10.57647/ijes.2026.18284

Geotechnical and Geochemical Characterization of Lockhart Limestone as Construction Aggregate, Galiyat, District Abbottabad

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  • Syed Amjad Ali Bukhari1,
  • Umair Bin Nisar*2,
  • Furqan Mahmud Butt2,
  • Adeela Mazhar1,
  • Aqeel Goher1,
  • Faizan-ur-Rehman Qaisar2,
  1. Department of Earth Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Pakistan
  2. Department of Meteorology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Pakistan

Received: 2025-06-19

Revised: 2025-09-04

Accepted: 2025-10-13

Copyright (c) -1 Syed Amjad Ali Bukhari, Umair Bin Nisar, Furqan Mahmud Butt, Adeela Mazhar, Aqeel Goher, Faizan-ur-Rehman Qaisar (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Bukhari, S. A. A., Nisar, U. B., Butt, F. M., Mazhar, A., Goher, A., & Qaisar, F.- ur-R. (2026). Geotechnical and Geochemical Characterization of Lockhart Limestone as Construction Aggregate, Galiyat, District Abbottabad. Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.57647/ijes.2026.18284
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Abstract

The building industry, adding more than Rs. 1000 billion to the economy of the country each year depends extensively on Limestone, a worldwide choice material valued for its strength, durability and wide range of applications, including structural concrete, cement production and architectural cladding. The present research assesses the Lockhart Limestone of Paleocene age from the Galiyat area (Abbottabad District) of the Hazara-Kashmir Syntaxis, to determine its compatibility as a building material. A total of 15 representative samples were collected from three outcrops and analyzed through physio-mechanical testing. Six samples were taken for Petrographic analyses, indicate calcite-rich lithology (>75% composition), and geochemical composition of the Lockhart limestone was analyzed using the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique XRF depicting high purity (CaCO₃>90%). Physio-mechanical testing specified outstanding engineering properties: bulk specific gravity water absorption (ASTM C97) (>2.60), uniaxial compressive strength (ASTM C170) (60.6–103.3 MPa), and resistance to impact (BS 812-112) (12.1–18.2%), in addition to water absorption (ASTM C97) (<2%), sulphate soundness (ASTM C88) (<1%), and Los Angeles abrasion (ASTM C131) (22–34%). These findings confirm the Lockhart Limestone as a quality construction material, fulfilling stringent global standards for infrastructure development and emphasizing Pakistan's potential geological resources that remain untapped.

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