Autor(es):
Sousa, L.M.O.
Data: 2007
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10348/3060
Origem: Repositório da UTAD
Assunto(s): Discontinuity; Fracturing; Granite; Exploitation
Descrição
the general characterization of the discontinuities of 10 granite rock masses in NE Portugal. During the study some discontinuity
characteristics such as orientation, persistence, aperture, trace length and spacing were evaluated. The differences in the
characteristics of the selected granites were described, and the most important exploration factors were identified. In the granites
studied, most of the joints are oriented from N10°E to N50°E, which is compatible with the regional fracture pattern. Concerning
joint termination, the XX type is common, while the RR type is rare; the persistence index ranges from 3.5% to 25.4%. Closed
joints are predominant in the granites studied (N72.4%), and openings of the others are about 1–2 mm as a result of superficial
displacement of the granite blocks. The percentage of filled joints, usually by quartz and pegmatite, is different from one granite to
another, but most are b20%. The average joint length ranges from 11.1 m in post-tectonics granites to 4.6 m in syntectonic granites.
Joint spacing varies from 0.98 to 2.8 m with higher values in post-tectonic granites. Joint-space distributions of the granites studied
are close to log-normal and exponential distributions. Volumetric joint count (Jv) ranges from 0.8 to 2.1 joints/m3 and is used for
categorizing the places of each granite. The relationships between Jv and other joint characteristics, such as length, spacing and
number of joint sets, were investigated. A Granite Fracturing Index (GFI) is introduced, computed on the basis of volumetric joint
count, number of joint sets and true joint spacing. The GFI classification of studied places allows us evaluate the suitability for
profitable exploitation.