Geological and geotechnical investigation of the properties of Gyttja in Çöllolar lignite field in Afşiın-Elbi̇stan basin (Kahramanmaraş)

This study has been prepared as an MSc. Thesis at the Department of Geological Engineering in the Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Cukurova in the academic year of 2013-2014. In 6 February 2011 and 10 February 2011, a landslide occured within Çöllolar coalfield on the western side and the second landslide occured on the west side near the Afsin-Elbistan Thermal Power Plant. The total area of the landslide is approximately estimated 3 km square kilometers. In excess of 50 million cubic meters of landslide material was spread over a large area, and caused the death of lignite workers and engineers. In the Afsin-Elbistan Lignite Basin, the Gyttja unit outcrop in landslide area, The main purpose of this study is to determine in the study , besides the index properties, geological and geotechnical properties of the Gyttja unit were determined. Thus, disturbed and undisturbed samples were taken from the Çöllolar landslide. According to the result of the direct shear tests the Gidya has varying cohesion (c) and the angle of internal friction (ɸ) values wheather the normal loadings are above or below the preconsolidasiton pressure. The unit has been identified as sensitive and dilatance as also demonstrated by its transfered on the conveyors and considerably different in engineering properties as deliniated by the result of unconfined compression, direct shear, consolidation and triaxial shear testing.