Evaluation of the S20 brittleness index, Engineering and petrographic properties of some igneous rocks of Sangan iron ore mine in Khaf

Brittleness is one of the most important mechanical properties of rock which has a widespread application in underground constructs drilling like tunnel drilling. Although many method have been introduced for estimating brittleness, no standard has been mentioned for measuring brittleness. In this research, experiments for determining   brittleness of S20 along with petrographic (main mineral percentage), physical (dry density, saturation density, porosity and water absorption percentage), mechanical (uniaxial compressive strength, Brazilian tensile strength , point load test) and dynamic properties (pressure and shear wave velocity) in the two states of dry and saturated were performed on 19 test samples of igneous rocks (granite, granodiorite and dacite) selected from Sangan iron ore mine in khaf. Statistical analysis of the results shows that brittleness of samples increases with increasing alkali feldspar and quartz and also reducing plagioclase. Also existence of micro particles and carbonate veins decreases strength and increases the brittleness of rock and facilitate excavatability of samples which is more prominent in saturated state. There is an inverse relationship between S20 brittleness and the brittleness indices, and as the value of S20   brittleness increases, the value of brittleness indices decrease. The relationship between S20 brittleness and brittleness indices B3 and B4 has the highest coefficient of determination. As a result, it can be said that the brittleness measured in the laboratory can be more realistic in expressing the brittleness of rocks.