR). The facies, thin section study, geochemical, and geotechnical understanding of Kohat Formation indicate that these aggregate deposits are potential aggregate sources for ballast (railway), road, building material, concrete, mortar and other mega projects for connecting Asia and Europe.