Correlating index properties of rocks with P-wave measurements

The determination of index properties of rock, such as Cerchar Abrasivity Index, Shore Hardness, Protodyakonov Index and Vickers Hardness in laboratory or insitu conditions is time-consuming and requires special equipment and expertise. However, the use of P-wave technology to measure the P-wave velocity of rock is a relatively simple task because the portable equipment can be used in the laboratory or in the field without tedious preparation of rock cores and it is non-destructive. This paper presents an experimental study of the measurement of P-waves of several types of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock. The index properties were also determined in the laboratory to obtain correlations between P-waves and various index properties. Good linear relationships were found between all the index properties determined and the P-wave measurements.