Investigation into the Mechanical Behaviour of Silica Rich Bituminous Sand

Due to great significance of bituminous sands, investigations into their behaviour will be of useful importance around the world. However, the knowledge about this valuable geomaterials is still limited. This study investigates the mechanics of behaviour in bituminous sands from different locations and depths considering physical and index characteristics, fabric, chemical and mineralogical analyses as well as extensive oedometer tests on the intact and reconstituted specimens. The following findings were achieved: (1) Bituminous sands are well-graded in nature and the fabrics are characterised by heterogeneous clusters and particles of different sizes with variable inter and intra cluster and particle pores. (2) Bituminous sands comprise silicon with highest proportions and other elements are aluminium, carbon, sulphur and iron in smaller amounts. The mineralogy is dominated by quartz followed by kaolinite and illite and the other minerals present are marialite, clinochlore, sakhalite and graphite. (3) The compression paths converge to unique line with varying compressibilities that reduce with depth. (4) Bituminous sand with high content of bituminous material are less compressible compared to those with low content of bituminous material. (5) The in situ specific volume reduces and the yield stress increases with depth. (6) The effects of structure are positive by applying both normalisation and stress sensitivity. (7) The post yield behaviour indicates specimens have not been completely destructured at the highest stresses reached in the tests.