• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.429-438
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• 2022

This study evaluated the effect of the degree of weathering on the particle size distribution and the amount of fine particles generated in the aggregate production process during the crushing of igneous rock. Rock samples were collected from three areas with differences in strength from the Schmith hammer measurement at the aggregate quarry in Geochang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. After crushing with a jaw crusher under the same conditions in laboratory, particle size analysis, mineral analysis, chemical analysis, and weathering index were calculated. The Schmidt hammer measurements were 56, 28, and <10, and the CIA and CIW values of weathering index were also different, so the rock samples were classified into hard rock, soft rock, and weathered rock according to the weathering degree. It shows a smaller particle size distribution toward weathered rocks under the microscope, and the proportion of altered clay minerals such as sericite increased. The composition of feldspar and quartz was high for hard rock, and the ratio of muscovite and kaolinite was low. As a result of the crushing of the jaw crusher, hard rock produced a lot of coarse crushed material (13.2mm), while soft rock and weathered rock produced fine crushed material (4.75mm). The former showed the characteristics of the beta distribution curve, and the latter showed the bimodal distribution curve. The production of fine rock particles (based on 0.71mm of sieve, wt. %) increased to 13%<21%<22% in hard rock, soft rock, and weathered rock, and the greater the degree of weathering, the more fine rock particles were generated. The fine particles are recovered by the operation of the sand unit in the wet aggregate production process. Therefore, in order to minimize the amount of sludge generated in the aggregate production process, it was judged that a study on the optimal operation of cyclones could be necessary.