Volcanics for construction (VOLCAON) summary report. (IR/01/123).
Project purpose was to stimulate local industry to invest in developing new construction and other uses for volcanic raw materials
Abstract
The Volcanics for Construction (VOLCON) project commenced in September 1998 and finished in August 2001. The goal of the project was to improve understanding of the engineering properties of geological materials in developing countries and to develop new engineering and environmental applications for their use. The project purpose was to stimulate local industry to invest in developing new construction and other uses for volcanic raw materials. The outputs that have achieved these aims are
(1) Strategies to evaluate volcanic rocks
(2) Recommendations and advice on suitable raw materials and potential uses
(3) Field and laboratory studies in collaboration to develop a local capacity to evaluate volcanic raw materials
(4) Workshops, a strategy forum and seminars to train collaborators and disseminate advice and project results
(5) A comprehensive manual on the evaluation and end-uses of volcanic rocks as industrial raw materials, supported by more detailed technical reports on specific investigations
The VOLCON project has been led by a team at the British Geological Survey, with an overall project budget of £230K. The project has sought to increase awareness of the many potential uses to which volcanic raw materials can be put. These include construction applications such as aggregate, building and dimension stone, and pozzolanic additives. Other more specialized uses can be found for products such as expanded perlite which forms a useful loose fill material with good fire retarding and sound insulation properties, whilst many zeolite-rich rocks are pozzolans and possess a host of potential environmental and agricultural applications utilizing their ability to exchange cations and act as sieves at the molecular scale. This account is structured following the 8 defined activities-phases in the project documentation.
This report is available for downloading in full colour (363 kb) and black and white (363 kb).
Citation
Mathers, S. Volcanics for construction (VOLCAON) summary report. (IR/01/123). (2001)
Links
Volcanics for construction (VOLCAON) summary report. (IR/01/123).