Tamale sandstone petrology and engineering properties as suitable coarse aggregate in concrete production

Rapid urbanization and industrialization have fueled an increase in concrete infrastructure within Tamale Metropolis and its environs, resulting in the demand for granitic aggregates for concrete production. However, locally, this type of aggregate is unavailable because of the local geology; the sandstones of Tamale are abundant. This study investigated the suitability of the sandstones as coarse aggregates by examining their engineering properties and petrographic characteristics. Photomicrographs of three samples indicate the sandstones have a paragenesis of quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar, biotite, opaque, lithic fragments, and cement and are classified as subfeldsarenites. X-ray florescence geochemical data indicate the composition of sandstones has SiO ₂ content of 72.6 2% to 74.62 %, Al ₂ O ₃ : 10.11 % to 12.23 %, and Fe ₂ O ₃ : 3.46 % to 4.22 %. The engineering characteristics show that, except for water absorption, flakiness, elongation, aggregate crushing value, and compressive, all met standard requirements of concrete products for building purposes. Results provided good mineralogical, elemental, and textural properties of the sandstones and were found to have the possibility of having strong physicomechanical characteristics that may support other engineering properties, including low abrasion since SiO ₂ is known to be high in rock. The study concludes that the Tamale-Obosum sandstones can perform reasonably well in concrete for domestic concrete construction. Further testing to improve the scientific understanding of Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) and water absorption of the sandstones is recommended.