A.

Mwasha: Natural and Recycled Guanapo Quarzite Aggregates 50

ISSN 1000 7924

The Journal of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago
Vol.38, No.1, October 2009, pp.50-56

Natural and Recycled Guanapo Quarzite Aggregates for

Ready Mix Concrete
Abrahams Mwasha

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of West Indies

St Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies;
E-mail: Abrahams.Mwasha@sta.uwi.edu

(Received 29 April 2009; Revised 16 June 2009; Accepted 14 September 2009)

Abstract: Quarrying involves the removal of the harder aggregates from the ridges and mounds in the area,
while fine aggregates left over are prone to weathering and erosion. This exacerbates the risk of landslides
leading to serious environmental problems. Today, aggregates from recycling concrete are gaining
importance because it protects natural resources and eliminates the need for disposal by using the readily
available concrete as an aggregate source for new concrete or pavement subbase layers. Quality of the
products containing recycled aggregates is often the source dependent. Rigorous monitoring and testing can
broaden the use of recycled aggregates into applications. In this paper the author will analyse the physico-
mechanical properties and micro-structural properties of recycled quartzite aggregates mixed with ordinary
Portland cement. The result of this investigation can be used to explain the physical and mechanical
behaviour of hardened concrete manufactured using recycled Guanapo Quartzite aggregates.

Keywords: aggregates, cement, concrete, construction wastes

1. Introduction test cubes were performed according to BS 1881:

It has been confirmed that concrete is not an
environmentally friendly material due to its
destructive resources-consumption nature and severe
environmental impact after its use. Today, Portland
Cement Concrete (PCC) remains one of the major
construction materials being utilised worldwide
occupying 55-80% of concrete volume. Without
proper alternative for aggregates in the future, the
concrete industry globally will consume 8-12 billion
tones annually of natural aggregates after the year
2010 (Mark, 2007). Aggregates which occupy at
least three quarters of the volume of concrete play a
major role in reducing shrinkage, bleeding and of
course enhancing strength for medium and high
strength concrete, according to Neville (1996).
In this paper, the compressive strength of cubes
using varying grades of Recycled Aggregates (RA)
were performed for different grades such as Low
strength (LS) having compressive strength values
below 30 MPa, Medium Strength (MS) having
compressive strength values between 30 and 40, and
High strength (HS) having a compressive strength
greater than 40 MPa. The compressive strength of all
Part 116 (BSI, 1983c). The manipulation of the
water to cement ratio (w/c ratio) for a varied sample
of recycled aggregate was conducted by randomly
varying the amount of LS, MS and HS. Various w/c
ratios (including 0.4, 0.45 and 0.5) were adopted in
this work.
2. Quarry Industry in Trinidad and Tobago and
its Ecological Impact
The Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) quarry industry
comprises fifty-six (56) active quarries of which
thirty-eight (38) are sand and gravel quarries. Total
production from the quarry sector for year 2002 was
approximately 5.3 million cubic meters. Of this
production 3.4 million meters were sand and gravel.
It is believed that a considerable amount of sand and
gravel came from unlicensed quarry operations
(Arvind, 2008).
The quarry operations, in Trinidad fall within the
northern range of mountains, which are an extension
of the Andean Mountains in the South America. This
area has primeval tropical rainforests, renowned for
their diversity of flora and fauna. Typically, the
A. Mwasha: Natural and Recycled Guanapo Quarzite Aggregates
rainforest includes over 2 300 plant species with 700
species of orchids, and provides a habitat to over 430
species of birds, 620 species of butterflies, 100
species of mammals, 70 species of amphibians and
freshwater fish, and 70 species of reptiles
(Shrivastava at el., 2009).
The movement of heavy masses of rocks is
likely to destabilise the hill slopes and lead to further
sliding of soil and loose masses rolling down the
same. Landslides and topographical changes are
interrelated with the effects on hydrology and
watershed (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Schematic view of slope instability
caused by mining activities
3. Potential for the Use of Recycled Aggregates
There is a need to find and supply suitable substitute
for natural aggregates as soon as possible. Utilisation
of recycled concrete wastes has been taking place for
many years i.e. 42 million tonnes of construction and
demolition waste (including concrete) was recycled
in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2001 that is an
increase of 382% since the early 90s. The use of
primary aggregates for construction has decreased by
28% from 1989 to 2002. The use of
recycled/secondary aggregates for construction has
increased by 94% during 1989 to 2002. Though there
is impressive increase in the use of recycled concrete
in T&T, basically these recycled aggregates are used
as fillers in road construction and in low-level
applications due to impurities and defects associated
with recycled aggregates (Mwasha and Mark, 2008).
According to ACI221R-87 (ACI, 1999),
recycling of concrete for aggregates involves
breaking, removing, and crushing existing concrete
into a material with a specified size and quality. The
51
processing of demolition waste, so as to convert it
into satisfactory aggregate free from contaminants is
still being developed and there is no proper standard
to be followed.
The strength, physical and chemical properties
of natural aggregates depend entirely in the
properties of the parent rock. The properties of
recycled aggregates depend on both natural
aggregates and hardened older cement paste
surrounding them. The older cement paste may have
a considerable influence on the quality of the
concrete, either fresh or in the hardened state.
Considering the nature of recycled aggregates, it is
difficult to define a good recycled aggregate other
than by saying that it is an aggregate from high
strength concrete.
4. Methodology
Recycled concrete used in this paper was derived
from relatively young aged concrete (i.e., one to two
years). In this paper, the properties of both fresh and
hardened concrete using re-cycled quartzite
aggregates from T&T were analysed. Four different
tests were performed.
Firstly concrete cubes were manufactured and
cured properly to attain 28 days strength. High
strength quartzite aggregates and type-1 cement from
Trinidad were used. These cubes were tested at
varying water cement ratio. After 28 days, the
hardened concrete cubes were crushed to determine
their compressive strength.
Secondly the crushed blocked were further
crushed and sieved. These aggregates were used to
manufacture new concrete blocks using the same
water/cement ratio (i.e., 0.4, 0.45 and 0.5). After
curing for 28 days compressive Strength tests were
performed.
Thirdly, mixtures of different aggregates from
different water/cement ratios were used to
manufacture and test the samples. Fourthly, the
physical chemical methods were used to investigate
the crushed samples.
5. Materials and Samples
5.1 Portland Cement
The Portland cement used in this experiment was
manufactured at Trinidad Cement Limited. The
composition of typical cement used in this
experiment is shown in Table 1. More detailed
specification for this cement can be referred to the
European Standards ENV 1974 (EN, 1992).
A. Mwasha: Natural and Recycled Guanapo Quarzite Aggregates
Table 1. The composition of Portland cement was used
Chemical Compound % of total weight
SiO2 22.06
CaO 65.39
Fe2O3 0.02
MgO 1.13
Al2O3 4.25
SO3 2.98
Na2Oeq 0.53
K2O 0.50
Na2O 0.20
<Insert Table 1 about here>
5.2 Water
Natural (i.e. ordinary tap water) was used. Natural
water in Trinidad is slightly acidic with pH value of
6.5. Portland Cement Concrete can be attacked by
liquids with pH value below 6.5. According to
Neville (1996), the attack is severe only at a pH
below 5.5. It was found that the content of humic
and organic acids was at minimum in the water used.
5.3 Natural Quartzite Aggregate in T&T
Quartz is a very common mineral and it is a
chemical compound of silicon and oxygen known as
silicon dioxide (SiO2). According to Akhavan
(2009), Quartz is usually classified in two groups
• Macro crystalline – This is the group of quartz
that form crystals and has macroscopically
crystalline structures.
• Crypto crystalline or microcrystalline – This
group does not exhibit any visible crystals and
has a dense structure.
Quartz in its pure form is colorless but it can
have any colour if it is impure. The tenacity of quartz
is brittle and is 7 on the Moh’s hardness scale. The
Guanapo quartzite is a milky quartz which is defined
as; “a crystalline quartz that is white and translucent
to almost opaque due to numerous evenly distributed
gas and/or fluid intrusions” (Akhavan, 2009).
The Quartzite aggregates used in this work were
extracted from number of quarry sites in Valencia,
Trinidad. These typical types of Quartzite can be
classified as a non-foliated metamorphic rock. This
is probably because these rocks were once exposed
to high temperature conditions, but not to high
directional pressure conditions. The parent rock for
quartzite was probably a quartz-rich sandstone
deeply buried and rising temperature fused the grains
together forming highly strong aggregates with low
52
porosity.
Most of Quartzite aggregate is located in the
foothills of the northern range and is normally
overlain with 2-3 meters of heavy clay as suggested
by (Suite, 1977). Guanapo is relatively pure forms
of quartz (~ 99% quartz), the yellow brown colour of
the Guanapo is a staining deposit of ferric oxide
deposit. Suite (1977) pointed out that this surface
deposit has moved over time into the micro cracks of
the crystalline particles and in some cases becomes
an inter-crystalline impregnation.
Guanapo aggregates are highly weather-resistant
that it tends to have a sugary appearance, and when
broken, the fractures cut through the sand grains, not
around them as is with sandstone.
Soundness test was carried according to ASTM
C88-76 (ASTM, 1976). The specific gravity of these
aggregates was 2.65 and the moisture contents were
approximately 2.25%. The variations of moisture
content in the mixes were adjusted accordingly,
taking into account this increase in moisture so as to
maintain specified water/cement ratios.
Figure 2 shows a texture of fractured Quantize
Aggregate. The texture shown clearly indicates the
possible interlock between aggregate and cement
paste. Depending on the water cement ratio these
spaces are filled with cement paste forming a
stronger bond.
Figure 2. Natural Aggregate magnified x1000
5.4 Recycled Aggregate
The recycled aggregates for this experiment were
manufactured in laboratory using the above
mentioned materials. The mixture ratio and curing
process were monitored and recorded.
The cured concrete of the given mixes was
crushed to a suitable size (passing the 20mm sieve
but retained by the 10mm sieve). This was in an
A. Mwasha: Natural and Recycled Guanapo Quarzite Aggregates 53

effort to maintain a nominal size distribution for

concrete production. Crushing was done by passing
portions of hardened concrete through a Jaw crusher.
Different batches of aggregate were done, all
depending on the compressive strength of the
concrete samples from which they were obtained. In
this way, a batch of aggregate derived from high
strength concrete was made.
The same process of generating specific grades
of recycled aggregate was done to obtain batches of
medium strength and low strength. Water
Absorption, Relative density on an Oven-Dried (OD)
basis, Relative density on a Saturated and Surface-
Dried (SSD) basis, apparent relative density – Done Figure 3. Grain size analysis of Aggregate
according to BS: Part 2 (BSI, 1975) as shown in for coarse and fine aggregates
Table 2.

6. Mix Design and Block Fabrication

Table 2. Aggregate Test results including Specific
Gravity, Water absorption and different weight values The blocks were fabricated in steel moulds with
Weight
internal dimensions of 150 x 150 x 150 mm. After
in Dry Water mixing the fresh concrete about 3kg of materials
Aggregate Water Wt SSD SG SG Absorption were placed into the mould in three layers. All layers
Type (g) (g) wt (g) (OD) (SSD) (%)
LS 1413.2 2273.5 2415.9 2.27 2.41 6.26 were compacted manually 35 times using 25 mm
MS 1445.9 2326.1 2446.1 2.33 2.45 5.16 square steel rod punner as described in BS 1881: Part
HS 1267.6 2048.0 2156.3 2.30 2.43 5.29 108 (BSI, 1983a). Cubes were cured according to BS
1881: Part 111 (BSI, 1983b).

Table 4. ACV values obtained for the RA GRADE mix Table 4. Mix design for the RA MIX
Aggregate M1 M2 ACV (%) Samples
Strength (g) (g) (=M2/M1x100) Mix Component 1 2 3
Low Strength 2262.80 737.00 32.57
Cement (kg) 3.80 3.77 3.744
Medium 2236.50 697.30 31.18
Strength Water (kg) 1.521 0.927 1.872
High Strength 2209.00 669.60 30.31 Fine Agg. (kg) 7.61 7.88 7.7
Coarse Agg. (kg) 11.41 11.589 11.232
Total wt. (kg) 24.339 24.166 24.548
Average Crushing Value was done according to Water loss (kg) 0.636 0.645507 0.625622
BS812 Part 110 (BSI, 1990). For the Average w/c 0.4 0.45 0.5
Crushing Value (ACV), the higher the value of the
ACV number, the weaker the material as shown in
Table 3. As expected, the ACV for HS RA was 7. Results and Discussion
lower than the rest. The ACV for MS RA being 7.1 Test Methods and Mode of Failure
lower than LS RA, thus concluding that the grade of The mode of failure for the concrete using the
the recycled aggregate affects the crushing capacity recycled aggregate was relatively difficult in
of the aggregate. ascertaining as the general uniformity produced by
using recycled aggregate complicated the specific
5.5 Grain Sieve Analysis mode of failure. The recycled aggregate itself is
Grain sieve analysis of natural aggregate and composed of coarse aggregate and mortar. When
recycled aggregates were performed so as to arrive at mixed with the other components to obtain the new
a more accurate recycled aggregate size distribution concrete mix, the transition between old and new
as shown in Figure 3. mortar may become less apparent. In this way, the
meaning of aggregate failure (i.e., the failure of the
A. Mwasha: Natural and Recycled Guanapo Quarzite Aggregates
coarse aggregate) or bond failure (i.e., the failure due
to the bonding between mortar and aggregate)
changes slightly, as aggregate failure would
encompass the failure of the coarse aggregate within
the recycled aggregate, the failure of the bond
between coarse aggregate and old mortar or the
simultaneous failure of both coarse aggregate and
mortar bond.
7.2 RA-NA Mix Compressive Strength Tests
The maximum compressive strength achieved
overall was for the (w/c = 0.4) mix 28 day result of
58.9 MPa. Compressive strength results for RA MIX
(w/c = 0.5) after a period of 28 days showed a
maximum of 53.2 MPa while NA (w/c = 0.5)
strength results showed a maximum of 40.9 MPa.
This is a 30% increase in compressive strength of the
NA strength result. When comparing the (w/c = 0.5)
RA MIX and the (w/c = 0.55) RA MIX, a
discrepancy was observed. The general compressive
strength of the (w/c = 0.5) RA MIX was lower than
those of the (w/c = 0.55) RA MIX. The invariability
of compressive strength when using recycled
aggregate could be caused by high degree of
absorption of cement gel into the older porous
cement making the bonding more stronger hence
high compressive strength. It was observed the 7-day
compressive strength (w/c= 0.55) was greater than
the 14-day compressive strength for both (w/c = 0.4
and w/c = 0.45) as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 4. NA - RA MIX Compressive Strength Results
showing the compressive strength for the three mixes,
differentiated by the w/c ratio
The addition of the admixture was done so that
the workability of the concrete mix would increase,
54
thus yielding results without negatively affecting the
true result. This apparent need for admixture is as a
result of high water absorption rates possessed by the
recycled aggregate.
7.3 RA Grade Compressive Strength Tests
Results showed that the higher the grade strength
of the concrete from which the recycled aggregate
was derived, the stronger the resulting mix of
concrete. HS RA showed a general greater
compressive strength than that of MS RA in the
range of 3.5 MPa (for the 7-day test) to 15.2 MPa
(for the 28-day test). MS RA showed a greater
compressive strength than that of LS RA by at the
least 5.3MPa (for the 7-day test) to 13.6MPa (for the
14-day test). This allows for the hypothesis that for
an increase in grade of recycled aggregate, the
stronger the corresponding concrete mix. The highest
compressive strength was obtained by the HS RA
mix for its 28-day compressive strength of 54
N/mm2 which can very well be classified as High
Strength NA concrete. Results for the concrete mix
using NA showed that generally the NA mix had
greater compressive strength than the LS RA mix,
but generally weaker than the MS RA and HS RA
mixes as shown in Figure 5. Grade of aggregate used
is defined in the key to the right of the graph.
Figure 5. RA GRADE mix results
7.4 Micro-Structural Analysis
The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used
to analyze the micro-structural nature of recycled
aggregate (Wikipedia, 2008). The electrons
interacted with the atoms that make up the sample
A. Mwasha: Natural and Recycled Guanapo Quarzite Aggregates
producing signals that contain information about the
sample's surface topography. Magnification in a
SEM could be controlled over a range of about 5
orders of magnitude from x25 or less to x 250,000 or
more.
The samples were examined for definitive
observation points, i.e. areas on the sample that were
of interest. The samples were placed on a testing
platform, and then coated with a gold mist for better
absorption of the electrons in a vacuum sealed
chamber as well as to prevent the accumulation of
static electric charge on the specimen during electron
irradiation. The sample was placed in the electron
microscope chamber and a highly focused electron
beam was directed towards the sample under
observation. The interaction between the sample and
electron beam produced signal that was detected and
projected by the display. The bonding exists between
the mortar associated with the recycled aggregate
and that of the new mortar mixed with the recycled
aggregate. Using electron beam microscope showed
the separation between old mortar and new mortar.
Examined was a layer approximately 200μm in
depth of a different mortar than that of the rest of the
sample. This displayed the approximate bond depth
of the two samples. A line of weakness had formed a
certain distance away from the bond area, similar to
the failure experienced by glued surfaces, adhesion/
cohesion failure.
Figure 6 shows a line of failure/fracture,
approximately 5 μm in thickness, the failure crack
can be seen extending from the natural aggregate
(represented by the darker color) through the mortor
(represented by the grey color). This can cause
premature failure in a concrete mix containing these
recycled aggregates. While not being a general
characteristic of recycled aggregate, it does not deny
the fact that for a sample amount, certain individual
aggregates may be faulty. This creates a somewhat
random fault factor.
The general matrix of the concrete after relative
curing showed the difference in color of the recycled
aggregate to the new mortar which had adhered to it.
This being said, a sample was taken so as to examine
the definitive line of adhesion between the two, but
upon closer examination, nothing was found
regarding the definitive adhesion line. This would
lend to the hypothesis that the old mortar acts just as
the new mortar, in terms of the overall concrete
matrix.
While not being a general characteristic of
recycled aggregate, it does not deny the fact that for
55
a sample amount, certain individual aggregates may
be faulty. This creates a somewhat random fault
factor.
Figure 6 - Image of recycled aggregate. The magnified
in the order of 1000X
The general matrix of the concrete after relative
curing showed the difference in color of the recycled
aggregate to the new mortar which had adhered to it.
This being said, a sample was taken so as to examine
the definitive line of adhesion between the two, but
upon closer examination, nothing was found
regarding the definitive adhesion line. This would
lend to the hypothesis that the old mortar acts just as
the new mortar, in terms of the overall concrete
matrix.
8. Conclusions and Recommendations
When using recycled aggregate as coarse aggregate
in the production of concrete, it can be recommended
that using RA derived from medium or high strength
concrete is a better choice than Natural aggregate
when comparing compressive strength. RA derived
from low strength concrete generally has a lower
compressive strength than NA in concrete mix, but
still can be used to some degree but may not be
economically feasible.
The invariability of using a mixture of strengths
of aggregate can lead to variance in compressive
strength as shown in the concrete mix containing
different strengths of concrete. This invariability
may be accounted for with the analysis of the
specimens shown under the electron microscope
having lines of weaknesses.
A. Mwasha: Natural and Recycled Guanapo Quarzite Aggregates
For concrete mix containing RA with a (i.e., w/c
< 0.5), it would require the addition of admixture. It
is because the mix would become far unworkable for
reliable results to be obtained. This inclusion of
admixture, including analysis on cost to volume
ratios involving admixture should be done.
What should be taken into consideration is the
size of recycled aggregate used in the concrete
mixes. Normally, particle sizes should not be greater
than 25mm, so as to ease the action of compacting,
nor smaller than 10mm. A stricter size distribution
regime can be assessed where the size of recycled
aggregate components can be tested for their
compressive strength in concrete mixes.
It was observed in the electron beam microscope
analysis that for a specific specimen, a fracture line
was observed. A general aggregate test involving the
influence of the somewhat randomness of structure
of the recycled aggregate should be done.
References:
ACI (1999), ACI 221R-87: 1999 - Guide for use of normal
weight aggregates in concrete, ACI Manual of concrete
Practice (Part 1). Materials and general properties of
concrete, Detroit Michigan, 23 pp
Akhavan, A.C. (2009), The Quartz; available at:
http://www.quartzpage.de/index.html (Retrieved 2009)
Arvind, W. (2008), Major Challenges Affecting the
Aggregates Industry of Trinidad and Tobago, MSc
Thesis (unpublished), Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering, The University of West
Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.
ASTM (1976), ASTM C88-76. Determination of
Soundness Test (sodium sulfate solution), American
Society for Testing Materials
BSI (1975), BS: Part 2: 1975 - British Standard Methods
for Sampling and Testing of Mineral Aggregates, Sands
and Fillers, The British Standards Institution, London.
BSI (1983a), BS 1881: Part108: 1983. Methods of making
test cubes from fresh concrete, The British Standards
Institution, London.
BSI (1983b), BS 1881: Part111: 1983. Methods of normal
curing of test specimens (20 degrees centigrade
method), The British Standards Institution, London.
BSI (1983c), BS 1881: Part 116: 1983 Methods of
determining compressive strength of concrete cubes,
The British Standards Institution, London.
BSI (1990), BS 812: Part 110: 1990 - Methods for
Determination of Aggregate Crushing Value, The
British Standards Institution, London.
EN (1992), European Standard ENV [1974]
56
Mark, J. (2007), Potential for the Use Recycled
Aggregates in Trinidad and Tobago, Research project.
The University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago,
West Indies
Mwasha, A. and Mark, J. (2008), “Potential for the use of
recycled aggregates in Trinidad and Tobago”, Quelle:
Construction in Developing Economies; available at:
http://www.baufachinformation.de/publikationen.jsp?s=
Aggregat
Neville, A.M. (1996), Properties of Concrete, Fourth
Edition, John Wiley & Sons, London
Shrivastava, G.S., Kanithi, V., Mwasha, A., and Rao, D.
S. (2009), Quarry Operations and the ASA Wright
Nature Centre: A Report on Site, The University of
West Indies (unpublished), Trinidad and Tobago, West
Indies
Suite, W.H. (1977), A Study of Melajo and Guanapo
Aggregates and the Properties and Behaviour in the
Fresh and Hardened States of Concrete Made with
These Aggregates, The University of the West Indies,
Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.
Wikipedia (2008), Scanning Electron Microscope,
available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scanning_Electron_Micros
cope
Biographical Notes:
Abrahams Mwasha is presently a lecturer in structural
engineering of the Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering at The University of West Indies, St
Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. He
obtained his PhD in Wolverhampton, England England,
Kandydata Nauk (min) equivalent to PhD in Kharkov
Academy of Municipal management, Ukraine (KAMM).
Previously, Dr. Mwasha was a Resident engineer at the
Ministry of Education Tanzania where he was involved in
the Construction of Vocational training centre, Morogoro,
Tanzania (World Bank project), Extension of Sokoine
University, Morogoro, Tanzania, Extension and
maintenance of several educational infrastructures in
Tanzania, and in the Construction of Mbeya Technical
College. He also served as a Lecturer at Stourbridge
College and Wolverhampton University in England. Dr.
Mwasha was the first prize winner of the BIZCOM social
enterprise award, organised by the MERCIA Institute of
Enterprise for the idea of "Novel and Sustainable
Technology". His research interests include Problematic
soils (expansive, collapsible, soft soils), Ground
reinforcement, Vegetable fibres, Slope stability, and
Wastes management.
ƒ