EVEREST ENGINEERING COLLEGE

(Affiliated to Pokhara University)

Sanepa-2, Lalitpur

A FIELD REPORT ON

“GEOLOGICAL STUDY ALONG DHADING BASIN OLD ROAD SECTION

AND MALEKHU KHOLA”

Submitted by
Abhyudaya Bhandari (2240755)
Aryan Bhattrai (2240761)
Awahan Ale (2240762)
Monika Timilsina (2240773)
Prakriti Tamang (2240777)
Ritu Budhathoki (2240779)
Sanaya Adhikari (2240782)
Saugat Thapa (2240782)

Submitted to

Department of Civil Engineering

January, 2023
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to express our sincere gratitude towards the Department of Civil Engineering,
Everest Engineering College, Pokhara University, for initiating and facilitating the field visit under
Department of Civil Engineering, to enhance our knowledge of geological field work identification.

We would like to express our heartily thanks to our civil department for their valuable suggestion
and managing field visit and allowing us to involve in the project.

First of all, we would like to thank our subject teachers Mr. Anil Ghimire and Mr. Sushant
Sapkota for providing us with the necessary enthusiasm and guidance throughout the field work and also
while preparing this report. We would also like to extent our gratitude towards teachers giving us
instruction and guidance to work efficiently in the field.

We do realize that this work can have some weakness and limitation. We would be heartily and
immensely grateful if the individual concerned would provide any warm and constructive suggestions for
the further improvement of our work.

Lastly, we would like to extent our heartfelt gratitude to our colleagues for their genuine cooperation,
expert guidance, encouragement and several prospective throughout the work.

Maybe there is omission and error while preparing this report and hope respective teacher,
student and all the reader may point out the mistake for improvement of report preparing skill.

i
 ABSTRACT
For our field study we went to Malekhu, because it has peculiar geological features within a
small range of area. It is a small part of lesser Himalaya, central Nepal. It was the best possible
site ko get every geological feature that we have studied. We visited different places to study
varieties of river, mountain and land features. Out field study covers the topics related petrology,
mass movement, river channel morphology, tunnel supporting, geological structures and attitude
of bed red. We identified and studied various rock structures with their physical properties and
rock mass classification rating.

ii
 LIST OF ABBREVIATION
RMR = Rock Mass Rating
MW = Megawatt
HFL = High Flood Level

iii
iv
 TABLE OF CONTENT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..................................................................................................................................i
ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................................ii
LIST OF ABBREVIATION..............................................................................................................................iii
LIST OF FIGURES.........................................................................................................................................vi
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
1.1 Location................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Accessibility..........................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 2: OBJECTIVE...............................................................................................................................2
CHAPTER 3: GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURES......................................................................................................2
3.1 Primary Structures.................................................................................................................3
3.2 Secondary structures.............................................................................................................4
CHAPTER 4: ATTITUDE OF BED ROCK..........................................................................................................6
4.1 Strike.....................................................................................................................................6
4.2 Dip amount............................................................................................................................7
4.4 Measurement on field8
CHAPTER 5: PETROLOGY.............................................................................................................................9
5.1 Igneous rock..........................................................................................................................9
5.1.1 Texture of Igneous Rock.................................................................................................9
5.2 Sedimentary Rock...............................................................................................................11
5.2.1 Texture of sedimentary rocks........................................................................................11
5.3 Metamorphic Rock..............................................................................................................13
5.4 Weathering...........................................................................................................................22
CHAPTER 6: RIVER CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY............................................................................................23
6.1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................23
6.2 Depositional features...........................................................................................................23
6.3 Erosional Deposits..............................................................................................................25
CHAPTER 7: ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION AND TUNNEL SUPPORTNG......................................................27
7.1 Rock Mass Classification System.......................................................................................27
7.2 Tunnel and tunnel Supporting System................................................................................28
CHAPTER 8: MASS MOVEMENT................................................................................................................29

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 LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.Mud crack ................................................................................................................................ 3
Figure 2.Angular unconformity .............................................................................................................. 4
Figure 3.Asymmetrical plunging anticline fold ....................................................................................... 4
Figure 4. Reverse Fault ........................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 5. Joints ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Figure 6. Strike ....................................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 7. Measuring dip amount ............................................................................................................. 6
Figure 8. Dip direction............................................................................................................................ 6
Figure 9. Granite .................................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 10. Dolomitic lime stone ............................................................................................................ 10
Figure 11. Rock source ......................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 12. Slate .................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 13. Rock Source ........................................................................................................................ 13
Figure 14. Phyllite ................................................................................................................................ 13
Figure 15. Rock Source ........................................................................................................................ 14
Figure 16. Quatrz ................................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 17. Rock source ......................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 18. Schist................................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 19. Garnet ................................................................................................................................. 15
Figure 20. Marble ................................................................................................................................. 16
Figure 21. Elephant skin weathering on rock......................................................................................... 17
Figure 22. Meandering river ................................................................................................................. 18
Figure 23. Oxbow lake ......................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 24. Aerial view of oxbow lake ................................................................................................... 19
Figure 25. Tar ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 26. Levee................................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 27. V shaped valley ................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 28. Terrace ................................................................................................................................ 21
Figure 29. Rock island .......................................................................................................................... 21
Figure 30. Outside of audit tunnel ......................................................................................................... 23
Figure 31. Support inside audit tunnel ................................................................................................... 23
Figure 32. Krishna Bhir after landslide of 2000 AD .............................................................................. 24
Figure 33. Landslide controlling ........................................................................................................... 25

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 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Location
The place is situated at the Prithvi Highway, Dhading district, 70km southwest of
Kathmandu valley. It is located at latitude: 20°50’38” to 27°45’50” and longitude: 24°49’5” to
84°50’50”. It has peculiar geological features within a small range of area. It is a small part of
lesser Himalaya, central Nepal. The northern part of the study area is accessible through
Malekhu – Dhading road.
The remaining parts can be reached by narrow foot trails around the Malekhu and Thopal Khola.

1.2 Accessibility
Malekhu can be reached by road ways. The place is about 70km southwest of Kathmandu
valley. As the road ways are under construction, there may be delay while going there and dusty
roads. As the road width is not so wide there may be changes of accidents between vehicles.
The reason behind choosing this location is that this location features all the geological
formations which are part of our filed visit.

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 CHAPTER 2: OBJECTIVE
1. To know about handling of Brunton compass.
2. To study geological structures.
3. To study river channel morphology.
4. To study various rock types.
5. To study rock mass classification.
6. To study about tunnel and tunnelling support.

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 CHAPTER 3: GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURES
Geological structure refers to the arrangements of rocks in the Earth’s crust. They are
usually the result of the powerful tectonic forces that occur within the earth. These forces fold
and break rocks, form deep faults, and build mountains. The main elements of geological
structure are strata, deformation, faulting. Geological structure are classified on the following
modes:

A. On the basis of mode of formation

i. Primary structures : bedding or stratification, graded bedding, cross bedding,
ripple marks, mud cracks
ii. Secondary structures: lineation, fold, faults and joints

3.1 Primary Structures

Those structures which develop at the time of formation of the rocks (e.g. sedimentary
structures, some volcanic structures, .... etc.) are primary structures. Bedding or stratification,
graded bedding, cross bedding, ripple marks, mud cracks, etc are the primary structures.

a) Mud cracks:- Mud cracks (also known as mud cracks, desiccation cracks or cracked
mud) are sedimentary structures formed as muddy sediment dries and contracts. Crack
formation also occurs in clay-bearing soils as a result of a reduction in water content.

Figure 1.Mud crack

b) Angular unconformity:- An angular unconformity is an unconformity where

horizontally parallel strata of sedimentary rock are deposited on tilted and eroded layers,
producing an angular discordance with the overlying horizontal layers. The whole
sequence may later be deformed and tilted by further orogenic activity. In the figure we

3
 can see that that the upper portion if filled with river deposits and lower portion is of bed
rock and the layer between these formed an angle called angular unconformity.

River Deposits

Bed Rocks

Figure 2.Angular unconformity

3.2 Secondary structures

The structures that develop in sedimentary or igneous rocks after lithification, and in
metamorphic rocks during or after their formation. Fundamental secondary structures are
lineation, fold, faults and joints.

a) Anticline (anti form):- An anticline is a type of fold that is an arch-like shape and has its
oldest beds at its core, whereas a syncline is the inverse of an anticline. A typical anticline is
convex up in which the hinge or crest is the location where the curvature is greatest, and the
limbs are the sides of the fold that dip away from the hinge.
b) Asymmetrical fold:- An asymmetrical fold is one in which the axial plane is inclined. An
overturned fold, or overfold, has the axial plane inclined to such an extent that the strata on
one limb are overturned. A recumbent fold has an essentially horizontal axial plane.
c) Plunging fold:- A plunging fold is a
fold that is tilted downwards in space,
parallel to the fold hinge plane

4
 Figure3:-.Asymmetrical plunging anticline fold

d) Fault: A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. Faults allow the
blocks to move relative to each other. This movement may occur rapidly, in the form of an
earthquake - or may occur slowly, in the form of creep. Faults may range in length from a
few millimeters to thousands of kilometers.
e) Reserve fault:- Hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall in reserve fault.
Formed due to compressional, caused by some internal or external thrust that is why are also
called thrust fault. Thrust is capable of overturning the lithological sequence i.e. placing
older rocks above younger. If displacement is larger in thrust called overthrust fault.

Figure4. Reverse Fault:-

f) Joints:- A joint is a type of extension fracture formed by movement of the rock in a direction
perpendicular to the plane of fracture. Joints form in solid rock that is stretched and its brittle
strength (the point at which it breaks) is exceeded. When this happens, the rock fractures.

5
 Figure 5. Joints

CHAPTER 4: ATTITUDE OF BED ROCK

Attitude refers to the three-dimensional orientation or positioning of a given geological feature,
such as a bed, a joint, a fold, etc.

1. Attitude of planar features

i. Strike
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 ii. Dip amount
iii. Dip direction

4.1 Strike
The direction of the line formed by the intersection of a fault, bed, or other
planar feature and a horizontal plane. Strike indicates the attitude or position of
linear structural features such as faults, beds, joints, and folds.

Strike line

Figure :6. –Strike

4.2 Dip amount

Dip is the angle at which a planar feature is inclined to the horizontal plane; it is
measured in a vertical plane perpendicular to the strike of the feature. This angle varies at
different points on the Earth's surface.

7
Figure :7. Measuring dip amount

4.3 Dip direction

It is the direction along which a bed dips and is perpendicular to the strike
line. The dip direction is the direction that a drop of water will flow down the
plane.

Figure : 8-. Dip direction

4.4 Measurement on field

a) Strike:- During the field, strike was measured imagining a horizontal line on the rock
bed and then Brunton compass was set horizontally on the bed parallely and then the
circular bubble was centered and the obtained value was taken such that the compass
point showed north direction.
b) Dip amount:- During the field, dip amount was measured by setting Brunton compass
vertical along the bed and then cylindrical bubble was centered by observing at mirror.
After centering the value was noted.
c) Dip direction:- Dip direction was measured perpendicular to strike assuming flow of
water in the bed. Circular bubble was centered and then obtained reading was noted.

d) Observed data
SN Description Readings Remarks

8
 1 Strike 90
2 Dip amount 72
3 Dip direction 176

CHAPTER 5: PETROLOGY
The branch of geology dealing with the various aspects of rocks such as their formation,
classification and occurrence is called petrology.
Petrographic classification: -

9
 a) Igneous rock
b) Metamorphic rock
c) Sedimentary rock.

5.1 Igneous rock

All rocks that have formed from an originally hot molten material through the process of
cooling and crystallization either below or above earth surface is defined as Igneous rocks.
Rocks formed below the earth surface are intrusive bodies whereas those which are formed by
consolidation of magma on or above the earth surface is called extrusive bodies.

The hot molten material occurring naturally below the surface of the Earth is called
magma. It is called lava when erupted through volcanoes. Igneous rocks are formed both from
magma and to see it at its place of occurrence. But it is assumed to get formed at great depths
below the surface due to very high temperature related to a number of causes such as rise in
temperature with depth and also occurrence of radioactive materials. Magma or lava from which
igneous rocks are formed may not be entirely a pure melt : it may have a crystalline or solid
fraction and also a gaseous fraction thoroughly mixed with it.

5.1.1 Texture of Igneous Rock

Texture is the intimate mutual relationship of the constituents of rocks. That is, deals with
size, shape, nature and arrangements of igneous rocks. Required considerable factors for the
description of texture;
1. Degree of Crystallization or Crystallinity
2. Crystal shape (Fabric)
3. Granularity

Field identification of Igneous rock:-

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LOCATION 6
About 1.61km from Malekhu highway bridge, down towards river, left bank of river flow. (co-
ordinates: - 27.797756,84.835336)

SN Physical Properties Description

1 Color Black & white
2 Luster Metallic
3 Texture Coarse
4 Acid Test No reaction
5 Geological Structure Xenolith
6 Rock Name Granite
7 Rock Type Igneous
8 Specific Gravity High
9 Geological Formation Agra Granite
10 Mineral composition Quartz, muscovite,
biotite, plagioclase

Figure:-9 . Granite

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Engineering Significance

SN Properties Description
1 Strength High
2 Drilling Low
3 Plasticity Low

Uses:- Used in kitchen slab, flooring, decorative and other construction material.

Granite:-

Granite is a light-colored igneous rock with grains large enough to be visible with the
unaided eye. It forms from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth's surface.

Granite is composed mainly of quartz and feldspar with minor amounts of mica,
amphiboles, and other minerals. This mineral composition usually gives granite a red, pink, gray,
or white color with dark mineral grains visible throughout the rock.

5.2 Sedimentary Rock

Sedimentary rocks are also called secondary rocks. The sediments may be defined particles
produced from the decay and weathering of pre-existing rocks or may be derived from remains
of dead sea or land animals in suitable environments. The accumulation and compaction of these
sediments forms rocks called sedimentary rock, commonly takes place under water or at least in
the presence of water. Availability of sediments or the solid matter making the sedimentary
rocks ́may be from varied sources.

5.2.1 Texture of sedimentary rocks

1. Origin of grains

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 2. Crystallization trend

Field identification of sedimentary rock:-

LOCATION 1
About 160m from suspension bridge, downstream from Trishuli river, right bank of river flow.
(co-ordinates: - 27.810775,84.836239)

SN Physical Properties Description

1 Color White
2 Luster Metallic
3 Texture Shining
4 Acid Test Reactive
5 Geological Structure Bedding plane
6 Rock Name Dolomitic lime stone
7 Rock Type Sedimentary
8 Specific Gravity Medium
9 Geological Formation Malekhu Limestone
10 Mineral Composition CaCo3, Mg Figure:10- Dolomitic lime stone.

Engineering Significance
SN Properties Description
1 Strength Medium
2 Drilling Easy
3 Plasticity Low

Uses:- Used in flooring , cement factory and other construction material.

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Dolomitic lime stone:-
Dolomitic limestone is a type of rock that includes up to 50% dolomite. Normal limestone is
primarily made up of calcite and aragonite, but dolomite forms in the stone when the calcium
ions in the calcite part are replaced by magnesium ions — this process is called dolomitization.
Dolomite is a mineral that contains large amounts of calcium and magnesium, which makes it a
good fertilizer for nutrient deficient soil.

5.3 Metamorphic Rock

Metamorphic rocks are defined as those rocks which have formed from through the
operation of various types of metamorphic process on the pre-existing igneous rocks and
sedimentary rocks involving changes in texture, structures and mineralogical compositions.
Heat, pressure and chemical active fluids are the main agents involved in metamorphic
process. Plastic deformation, recrystallization of mineral constituents and development of
parallel orientation are typical characters of metamorphic rocks.

14
Field identification of Metamorphic rock:-
LOCATION 2
About 100m uphill from previous location. (Co-ordinates: - 27.812142,84.836778)

SN Physical Properties Description

1 Color Grey
2 Luster Non-metallic
3 Texture No texture
4 Acid Test No reaction
5 Cleavage Salty cleavage
6 Geological Structure Foliation plane
7 Rock Name Slate
8 Rock Type Metamorphic
9 Specific Gravity Low
10 Geological Formation Benighat Slate
11 Mineral Composition Mica, Chlorite,
Quartz

Fig:Rock source

15
Engineering Significance

Figure12:- . Slate

Uses:- Used in flooring, roofing, pencil lead and other construction material.
Slate:-
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-
type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional
metamorphism. It is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock. Foliation may not correspond
to the original sedimentary layering, but instead is in planes perpendicular to the direction of
metamorphic compression.

The foliation in slate is called "slaty cleavage". It is caused by strong compression

causing fine grained clay flakes to regrow in planes perpendicular to the compression.

16
 1.22 km upstream from Malekhu Highway Bridge, left bank of river flow.
ordinates: - 27.799933,84.835961)

SN Physical Properties Description

1 Color Grayish Black
2 Luster Non-metallic
3 Texture No texture
4 Acid Test No reaction
5 Cleavage Salty cleavage
6 Geological Structure Foliation plane
7 Rock Name Phyllite
8 Rock Type Metamorphic
9 Specific Gravity Low
10 Geological Formation Robang Formation
Figure13:. Rock Source

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SN Properties Description
1 Strength Low
2 Drilling High
3 Plasticity High

Engineering Significance

Uses:- Used in flooring and other construction material.

Figure:14- Phyllite

Phyllite:-
Phyllite is a foliated metamorphic rock that has been subjected to low levels of heat, pressure
and chemical activity and is composed mainly of flake-shaped mica minerals in parallel
alignment. Phyllite is usually gray, black, or greenish in color and often weathers to a tan or
brown.
Its reflective sheen often gives it a silvery, nonmetallic appearance.

1.22 km upstream from Malekhu Highway Bridge, left bank of river flow.
ordinates: - 27.799933,84.835961)

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SN Physical Properties Description
1 Color Creamy White
2 Luster Metallic
3 Texture Shining
4 Acid Test No reaction
5 Cleavage No cleavage
6 Geological Structure Non-Foliated
metamorphic rock

7 Rock Name Quartz

8 Rock Type Metamorphic
9 Specific Gravity High
10 Geological Formation Robang Formation
Figure15:- . Rock Source

Engineering Significance
SN Properties Description
1 Strength High
2 Drilling Low Uses:-
3 Plasticity Low Used in
flooring and other construction material.

Figure16:- . Quatrz
Quartz:-
Quartz is a mineral composed of silicon and oxygen, with a chemical composition of
SiO2. It is the most abundant mineral in Earth's crust and is resistant to both chemical and
physical weathering. When rocks weather away, the residual material usually contains quartz.
This is why the sand at most of the world's beaches is quartz.

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SN Physical Properties Description
1 Color Greenish
2 Luster Non-Metallic
3 Texture Fine
4 Acid Test No reaction
5 Cleavage Schistosity cleavage
6 Geological Structure Metamorphic rock
7 Rock Name Schist
8 Rock Type Metamorphic
9 Specific Gravity Low
10 Geological Formation Raduwa Formation

5
305m away from pervious location, left bank of river flow. ordinates:
- 27.799939,84.834878)

Figure17:-. Rock source

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Engineering Significance

Figure 18. Schist

Uses:- Used in ornament, semi-precious gem and other

construction material like roofing paving etc.

Figure19:- . Garnet
Schist:-
Schist is a foliated metamorphic rock made up of plate-shaped mineral grains
that are large enough to see with an unaided eye. It usually forms on a continental
side of a convergent plate boundary where sedimentary rocks, such as shales and
mudstones, have been subjected to compressive forces, heat, and chemical activity.
This metamorphic environment is intense enough to convert the clay minerals of the
sedimentary rocks into platy metamorphic minerals such as muscovite, biotite, and
chlorite.

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About 105m down towards river from pervious location, left bank of river flow. (co-ordinates:
- 27.797756,84.835336)

SN Physical Properties Description

1 Color Milky white
2 Luster Metallic
3 Texture Crystalline
4 Acid Test Reactive
5 Geological Structure Non-foliated
6 Rock Name Marble
7 Rock Type Metamorphic
8 Specific Gravity High
9 Geological Formation Bhaise Dhoban Marbel
10 Mineral composition CaCo3
Figure20:- . Marble

Engineering Significance
SN Properties Description
1 Strength High
2 Drilling Low
3 Plasticity Low

Uses:- Used in cement factory, road, flooring, decorative and other construction material.

Marble:-

Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to the heat and
pressure of metamorphism. It is composed primarily of the mineral calcite (CaCO3) and usually
contains other minerals, such as clay minerals, micas, quartz, pyrite, iron oxides, and graphite.

Under the conditions of metamorphism, the calcite in the limestone recrystallizes to form
a rock that is a mass of interlocking calcite crystals. A related rock, dolomitic marble, is
produced when dolostone is subjected to heat and pressure.

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5.4 Weathering

Weathering describes the breaking down or dissolving of rocks and minerals on the
surface of the Earth. Water, ice, acids, salts, plants, animals, and changes in temperature are all
agents of weathering.
a) Elephant skin weathering:-
Many massive carbonate rocks like limestone, marble and dolomite show elephant skin
weathering, so called because of its resemblance to the rough, weathered hide of
elephants. This weathering starts out as minute, random cracks in the rock that are
exposed to rainwater. Rainwater is slightly acidic because atmospheric carbon dioxide
(CO2) dissolves in water (H2O) to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This slightly acidic
rainwater then seeps into the cracks and dissolves a thin layer of limestone, converting it
to calcium bicarbonate. The bicarbonate remains in solution and runs off, thereby leaving
an enlarged crack. Over many years, the cracks deepen and widen, resulting in the aptly
named surface. Elephant skin weathering in found almost exclusively on fine-grained
carbonate rocks.

Figure21:- . Elephant skin weathering on rock weathering on rock

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 CHAPTER 6: RIVER CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY

6.1 Introduction

The running path of water is river and the path of the river is known as river channel.
River carries sediments and many more substances. The flow of river is expressed in terms of
discharge.
Discharge is the volume of water flowing through a point in the given time.

Meandering River:- The type of river channel in which flow of water can be laminar as well as
turbulent accordingly gradient of path flow is called meandering river. Channel of this type of
river is like snake.

Figure 22. Meandering river

6.2 Depositional features

It is collection of sediments as well many more at the bank of river, sea, or different place
from origin. Deposition takes place in small velocity and low gradient. Some depositional
features are oxbow lake, natural levee, alluvial deposit, tar etc.

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a) Oxbow lake:- An oxbow lake is a crescent shaped lake lying beside the middle course of
a river. It is formed when a bend in the river is cut off from the main channel by forces of
erosion.

Figure23:. Oxbow lake-

Fig24ure. Aerial view of oxbow lake

b) Tar:- It is the plain landform formed by river depsoits.

25
 Tar

Figure 25. Tar

c) Natural Levees:- Levees are usually made of earth. The natural movement of a body of
water pushes sediment to the side, creating a natural levee. The banks of a river are often
slightly elevated from the riverbed. The banks form levees made of sediment, silt, and
other materials pushed aside by the flowing water. Levees are usually parallel to the way
the river flows, so levees can help direct the flow of the river.

Fig ure:- Levee

6.3 Erosional Deposits

Either by physical processes or chemical factors with natural agencies, river wears away of
the rocks, that is called as erosion. Erosion also breaks up the rocks that are carried by the river.
The erosional features developed by river are river valleys, terrace, bank cutting, V shape valley,
rock island etc.

26
1) V shaped valley:- V-shaped valleys are formed by erosion. The river carries stones and
rocks in its water. The force of the water and the grinding of rocks and stones cut down
into the river bed to carve out a valley. Over time the valley becomes deeper and wider.

Figure27. V shaped valley

2) Terrace:- A river terrace is a fragment of a former river floodplain that now stands above
the level of the present-day floodplain.

Figure 28. Terrace

3) Rock island:- The land formed by the erosional features of river in which the side weak
sediments are flush off by river and the remaining portion on between or side of the river
is termed as rock island

27
 Figure:29- Rock Island

CHAPTER 7: ROCK MASS CLASSIFICATION AND TUNNEL SUPPORTNG

7.1 Rock Mass Classification System

Rock Mass Classification is the process of placing a rock mass into groups or classes on
defined relationships (Bieniawski, 1989) and assigning a unique description (or number) to it on
the basis of similar properties/characteristics such that the behavior of the rock mass can be
predicted.

A rock mass is often described according to strength, color, structure, degree of

weathering, name, structural plane and other geological information. Prior to the description, the
rock mass should be first divided into units with consistent engineering characteristics.

The main benefits of rock mass classifications:

1. Improve the quality of site investigations by calling for the minimum input data as
classification parameters.
2. Provide quantitative information for design purposes.
3. Enable better engineering judgement and more effective communication on a project.

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7.2 Tunnel and tunnel Supporting System

We visited Tunnel in Benighat in the way to Gorkha entering from Ghokchowk Gaun.
The Tunnel was constructed for BudiGandaki Hydropower. The estimated generation of
Hydropower is 1200MW.The length of the Tunnel was 150-200m.The Tunnel was supported by
steel rib, wire mesh, rod and rock bolt. The steel rib was helpful by supporting the heavy rock
mass and strong grip. The wire mesh supports the rock mass. To prevent the fracture in rock, the
mixture of mortar and rod was required. Since, the hardness of rock was high so it was hold with
less supporting system. Inside the Tunnel we found several bedding planes structures. There was
rocks of different colors which is identified by Quarzile conversion to Slate.

29
 External support at tunnel
starting point

Figure:30- Outside of Audit tunnel.

Figure:31. Support inside audit tunnel

CHAPTER 8: MASS MOVEMENT

Mass movement, also called Mass Wasting, bulk movements of soil and rock debris down
slopes in response to the pull of gravity, or the rapid or gradual sinking of the Earth’s ground
surface in a predominantly vertical direction. Formerly, the term mass wasting referred to a
variety of processes by which large masses of crustal materials are moved by gravity from one
place to another.

8.1 Types of mass movement

a) Soil Creep

30
 b) Solifluction
c) Earth and Mudflows
d) Slides

Slides:-

Landslides, also known as landslips, are several forms of mass wasting that may
include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-
seated slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows. Landslides occur in a variety of environments,
characterized by either steep or gentle slope gradients, from mountain ranges to coastal cliffs or
even underwater, in which case they are called submarine landslides. Gravity is the primary
driving force for a landslide to occur, but there are other factors affecting slope stability that
produce specific conditions that make a slope prone to failure. In many cases, the landslide is
triggered by a specific event (such as a heavy rainfall, an earthquake, a slope cut to build a road,
and many others), although this is not always identifiable.

Figure:32. Krishna Bhir After Landslide of 2000 AD after landslide of 2000 AD

Source :- Sumit Maskey

8.2 Mitigation measures

During our field visit we visited Krishna Bhir which was a perfect example of mass
movement. On there we saw how the bhir was controlled by providing supports structures such
as gabion wall and cascade structure and bio engineering works.
• The gabion wall was placed step wise to reduce the fall load of soil and stones and also
gabion wall provides space for water to pass through it without damaging the structure
and preventing land slide.
• Cascade structure was constructed to reduce the velocity of water flowing in that slope
terrain.

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Cascade wall

Gabion wall

Figure: - Landslide Controlling

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 CHAPTER 9: CONCLUSION
During our filed visit we visited different places of Dhading district like Malekhu.
Krishna Bhir, Benighat, Bhaise Dhoban, etc. As we were guided by our teachers, we achieved
our mentioned objevtives. We learned to use Brunton compass, identification of rocks with their
physical properties as well as their engineering significance and uses in practical life.
We learned about river channel morphology, the features like depositional and erosional
made and collected by river. We learned about local unconformity how the river has deposited
the sediments making a layer and certain angle between bed rock and river deposits. We visited
audit tunnel which was constructed to analyze the alignment for Budhigandaki Hydropower for
1200 MW on Budhigandaki river. And also, to analyze the High flood Level (HFL) or rise of the
water in river.
We also learned about the Rock Mass Rating (RMR). From the observed data on the
rock mass rating table, we found out the rock was good class rock falling between the rating of
80-61. We also observed the mass movement on Krishna bhir. Various engineering as well as bio
engineering works are done there to control the land slide.

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