The omani artificial pozzolans (Sarooj)

Sarooj is a local Omani term for artificial pozzolana produced by calcining clays. Calcined clay mixed with lime and water has been used as a cementing material for a long time. It has been used widely in hydraulic structures due to its good hydraulic properties and in military defensive installations due to its durability. This project focuses on the exploration of potential clay areas in Oman for the production of sarooj. A large number of samples have been collected from different sites in the country and were subjected to an extensive program of testing involving chemical, mineralogical, thermal, and physical analyses. This paper presents some of the results obtained for samples tested from five locations in Northern Oman (Al-Khod, Soor Al-Haboos, Al-Fulaij, Al-Hamra, and Al-Awabi). It was found that the sarooj produced by Al-Fulaij clays has higher strength than those of other sites. It was also found that the total content of silica, alumina, and iron oxide together with the burning temperature and the duration of burning have significant effect on the physical properties of the sarooj produced.