Deep weathering of a group of thick argillaceous limestone rocks near Three Gorges Reservoir, Central China

Rock mass characterization is one of the most basic and important tasks in rock mechanics and engineering. Literature review indicates that although there are many publications available on weathered rocks, there are few reports in English on weathered argillaceous limestone rocks and their chemical and mechanical properties. This paper presents a case study of characterizing a group of highly weathered thick argillaceous limestone rocks. Most importantly, they can be easily and quickly decomposed into soils after they are exposed due to excavation. Consequently, they would substantially lose their mechanical strengths. Geohazards such as landslides and sinkholes could occur in uncovered highly weathered argillaceous limestone rocks. The problematic weathered rocks were found during the development of a new town in upper mountains above the Three Gorges Reservoir on Yangtze River in Central China in the past 20 years. The factual data are presented on the changes of chemical compositions and mechanical properties of the weathered argillaceous limestone rocks due to chemical weathering. Some empirical correlations are given to quantify the changes in their uniaxial compressive strength and deformation moduli in terms of their contents of calcium carbonate. The data and findings presented in the paper can be useful to future urban development in geologically poor mountainous environments occupied by highly weathered argillaceous limestone rocks in the world.