Petrographic and Geochemical Properties of Basaltic Scorias Around Karapınar (Konya) Used as Sand-Gravel Quarry

Sand has become the most used natural raw material after water in the century we live in. In parallel with the rapid population growth, the need for sand used in different areas, especially in the construction sector, is increasing. Sand consumption is increasing every year in the world and causes irreversible damage to lakes and stream beds. As in many areas, the world is rapidly consuming natural building materials and is looking for alternatives. For this reason, the properties of the raw materials that are used / can be used as an alternative should be known. Basaltic slags used as sand-gravel quarries around Karapinar are used in the construction sector due to their lightness. In macroscopic samples of basaltic slags in red and black color, very few phenocrysts of mafic minerals (olivine and pyroxene) are observed. Olivines are black colored, pyroxenes are greenish black and prismatic. The rock is very porous, low density, and its SiO2 content is 44.40%. Considering the macro properties, the rock shows an aphanitic porphyritic texture according to the grain state