Evaluation of the quality of the Casa Blanca deposit sandstones, by petrography and granulometry, Cajamarca – 2024

Carlos Salazar Abanto J.; Rodriguez K.; Jheison Torrel Salazar K.; Cáceres S. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2025) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2025.1.1.1504

Resumen

The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the quality of the sandstones from the Casa Blanca deposit for use in the construction industry, using petrographic and granulometric analysis. To date, no previous studies have been conducted in this area, which has resulted in the selection of low-quality materials, generating durability problems in the built structures. The petrographic results revealed that the sandstones contain quartz as the dominant mineral (>70%), followed by feldspars (~12-13%), biotite (~9-12%), and hematite (~3-4%), indicating good mineralogical stability. The granulometric analysis showed that the material has an adequate composition, with 66.40% sand, 14.86% gravel, and 18.74% fines, classifying it as a low-compressibility sand with high quality for construction. Furthermore, geophysical studies confirmed a depth of 105 meters in the sandstone bank, with fractures at several points that must be considered in extraction techniques. The results indicate that responsible exploitation of this resource can significantly contribute to the development of the local construction industry, ensuring reliable materials, generating employment, and promoting sustainable infrastructure.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada del Norte