Published

2026-05-27

Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan

Función de la heterogeneidad textural en el control de las propiedades geotécnicas de la Formación Amb, Cuenca Superior del Indo, Pakistán

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v30n1.124270

Keywords:

Petrographic analysis, Geotechnical properties, Amb Formation, Bioclastic Limestone, Uniaxial compressive strength (en)
Análisis petrográfico, Propiedades geotécnicas, Formación Amb, Caliza bioclástica, Resistencia a la compresión uniaxial (es)

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Authors

  • Subhan Ullah Department of Geology, University of Swat, Swat 19120, Pakistan
  • Fahad Said Department of Geology, University of Swat, Swat 19120, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Rizwan State Key Laboratory of Continental Evolution and Early Life, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an-710069, China
  • Muhammad Ibrar Department of Geology, University of Swat, Swat 19120, Pakistan
  • Abdul Rahim Asif FATA University
  • Maaz Ullah Department of Geology, University of Swat, Swat 19120, Pakistan
  • Umair Mussawar School of Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia
  • Mushtaq Ahmad Department of Geology, University of Swat, Swat 19120, Pakistan
  • Abbas Khan Department of Geology, University of Swat, Swat 19120, Pakistan
  • Amjad Ali Department of Geology, University of Swat, Swat 19120, Pakistan

This research investigates the petrographic and geotechnical properties of the Permian Amb Formation (AF). Petrographic analysis reveals three distinct limestone microfacies: siliciclastic bioclastic wacke-packstone (AL) in the lower section, siliciclastic bioclastic packstone (AM) in the middle section, and bioclastic grainstone (AU) in the upper section. The AL microfacies is characterized by poor packing and high matrix content, while AM exhibits moderate packing with reduced matrix content and improved grain-to-grain interaction. In contrast, AU demonstrates tightly packed, well-sorted grains with minimal matrix, making it the most compact microfacies with the highest strength and load-bearing capacity. Geotechnical tests, including porosity, water absorption, specific gravity, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), and point load testing (PLT), were conducted to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of the rocks. The findings reveal that porosity and water absorption decrease progressively from AL to AU, while specific gravity, UPV, UCS, and PLT values increase correspondingly. The wacke-packstone (AL) exhibits the lowest strength and load-bearing capacity due to poor packing, an extensive matrix, and weak contacts formed by elongated bioclasts, whose boundaries with the matrix act as weak planes, further reducing the rock's strength. The packstone (AM) exhibits intermediate strength, attributed to better grain packing and reduced matrix content. The grainstone (AU) exhibits the highest strength, which is interpreted to be related to its tight packing, minimal matrix content, and enhanced grain-to-grain contact, making it the most competent microfacies. The study also reveals strong correlations between physical and mechanical properties. UCS shows negative correlations with porosity and water absorption, and positive correlations with specific gravity, UPV, and PLT. These findings provide valuable insights into the petrographic and geotechnical behavior of the Amb Formation, offering a foundation for its use in construction and engineering projects by guiding material selection for load-bearing foundations, assessing aggregate suitability for concrete production, and aiding in durability assessments for long-term infrastructure performance. 

Esta investigación examina las propiedades petrográficas y geotécnicas de la Formación Amb (FA) del Pérmico. El análisis petrográfico revela tres microfacies distintas de caliza: wacke-packstone bioclástico siliciclástico (AL) en la sección inferior, packstone bioclástico siliciclástico (AM) en la sección media y grainstone bioclástico (AU) en la sección superior. La microfacies AL se caracteriza por un empaque deficiente y un alto contenido de matriz, mientras que AM presenta un empaque moderado con menor contenido de matriz y mejor interacción grano a grano. En contraste, AU muestra granos bien empacados y clasificados, con mínima matriz, lo que la convierte en la microfacies más compacta con la mayor resistencia y capacidad de carga. Se realizaron pruebas geotécnicas, incluyendo porosidad, absorción de agua, gravedad específica, velocidad de pulso ultrasónico (UPV), resistencia a la compresión uniaxial (UCS) y ensayo de carga puntual (PLT), para evaluar las propiedades físicas y mecánicas de las rocas. Los resultados revelan que la porosidad y la absorción de agua disminuyen progresivamente de AL a AU, mientras que la gravedad específica, UPV, UCS y los valores de PLT aumentan correspondientemente. El wacke-packstone (AL) exhibe la menor resistencia y capacidad de carga debido a un empaque deficiente, una matriz extensa y contactos débiles formados por bioclastos alargados, cuyas fronteras con la matriz actúan como planos de debilidad, reduciendo aún más la resistencia de la roca. El packstone (AM) muestra resistencia intermedia, atribuida a un mejor empaque de granos y menor contenido de matriz. El grainstone (AU) presenta la mayor resistencia, lo que se interpreta como resultado de su empaque apretado, contenido mínimo de matriz y contacto grano a grano reforzado, convirtiéndolo en la microfacies más competente. El estudio también revela fuertes correlaciones entre las propiedades físicas y mecánicas. UCS muestra correlaciones negativas con la porosidad y la absorción de agua, y positivas con la gravedad específica, UPV y PLT. Estos hallazgos proporcionan información valiosa sobre el comportamiento petrográfico y geotécnico de la Formación Amb, ofreciendo una base para su uso en proyectos de construcción e ingeniería al guiar la selección de materiales para cimientos de carga, evaluar la idoneidad de agregados para la producción de hormigón y contribuir a evaluaciones de durabilidad para el rendimiento de infraestructuras a largo plazo.

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How to Cite

APA

Ullah, S., Said, F., Rizwan, M., Ibrar, M., Rahim Asif, A., Ullah, M., Mussawar, U., Ahmad, M., Khan, A. & Ali, A. (2026). Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan. Earth Sciences Research Journal, 30(1), 53–62. https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v30n1.124270

ACM

[1]
Ullah, S., Said, F., Rizwan, M., Ibrar, M., Rahim Asif, A., Ullah, M., Mussawar, U., Ahmad, M., Khan, A. and Ali, A. 2026. Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan. Earth Sciences Research Journal. 30, 1 (May 2026), 53–62. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v30n1.124270.

ACS

(1)
Ullah, S.; Said, F.; Rizwan, M.; Ibrar, M.; Rahim Asif, A.; Ullah, M.; Mussawar, U.; Ahmad, M.; Khan, A.; Ali, A. Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan. Earth sci. res. j. 2026, 30, 53-62.

ABNT

ULLAH, S.; SAID, F.; RIZWAN, M.; IBRAR, M.; RAHIM ASIF, A.; ULLAH, M.; MUSSAWAR, U.; AHMAD, M.; KHAN, A.; ALI, A. Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan. Earth Sciences Research Journal, [S. l.], v. 30, n. 1, p. 53–62, 2026. DOI: 10.15446/esrj.v30n1.124270. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/124270. Acesso em: 20 jul. 2026.

Chicago

Ullah, Subhan, Fahad Said, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Ibrar, Abdul Rahim Asif, Maaz Ullah, Umair Mussawar, Mushtaq Ahmad, Abbas Khan, and Amjad Ali. 2026. “Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan”. Earth Sciences Research Journal 30 (1):53-62. https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v30n1.124270.

Harvard

Ullah, S., Said, F., Rizwan, M., Ibrar, M., Rahim Asif, A., Ullah, M., Mussawar, U., Ahmad, M., Khan, A. and Ali, A. (2026) “Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan”, Earth Sciences Research Journal, 30(1), pp. 53–62. doi: 10.15446/esrj.v30n1.124270.

IEEE

[1]
S. Ullah, “Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan”, Earth sci. res. j., vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 53–62, May 2026.

MLA

Ullah, S., F. Said, M. Rizwan, M. Ibrar, A. Rahim Asif, M. Ullah, U. Mussawar, M. Ahmad, A. Khan, and A. Ali. “Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan”. Earth Sciences Research Journal, vol. 30, no. 1, May 2026, pp. 53-62, doi:10.15446/esrj.v30n1.124270.

Turabian

Ullah, Subhan, Fahad Said, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Ibrar, Abdul Rahim Asif, Maaz Ullah, Umair Mussawar, Mushtaq Ahmad, Abbas Khan, and Amjad Ali. “Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan”. Earth Sciences Research Journal 30, no. 1 (May 27, 2026): 53–62. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/124270.

Vancouver

1.
Ullah S, Said F, Rizwan M, Ibrar M, Rahim Asif A, Ullah M, Mussawar U, Ahmad M, Khan A, Ali A. Role of Textural Heterogeneity in Controlling the Geotechnical Properties of the Amb Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan. Earth sci. res. j. [Internet]. 2026 May 27 [cited 2026 Jul. 20];30(1):53-62. Available from: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/124270

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