An investigation on engineering properties of marl rocks of Safa dam foundation

Marl rocks are from weak rocks which cause some problems due to high swelling and efflorescence capability، low resistance and viability in implementation of engineering structures. creation of thease problems is due to inadequate recognition of engineering geology properties of these rocks. Hence، in this research،to determination the physical and mechanical parameters of marl rocks of safa dam site، experiments of eterberg limits، density، prosity and moisture percent،uniaxial pressure resistance experiment (UCS)، direct shear experiment، surrounded pressure resistance experiment (three axis) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) experiments has performed on samples from excavation of bores. Results of experiments indicate that type and contents of minerals in marls particularly clay minerals are effective factors on engineering geology properties of these rocks.