An overview of the geological, mechanical and physical features of the lower Oligocene limestones, Al-Ain, U.A.E.

The city of Al-Ain is located in the eastern region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The foundational bedrock of this city is mainly the Lower Oligocene limestone. It is essential therefore to understand the geological, mechanical and physical features of this rock unit in order to minimize stability problems. This paper aims to overview the geological, mechanical and physical features of the Lower Oligocene limestone. Hence, different type of tests were carried out on the selected rock block samples. The study revealed that the unconfined compressive strength of the Lower Oligocene limestone ranges from medium to low strength. The Brazilian strength values are more or less same to the point load strength index values. The sonic velocity values are in high range. The slake durability index tests for a single cycle indicate extremely high to high class. For two cycles, the test shows high to medium high class. The rock hammer hardness test exhibites quite scattering. The bulk specific gravity, the apparent specific gravity and the bulk saturated specific gravity has very limited range. The unit weigth and the water absorbsion ratio exhibite high range. As a result, the findings may be used to overcome foundation instabilities at the city.