Resumen
The slake-durability test is regarded as a simple test for assessing weathering of rocks. This simpletest has been accepted as a standard test by the Rock Mechanics Society. However, mechanisms intoslaking processes have not been fully understood yet as many factors involved in the processes. Thecurrent research explored mechanisms performed by the test by conducting a series of slakedurabilitytests for four types of soft rocks taken from Coober Pedy, South Australia. Results showthat the slake-durability index (Id2) of weathered soft rocks was influenced by the degree ofweathering. Distinctly weathered rocks had lower indeces compared to partly weathered rocks.Shapes also influenced the Id2 of these soft rocks. Different shapes displayed different mechanisms inthe slaking processes. Samples that had irregular shapes tended to have a lower Id2 compared tosamples that had rounded shapes. Thus, the slake-durability test might have simple procedures, butit could have complicated mechanisms in slaking processes that contribute to the result of the test.