Effect of alteration on the geochemistry and mechanical properties of granite from Pingjiang, Hunan Province, China

The effect of alteration on the geochemistry and mechanical properties granite from Pingjiang, Hunan Province, China was investigated. Six weathered 14 hydrothermally altered samples in 3 adits were collected for strength tests, mineralogical geochemical analysis. types observed within chloritization argillization. Samples taken a silicified fracture zone enriched quartz. Weathering to significantly weaken whereas effects hydrothermal more complex. porosity increased with enrichment minerals, indicating that formation minerals degrades physical bonds between granite. Na2O, CaO, K2O, MgO SiO2 contents decreased while Fe2O3T due weathering. Variations major elements distinguished those samples—notably Mg removed whilst Si Fe generally stable during alteration. Whereas quartz-enriched gained slight depletions Fe. Trace rare earth both variable behavior element quantified by mobility index which indicated different changes attributed tochloritization Furthermore, used identify dominated evaluate Generally, found be dominant than argillization weakening