Altered Volcanic Tuffs from Los Frailes Caldera. A Study of Their Pozzolanic Properties

This work presents the results of study physical, chemical, mineralogical and pozzolanic properties altered volcanic tuffs (AVT) that lie in Los Frailes caldera, south Iberian Peninsula, demonstrates their qualities as pozzolans for manufacturing mortars cements high mechanical strength. The main objective this research is to show what extent AVTs can replace portland cement (PC) mortars, with standardised proportions 75:25% 70:30% (PC-AVT). To achieve these objectives, three AVT samples were studied by a petrographic analysis thin section (PATS), DRX, FRX MEB. determined methods: electrical conductivity (ECT), chemical pozzolanicity tests (CPT) at 8 15 days strength (MS) specimens 2, 7, 28 90 days. Studies PATS, MEB showed samples’ constitutions are complex where smectite (montmorillonite), mordenite, quartz, halloysite, illite, kaolinite, glass lithic fragments coexist. ECT CPT confirmed analysed proved an increase from 2 testing.