• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.14 no.4 s.41
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• pp.381-390
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• 2004

This study was performed to relate the weathering properties of Oyaish tuff from Japan to mechanical properties of rocks in terms of mineralogical alteration and chemistry. The tuff is composed of clinoptilolite, quartz, feldspars, mordenite, opal C-T, and smectite. Since fresh tuff contains approximately $30\~50\%$ zeolite, it is expected that the rock is subjected to weathering process ascribed to water contents on earth surface, significantly reducing mechanical strength of tuff. It is also anticipated that weathering process and properties may be different even in the same rock mass, due to the differences in local mineralogy, chemistry and microtextures in tuff.