Potentials of Bitumen Tar Sand for Road Work: A Case Study of Kajola, Lamudifa Irele Local Government Area, Nigeria

Abstract

The persistent infrastructural deficit in Nigeria, exacerbated by the high cost of conventional road construction materials, necessitates the investigation of locally available alternatives. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the engineering properties of bitumen-rich tar sand sourced from Kajola in Ondo State, Nigeria, for potential application in asphalt pavement construction. The research methodology involved a series of standardized laboratory tests to characterize both the aggregate and binder components of a proposed Tar Sand Asphalt (TSA) composite. Critical aggregate strength parameters, including the Aggregate Crushing Value (ACV), Aggregate Impact Value (AIV), and Los Angeles Abrasion (LAA) value, were determined to be 28%, 23%, and 38%, respectively. These results fall within acceptable thresholds for use in flexible pavements, indicating good resistance to mechanical degradation and confirming the material's suitability for road surfacing in low to moderate-traffic scenarios. The bitumen extracted from the tar sand exhibited a very low penetration value of 17 mm, characterizing it as a hard binder with inherent resistance to rutting and bleeding, making it particularly advantageous for road construction in Nigeria's hot climatic regions. Furthermore, the Marshall mix design method was employed to optimize the asphalt composition, revealing that a mix incorporating 50% tar sand aggregate and an optimum bitumen content of 4.5% delivered the most favorable balance of stability and flow after the control mix. While the findings affirm the viability of Kajola tar sand for low-volume road construction, the study concludes that for broader applications, including high-traffic highways, the TSA composite would require performance-enhancing additives such as polymers, fibres, or crumb rubber. The successful deployment of this indigenous material promises to significantly reduce road construction costs and contribute to bridging the nation's infrastructure gap