Geological and Geomechanical Investigations of Cataclastic Rock Samples: Evidences for a Better Rock Mass Characterization and Geotechnical Description.

The fact that the manifestations of cataclasis are very widespread and dependent on rock composition is obvious. Cataclastic rocks can build up virtually in any kind of petrological settings. Thus it is envisaged that a catalogue of specific damage microstructures related to a given petrology can be linked to different stage of cataclasis. This provides the opportunity to interpret rock samples from reconnaissance drilling operations in a much powerful way.