Use of lateritic fine-grained soils in road pavement base courses

Summary Lateritic fine-grained soils are, in large areas of Brazil and other tropical countries, the most frequent local materials found along road routes. However the use of these soils in pavements has been difficult, because they do not conform to the traditional specifications for base courses. This paper presents successful uses of many of these soils in pavement base courses, particularly sandy soils, following specially developed geotechnical test methods and construction procedures, thus sensibly reducing the cost of pavements, mainly for low to medium traffic levels.     

Influence of gravelly exclusion on compaction of lateritic soils

This paper uses a deltaic lateritic soil sample to study the combined influence of total gravel composition and gravelly exclusion on compaction parameters MDD (or maximum dry density) and OMC (or optimum moisture content) derived from standard laboratory compaction tests. In the end, MDD was found to vary polynomially with percentage of gravelly exclusion with improved or higher values as total gravel composition increases. OMC on the other hand was found to decrease continually with increasing gravelly exclusion but independent of the total gravel composition. Also, a model was presented in form of a family of curves to predict actual or field compaction parameters (which is devoid of gravelly exclusion) and their laboratory counterparts. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparative reliability evaluation of lateritic soils as hydraulic barriers

A numerical investigation to determine the existence or otherwise of congruence between laboratory-based and field-based models for predicting hydraulic conductivity of compacted clay liners has been conducted. The comparisons here are based on values of the reliability index estimated with the use of the two models for cases when hydraulic conductivity is assumed to be normally and lognormally distributed. The laboratory reduced Proctor and modified Proctor compactive efforts were assumed to correspond to the lowest and highest compactor weights (165kN and 338kN for sheepsfoot rollers only from literature) respectively. The standard Proctor compactive effort was assumed to correspond to the mean compactor weight of 261.4kN. Reliability estimates from the laboratory-based model were consistently higher than the corresponding values from the field-based model for each of the variables common to the two models. As laboratory samples usually involve small samples which are often unrepresentative of field situations, it is considered that reliability levels estimated with the use of the field-based model provide more realistic assessment of compacted lateritic soils as hydraulic barriers. Compactor weight of 300kN and above may be needed for effective compaction of lateritic soil liners. Reliability-based designs of lateritic soil liners should incorporate appropriate probability distribution types for variables in the field-based model.     

Stabilization of tropical kaolin soil with phosphoric acid and lime

Studies on the chemically stabilized soils have shown that the effectiveness of treatment is largely dependent on soil’s natural environment. In tropical kaolin soils, phosphoric acid may be used as an alternative to traditional alkaline stabilizers for improving soil properties. This research was carried out in an effort to identify the time-dependent soil-stabilizer reactions. Data for the study of characterization of treated samples were obtained from X-ray diffractometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and leaching analysis. Based on the collected data, the kaolinite mineral with pH-dependent structural properties showed slightly different behavior both in basic and in acidic mediums. Also, it was found that the chemical stabilizers preferentially attacked the alumina surface of the clay particles. Therefore, it was rational to suggest that with respect to lime and phosphoric acid treatment, aluminate hydrate compounds are more likely to be formed.     

再论蛇屋山红土型金矿的成因

蛇屋山金矿是我国第一个大型红土型金矿床。它具有规模大、品位低、易采、易选、经济效益好等特点,是黄金矿业中建设大型露采堆浸场的理想基地。这个矿床的成矿物质来自奥陶系碳酸盐岩硅化破碎带,成矿活动以第四纪化学风化作用为主。在中更新世热带雨林条件下,在岩石的红土化过程中,金从原岩中析出,与风化产生的铁质水溶液一起,沿着红土裂隙向下渗透,停积于地下潜水面,形成似层状矿体。     

模拟酸雨对阳离子在土体内迁移的影响

利用室内模拟酸雨的土柱实验,研究了在红壤表土施用钾肥后酸雨对不同土层交换性阳离子迁移的影响.结果表明,在不同土体深度,表土直接受酸沉降的淋溶,也是最容易发生酸化的土层, pH 2.5酸雨淋溶后,表土 pH值下降到 3.5～ 4.2,这是铝的缓冲范围,且土壤交换性 H 和 Al3 含量的增加显示出土壤对酸沉降的缓冲效率和缓冲能力的急剧减弱; pH 4.5酸雨淋溶后, A和 B层土壤 pH值上升了 0.3～ 0.5,其机理与的专性吸附释放 OH-有关;表土施用钾肥后, K 交换土壤表面的 H 和 Al3 ,引起土壤交换性 H 和 Al3 向下迁移;不同 pH值的酸性降雨引起土壤中交换性阳离子向下迁移和淋失的程度也有明显的差异, pH 2.5酸雨淋溶后土壤溶液中钾的含量高于 pH 4.5酸雨淋溶的,但交换性钾含量低于后者; pH 2.5和 pH 4.5酸雨淋溶后交换性钙的淋失量分别占原土的 50%～ 70%和 20%～ 40%,这表明酸雨淋洗会导致养分库的损耗,造成土壤养分贫瘠.     

湘南红土型金矿成矿地质特征

对区内喜马拉雅期地壳运动、古气候变化特点、矿源体类型及分布、红土型金矿床地质特征等方面的研究，认为新构造期为湘南土型金矿的主成矿期。矿档受基底断裂控制，呈带状分布。红土型金矿具有风化剖面厚度小、成熟度偏低、对帮源体类型及含Au性依赖强、含矿层单一且厚度较小的特点。金的次生富 与黄铁矿的氧化有褐铁矿的吸附密切相关。     

桂林红黏土的土-水特征曲线

采用压力板法、滤纸法和饱和盐溶液法3种方法,对压实桂林红黏土进行全吸力范围内的土-水特性量测,研究干密度对于土-水特征曲线的影响。试验结果表明：干密度1.4 g/cm3的压实桂林红黏土的进气值约为20 kPa;土-水特征曲线的过渡段与典型的土-水特征曲线不同,含水率或饱和度与吸力的对数坐标关系不是单一直线,而是出现了3段直线,并且中间一段平缓段下降斜率较小;当吸力增大到367 MPa时,含水率仅为0.74%,可认为如吸力继续增大至106 kPa时,含水率和饱和度为0;用吸力与含水率关系表示土-水特征曲线时,吸力较大时不同干密度的曲线重合,认为干密度对土-水特征曲线无影响。用吸力与饱和度关系表示土-水特征曲线时,在吸力较小时,干密度越大,对应的土-水特征曲线越高;当吸力较大时,不同干密度的土-水特征曲线几乎重合。     

淋溶时间对红黏土物理力学特性的影响

以湖北省鄂州市庙岭镇的红黏土为研究对象,以化学选择溶解法结合淋溶作用为处理手段,将原状土样中的游离氧化铁按梯度去除,获得连二亚硫酸钠-柠檬酸钠-碳酸氢钠(DCB)溶液淋溶时间与除铁率的关系,并分析了不同淋溶时间对红黏土物理力学特性及微观孔隙结构的影响。试验结果表明,DCB溶液淋溶时间与除铁率相关性较强,除铁率与时间呈先快速增长后逐渐稳定的关系。由于游离氧化铁在土颗粒间主要起胶结作用,故淋溶时间对红黏土的物理力学特性有较大影响。随着淋溶时间的增长,黏粒与胶粒含量逐渐增大,耐热性小幅提升,无侧限抗压强度显著减小,且无侧限抗压强度变化整体趋势为前期急剧降低至后期趋于平稳。核磁共振、差热分析和电镜扫描的结果表明,随着淋溶时间的增大,庙岭红黏土内部孔隙增大,自由水减少,结合水增多,微观形态上团粒结构遭到破坏,胶结物质明显减少,结构形式从紧凑的粒团堆叠结构逐渐转化为聚集体-松散颗粒状结构。     

Collapse behaviour of a lateritic soil

Collapsible soils are problematic by nature. They undergo collapse or sudden settlement or subsidence under a given stress when their water content is increased. Collapse is characterised by collapse potential expressed as ΔH/H x 100, where ΔH is collapse compression. The amount of stress applied and the water content at the time of collapse govern the amount of collapse. In other words, collapse potential depends upon the amount of stress and the water content. Loess and other wind-blown silts are examples of collapsible soils. This paper presents a parametric study on the collapse behaviour of a lateritic soil. Remoulded specimens of a lateritic soil passing through a 425 µm sieve were compacted in 1-D consolidometer or oedometer at a density of 13 kN/m³ for studying collapse under varied initial moisture contents and initial surcharge pressures. Collapse compression of the samples was induced by saturating the specimens with water contents corresponding to 100% degree of saturation. After collapse occurred, the 1-D consolidation tests were continued up to an applied stress of 160 kPa. Collapse behaviour was studied for the applied initial pressures (σ_i) of 10, 20 and 40 kPa and for the initial water contents (w_i) of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. Collapse compression and collapse potential decreased with increasing w_i for all σ_i.     

淋溶时间对红黏土物理力学特性的影响

以湖北省鄂州市庙岭镇的红黏土为研究对象,以化学选择溶解法结合淋溶作用为处理手段,将原状土样中的游离氧化铁按梯度去除,获得连二亚硫酸钠-柠檬酸钠-碳酸氢钠(DCB)溶液淋溶时间与除铁率的关系,并分析了不同淋溶时间对红黏土物理力学特性及微观孔隙结构的影响。试验结果表明,DCB溶液淋溶时间与除铁率相关性较强,除铁率与时间呈先快速增长后逐渐稳定的关系。由于游离氧化铁在土颗粒间主要起胶结作用,故淋溶时间对红黏土的物理力学特性有较大影响。随着淋溶时间的增长,黏粒与胶粒含量逐渐增大,耐热性小幅提升,无侧限抗压强度显著减小,且无侧限抗压强度变化整体趋势为前期急剧降低至后期趋于平稳。核磁共振、差热分析和电镜扫描的结果表明,随着淋溶时间的增大,庙岭红黏土内部孔隙增大,自由水减少,结合水增多,微观形态上团粒结构遭到破坏,胶结物质明显减少,结构形式从紧凑的粒团堆叠结构逐渐转化为聚集体-松散颗粒状结构。     

Hydraulic and compaction characteristics of leachate-contaminated lateritic soil

Large quantities of leachate-contaminated lateritic soil results from dump yards in the southwest coast of India. These dump yards receive large quantities of municipal solid waste which includes chemical, industrial and biomedical wastes. Large areas of land are currently being used for this purpose. An extensive laboratory testing program was carried out to determine the compaction characteristics and hydraulic conductivity of clean and contaminated lateritic soil. Batch tests were used to study the immediate effect of leachate contamination on the properties of lateritic soil. Contaminated specimens were prepared by mixing the lateritic soil with leachate in the amount of 5%, 10% and 20% by weight to vary the degree of contamination. The results indicated a small reduction in maximum dry density and an increase in hydraulic conductivity due to leachate-contamination. The change induced by chemical reaction in the microstructure of the soil was studied by scanning electron microscope before and after contamination of soil with leachate. The structure of the leachate contaminated soil sample appeared to be aggregated in scanning electron microscope analysis. The aggregated structure increases the effective pore space and thus increases the hydraulic conductivity. Fifty percent increase in hydraulic conductivity was observed for specimens prepared at standard Proctor density and mixed with 20% leachate. Compaction characteristics did not change much with the presence of leachate up to 10%. With 20% leachate the maximum dry density decreased slightly indicating excess leachate in the soil. However the changes are not significant.     

老挝班康姆铜金矿红土型金矿地质特征及找矿方向

老挝班康姆金矿床存在两类金矿化,即产于安山岩与大理岩接触带处并受断裂带控制的低温热液硫化物原生金矿化和产于原生金矿化附近的残坡积红土型金矿化。红土型金矿化主要呈带状或似层状产出于第四系红土层中。研究认为,本区红土型金矿化主要为原生金矿受物理风化作用而形成的残坡积再生改造型金矿,成矿过程主要受原生金矿化及红土化作用控制,并结合地质、化探特征在本区圈出7处找矿靶区。     

Nickel speciation in Sebertia acuminata,a plant growing on a lateritic soil of New Caledonia

Nickel speciation in a nickel hyperaccumulating plant (Sebertia acuminata) and its associated soil of southern New Caledonia was studied using various analytical methods. The soil is formed of iron oxides (goethite, hematite), which contain almost all the nickel. The available nickel is probably linked to the organic matter in the litter. Sebertia acuminata, acts as a nickel pump, and concentrates the metal in its leaves. It partitions nickel and silica; nickel is concentrated in the cells (probably in the vacuoles) as organometallic complexes, whereas silica forms the framework of the cells, and the phytolithes. A thorough study of these plants seems essential in order to define the soil–plant relations, and to propose appropriate ways for ecological restoration. To cite this article: N. Perrier et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Some engineering characteristics of a compacted lateritic residual soil

Summary In many parts of the world, particularly in humid tropical regions, residual soils are abundant. In this paper the suitability of a residual lateritic soil as a construction material is investigated, with respect to its strength and compaction characteristics. In comparison with other typical construction fills available in Southeast Asia, compacted lateritic soils produce excellent shear strengths and CBR values. However, the brittleness and tensile cracking of this compacted material become enhanced on the dry side of the optimum moisture content, or if excessive compaction is imparted. Nevertheless, at a moisture content of 2% wetter than the optimum, the tensile mode of failure is suppressed and the lateritic fills become ideally suited for the construction of high embankments and impervious dam cores.     

Trace elements in sub-alpine forest soils on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau,China

Industrial development has increased fast in China during the last decades. This has led to a range of environmental problems. Deposition of trace elements to forest ecosystems via the atmosphere is one potential problem. In this paper, we report the results from a pilot study where the trace element levels of the sub-alpine forest soils on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau have been measured. Possible relationships between soil properties and trace element concentrations have also been investigated. The obtained concentrations (mg kg⁻¹) were boron (B) 48.06–53.70, molybdenum (Mo) 1.53–2.26, zinc (Zn) 68.18–79.53, copper (Cu) 36.81–42.44, selenium (Se) 0.33–0.49, cadmium (Cd) 0.16–0.29, lead (Pb) 25.80–30.71, chromium (Cr) 96.10–110.08, nickel (Ni) 30.16–45.60, mercury (Hg) 0.05–0.11, and arsenic (As) 3.09–4.17. With a few exceptions, the element concentration can be characterized as low in the investigated sub-alpine forest soils. No clear differences in trace element levels were found between topsoil and subsoil samples, indicating that the atmospheric deposition of trace element has been low. The soil parent material plays a key role to determine trace element levels. Soil properties, including pH_w, organic carbon (OC), clay fraction, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), total iron (Fe), and total aluminum (Al) concentrations were related to trace element concentration using correlation analysis. Total Fe and Al showed the strongest relationships with concentrations of most trace elements in the sub-alpine forest soils. PCA analyses indicated that a significant increase in the number of cars with the fast development of local tourism may result in higher Pb concentration in the future.     

A comparative assessment of sand and lime stabilization of residual micaceous compressible soils for road construction

Summary The presence of mica in pavements can be detrimental due to the effects of high compressibility and low compacted density it imparts to the soils. Three residual micaceous compressible soils derived from granite, granitic gneiss and phyllite can neither be used as base nor sub-base course in their untreated form. In this study, these soils have been treated with a range of lime and sand contents to determine their effects on consistency, compactability, bearing and compressive strengths and volume stability against swell. With 6–8% lime, soils derived over phyllite and granitic gneiss were rendered suitable for use as sub-base course as their plasticity index, 96 hour soaked CBR values and unconfined compressive strengths (UCS) were improved to satisfy existing local criteria. Similarly, with 30% sand both soils became suitable for sub-base course construction. The use of both additives markedly improved the volume stability of all the soils against swell.     

Relationship of chemical fractions of heavy metals with microbial and enzyme activities in sludge and ash-amended acid lateritic soil from India

The influence of metals, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, on the microbial biomass and enzyme activities of an amended acid lateritic soil were investigated under field conditions receiving a one-time application of 52 t ha^–1 of sludge, coal ash and their mixtures at 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1 proportions, and including control and chemical fertilizer treatment at crop-specific recommended doses. Paddies and peanuts were grown in the experimental plots and soil was sampled twice after 6 months and 1 year after amendment application. The heavy metals in the soil were fractionated using sequential extraction and the increments in their concentrations in amended soil with respect to the control were determined. Concentrations of Cd, Ni and Zn were determined to have increased in their mobile fractions and were more pronounced in soil collected during the second sampling, which was associated with a decrease in soil organic carbon. The size of the microbial biomass carbon and the soil enzyme activities increased with the addition of an amendment and was highest at equal proportions of coal ash and sludge. Further increase in the proportion of sludge resulted in a significant decrease in biomass carbon. Simple correlation revealed significant and strong negative relations of mobile fractions of Cd and Ni with the ratio between microbial biomass C and organic carbon in soil, while the organic carbon content and the pH were positively correlated. The microbial activities were determined to be sensitive to the concentrations of some heavy metals in mobile fractions and therefore indicated possibilities of being useful as indicators for evaluation of toxic effects of sludge-borne metals on soil organisms.     

Distribution of heavy metals in Gaborone urban soils (Botswana) and its relationship to soil pollution and bedrock composition

The capital city of Botswana, Gaborone, has seen unprecedented population, economic, and industrial growth in recent years. In order to assess how this rapid urbanisation process impacts the environment, 106 silt and clay (particle size <0.053 mm) samples, separated from Gaborone surface soil samples representing urban, agricultural and rural sites, were investigated. The concentrations of nine heavy metals (Sc, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Cd, and Pb) were measured using ICP–MS and GFAAS, and the resulting patterns were correlated to the bedrock composition and anthropogenic activities. As expected, we found that samples from soils on top of dolerites show higher levels of Cr, Ni, and Cu than those on top of granites and rhyolites. However, our studies also show that Gaborone city centre soils are moderately polluted by Pb (up to 222 mg/kg, i.e. 5.7-fold the concentration in comparable rural soils), as a result of heavy traffic. Furthermore, Cr and Ni pollution originating from agrochemicals were shown to be accumulating in Gaborone crop soils. Our studies also showed moderate levels of Zn pollution and low level, dot-shaped pollution of Cr, Co, Ni, Cu detected in Gaborone residential and industrial soils that are correlated to waste disposal. Interestingly, the highest levels of Sc, Cr, Co, Ni and Zn pollution are found near two abandoned sewage works. The results of sequential extraction indicate that the polluting Co and Ni exist in all speciations; the polluting Cu mainly exists in the residue of the sequential extraction, whereas the polluting Pb is mostly bound to organic matters and Fe- and Mn-oxides. These results highlight the need for instituting a systematic and continuous monitoring of heavy metals and other forms of pollutants in Gaborone to ensure that pollution does not become a serious problem in the future.     

Shear strength behaviour of compacted clayey soils percolated with an alkaline solution

In the French model of deep nuclear wastes repositories, the galleries should be backfilled with excavated argillite after the site has been filled. After thousands of years, the degradation of the concrete lining of the galleries will generate an alkaline solute (pH > 12) that would circulate through the backfill. The goal of this paper is to describe the impact of such solute circulation on the properties of compacted argillite. Since additives (bentonite, sand or lime) are often introduced in the remoulded argillite for the backfill, such mixtures were also studied. Saturated-portlandite water was circulated through compacted samples for 3, 6 and 12 months at 60 °C. The shear strength behaviour of the samples was determined with triaxial tests. The microstructure of the samples was analysed via mercury intrusion porosimetry tests and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the influence of the alkaline fluid on the properties of the argillite is a function of the nature of the additive. In the case of the calcareous sand, no major changes were observed. The pure argillite underwent a slight decrease in its cohesion due to limited dissolution of its clayey particles. Conversely, intense alteration of the bentonite–argillite mixture was observed, and the shear strength behaviour was modified. Lime addition improved the mechanical characteristics of the argillite.