MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DESIGN, ART & TECHNOLOGY

CHARACTERIZATION OF AGGREGATES IN CENTRAL

UGANDA
[CIV 7115: ADVANCED CONCRETE MATERIALS]

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

STUDENT REG NO.:-

1. EKITUI CECIL ZEBEDDE 2016/HD08/576U

LECTURER
A. RUCUKYE
1.0 Background
Sustained utility of existing resources of raw material has led to depletion of various naturally
occurring raw materials as well as negative environmental impact. Therefore, the construction
industry requires constant innovation and research to identify alternatives to existing raw
materials and inputs so as to have minimal impact on the environment whilst meeting the
performance demands of various structures.
The objective of this study to identify the various types of rock formations in central Uganda
and ascertain the performance of the aggregates from these varying rock types in concrete
due to their differing chemical and physical composition.
1.1 Introduction

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The geology of Uganda is believed to consist predominantly of Archaean granulites and
gneisses, as well as meta-sedimentary rocks of Proterozoic age and is dominated by
crystalline Basement Complex rocks of Pre-Cambrian age that underlie over 90% of the
Country (Nyende et al. 2014) The Tanzania craton in southern-central Uganda has been
divided into two smaller tectono-thermal terranes, called the Lake Victoria and West Tanzania

Figure 1 Adapted from ( Muwanga et al. 2001)

Terranes, respectively. The first is a classic granite-greenstone terrain, the second a granite-
gneissic-migmatitic cratonic fragment.
Central Uganda predominantly falls under the Lake Victoria Terrane and West Tanzania
Terrane. The Lake Victoria Terrane is mainly composed of supacrustal rocks attributed to the
Nyanzian and Kavirondian Supergroups and Younger Granites. To the west, the Lake
Victoria Terrane is mainly covered by folded and epimetamorphic rocks of the paleao-
proterozoic Buganda group. (A.B Westerhof et al. 2014)

2.0 Geological Classification of Central Uganda

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Golomolo granite; Occurs east of Kampala city in three pseudo-domes. Both coarse
porphyritic and medium-grained subfacies are observed. These are mostly pinkish and
greyish granites and are generally mildly deformed and show a tectonic fabric due to a
preferred orientation of minerals that formed after emplacement of pegmatite dykes. Main
minerals are K-feldspar, plagioclase, quartz and biotite.
The West Tanzania Terrane (WTT) has been divided into the following map units: (1) TTG
gneisses, (2) Tororo Suite and (3) Kampala Suite

The Kampala Suite composed of variably deformed granitoids and otrthogneisses, covers and
extensive area between the Palaeoproterozoic Buganda metasedimesnts in the south and
various TTG gneisses in the north. This has slightly stronger radiometric signature, in
particular, higher K values particularly common in the north of the city of Kampala. It is a
medium-grained, equigranular and weakly deformed biotite granite or gneiss and S iO2
concentration may vary from 65 to 75 wt% (App. 2, anal 39-40). Two sub-facies have been
identified:
Medium-grained granite; this shows slightly higher radiometric values compared to
surrounding rocks. Being a compact and weathering resistant rock, it constitutes
usually high hills, particularly NW of Mukono. It is dark grey or pinkish grey, mostly
medium-grained to occasionally fine grained, equigranular, rather homogeneous and
un-deformed to weakly foliated. Major minerals are quartz, k-feldspar, plagioclase
and biotite, the latter in quantities of usually 5 vol% or less.

Figure 2 Medium grained granite

Kampala granitoids and orthogeneisses; these are mainly composed of heterogeneous,

generally equigranular, more or less deformed granitoids and banded gneisses
showing distinctive variations in grain size and mineral composition. Elongated
darker granitic patches occur commonly. A plutonic origin is postulated for most
rocks.

The Kiboga Suite comprises of three members;

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 Graphite, porphyritic; this comprises of hilly terrain around town of Kiboga. It is a
light brown to brownish grey massive biotite granite with textures varying from equi-
granular to slightly porphyritic. Porphyritic members contain subhedral K-feldspar
phenocrysts that are set in a grey, fine to medium grained quartz-feldspar biotite
groundmass with apatite and ilmenite as accessory minerals. Granites of Kiboga are
generally massive, not foliated or show only a weak deformation.

Figure 3 Porphyritic Graphite

Naluvule feldspar porphyry; These are dark grey to pinkish grey and are composed of
randomly oriented , euhedral feldspar phenocrysts averaging 2-15mm in size, set in a
fine-grained feldspar-quartz biotite groundmass.

Figure 4

Bubulo Formation comprises of rocks of a great variety of supracrustal rock types including;
Epidote-garnet gneiss
Mafic and intermediate metavolcanic rock
Quartz-Mica schist.

Northwest of Bujagali falls, light brownish to pinkish grey, epidote and garnet-bearing
parageniesses are exposed. Irregular patches of mafic and intermediate metavolcanic rocks
occur widely in an area west of Mount Elgon. These are dark greenish, mafic fine to medium
grained, heterogeneous and weakly foliated metavolcanic rocks.

In summary, the different types of aggregates available in Central Uganda are listed below:

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Type
Golomolo granite
Kampala granitoids
Medium grained granite
Graphite porphyritic
Naluvule feldspar
Epidote garnet gneiss
Mafic and intermediate
metavolcanic rock
Quartz Mica Schist
Chemical composition Physical properties
K-feldspar, Plagioclase, Both coarse and medium
Quartz, Biotite grained; Pinkish and greyish
Stronger radiometric values Equigranular; Distinctive
(higher K-values), varying variations in grain size;
mineral composition Elongated darker granitic
patches occur
Quartz, K-feldspar, Compact, weathering resistant;
Plagioclase, Biotite Dark grey or pinkish; Medium
grained, occasionally fine
grained; Equigranular
Biotite, Quartz-feldspar, Light brown to brownish grey;
Apatite, Ilmenite textures varying from
equigranular to slightly
porphyritic; Average size 2-
15mm but 20 30mm have
been observed.
Euhedral-feldspar, Feldspar- Dark grey to pinkish grey;
biotite ground mass Average size 2 -15mm; Fine
grained
Light brownish to pinkish grey
Quartz, Plagioclase, Dark greenish; Fine to medium
Amphibole, Biotite, Titanite, grained; Weakly foliated
Chlorite
Quartzite , Mica schist Purple; Elsewhere yellowish
brown; Fine-grained

The durability and performance of various aggregate types in fresh and hardened state of
concrete are compared as follows:
Type Performance in fresh Performance in Durability
concrete hardened concrete
Golomolo granite Moderate workability; Low shrinkage High due to presence
Increased water of quartz and
demand plagioclase
Kampala granitoids Low shrinkage
Medium grained granite Low shrinkage High due to presence
of quartz and
plagioclase
Graphite porphyritic If ilmenite is present, High if ilmenite is
it may be used where presents since it is a
application of heavy heavy weight
weight aggregates is aggregate
required for instance
high strength concrete
Naluvule feldspar Increased biotite Low shrinkage
contents would lead to
flakiness of aggregate
and increased water

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 demand
Epidote garnet gneiss Low shrinkage
Mafic and intermediate Increased risk of High due to presence
metavolcanic rock corrosion of steel due of quartz and
to presence of plagioclase
chlorides
Quartz Mica Schist Increased water Low strength
demand

Generally, aggregates containing quartz or feldspar and granite, limestone, dolomite as

well as some basalts can be classified as low-shrinkage producing aggregates.
Aggregates containing sandstone, shale, slate, greywacke, or some types of basalt have been
associated with high-shrinkage concrete. (ACI COMMITTEE 221, 1997)

Conclusion

Central Uganda consists primarily of variably deformed granitoids and otrthogneisses, with
varying chemical properties. Variations in the chemical properties lead varying behavior of
concrete when aggregates from regions of central Uganda are used in Concrete. The
particular effect these differing chemical constituents have on concrete are postulated from
literature based on rocks. However, the specific effect they have on concrete should be the
subject of further study by means of chemical analysis and performance tests on different
types of concrete.

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References

A.B Westerhof, P Harma, E Isabirye, E Katto, T Koistinen, E Kuosmanen, T Lehto, M

Lehtonen, H Makitie, T Manninen, I Manttari, Y Pekkala, J Pokki, K Saalmann , P
Virransalo. (2014). Geology survey of Finland Special paper 55 Espoo, Finland:
Tammerprint Oy
ACI Committee 221. (1998) Guide to alkali aggregate reactions. Farmington Hills, Michigan:
American Concrete Institute
Muwanga, A. , Schumann, A. & Biryabarema, M. 2001 (Landslides in Uganda.
Documentation of a natural hazard. Documenta Naturae 136, 111 115
Nyende J, Modreck G, van Tonder G (2014). A Comparative Hydrogeochemical Study of
Granitic Fractured and Alluvial Channel Aquifer Systems. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Toxic. Res.
Vol.2(3):64-80

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