EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS ON ROCK FRACTURING

Despite the potential technological value of chemically activated crac king of rocks in aqueous environments, the fundamental mechanisms of t his phenomenon have yet to be established An understanding of this phe nomenon will permit the application of the concept to the optimization of rock-fracturing where fluids are involved. Using fracture mechanic s techniques, three rock types in five environments were tested for fr acture toughness, specific work of fracture and strain energy index to supplement the essential information required to develop an understan ding of the mechanism involved in chemically activated fracturing. Bas ed on the results obtained, a possible intrinsic mechanism for rock pr operties modification in chemical solutions is formulated