Title:
Petrographic Techniques to Identify and Determine Relative Abundance of Iron Sulfide Minerals in Concrete Aggregate
Author(s):
April Snyder
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_F25_AprilSnyder.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
10/26/2025
Abstract:
Identification of iron-sulfide minerals in concrete aggregate is becoming increasingly important in light of cases of deterioration of residential concrete foundations and its financial implications on homeowners. Recent legislation in the Northeast US is establishing limits for sulfur in concrete aggregate with specific concerns on pyrrhotite content. This presentation will provide an overview of a petrographic method to identify and quantify the iron-sulfide content in aggregate using petrographic techniques including reflective light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) x-ray mapping.