An example of performance prediction of carbonate rocks in road construction from correlation of their petrographic and physicomechanical properties (Aitoloakarnania Prefecture, Western Greece)

This study determines the interrelationships between petrographic and physicomechanical properties in carbonate rocks and attempts to propose a method for a rapid estimation of their in-service behaviour. As an example, Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene-Eocene carbonate rocks from the Aitoloakarnania Prefecture of western Greece were used. Mineral phases, allochemical grains and micro-textural characteristics of the rocks were identified from detailed study under polarising microscope. The physicomechanical properties of the limestones are largely controlled by their mineralogical and textural characteristics, hence the last strongly affect the quality of the rocks. Knowledge of the mineralogical and petrographic characteristic of carbonate rocks may lead to predictions of their in-service performance.