Quarry site selection in Malaysia

To cater for the demands for various rock aggregates for the numerous engineering construction projects in Malaysia, such as dams, highways, housing developments, etc., the location of suitable quarry sites at or in the immediate vicinities of the project sites has been the responsibility and constant duty of the engineering geologist. This paper summarises the various engineering geologic factors that are considered in the location of potential quarry sites, in particular with reference to the practices in Malaysia. The factors considered include, among other things, the lithology, degree of weathering, overburden soil cover, geologic structures such as jointing or fracturing, engineering properties of the aggregates, operational difficulties such as benching, blasting and rock slope stability, and environmental considerations. Various case studies from Malaysia are presented, emphasis being on the problems that are often encountered here such as the high degree of weathering, inability to do benching in quarry sited on limestone cliffs, conflict with other landuse, etc.