Analysis of Physical and Mechanical Properties of Rocks in the Karst Region of Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi

Panaikang, Biraeng Village, Minasate'ne District is one of the villages in the Pangkep karst area which has a topographical morphology with many cracks, fissures, and cavities on the surface. The karst formation strongly depends on the process of dissolving carbonate rocks due to interaction with the water. Physical and mechanical properties are important parameters that determine performance of rock in the karst region. This study measured porosity, density and compressive strength of rock in the karst region of the Pangkep Regency to determine its performance. The rock samples used were 10 rocks taken from the karst area with a minimum distance of each sample about 10 meters. The results showed that the rock types observed at the karst area are dolomite limestone and a modified limestone with range of porosity value of 0–5% and 5–50%, respectively. As a consequence, the rocks in the karst area have varied compressive strength. Compressive strength results show that the lower values of porosities (i.e. 0–5%) correspond to the range of compressive strength values of 25-50 MPa while the higher values of porosities (i.e. 5–25%) correspond to the range of compressive strength values of 5-25 MPa. Whereas the rock densities values were in the range of 2.2-2.7 gr/cm3. The karst area in Panaikang Village, Biraeng Village, Minasate'ne District, is dominated by limestone, which has the potential to become a mining area or rock excavation used as a raw material for cement, carbide, bleaching agent for making soda ash, acid neutralizing soil fertilizer, ceramic industry, rubber and tire industry.