Abstract
Soils derived from sandstone, migmatite-gneiss and quartz-schist in the vicinity of sections of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Southwestern Nigeria were investigated. The investigation was meant to determine the extent to which the parent rock factor has controlled some basic engineering index properties of the derived soils. Field and laboratory investigations showed that the mineralogy and texture of the parent rocks show distinct variation from one rock type to another.
The study has proved that the influences of the parent rock factor on engineering index properties such as the specific gravity of grains, plasticity index and grain size distribution characteristics of the soils studied were significant. However, a rather weak influence of the genetic factor on the linear shrinkage of the studied soils was noticed. It is thus necessary to take proper cognisance of the parent rock characteristics prior to an adequate understanding of engineering properties and behaviour of residual soils.
Résumé
L'étude a porté sur des sols dérivant d'un grès, d'un gneiss migmatique et d'un schiste quartzeux prélevés le long de la route express Lagos-Ibadan dans le Sud-Ouest du Nigéria. Elle a montré l'influence des roches d'origine sur certaines caractéristiques géotechniques des sols telles que la densité des grains, l'indice de plasticité et la courbe granulométrique. On a par contre noté une faible influence du facteur génétique sur le retrait linéaire des sols étudiés.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BALOGUN L.A., 1984: Influence of geological origin on the geotechnical properties of lime-stabilised laterites. Proc. 8th Reg. Conf. for Africa SMFE, Harare, 1:355–362.
B.S. 1377, 1975: Methods of testing of soils for civil engineering purposes. British Standard Institute.
GIDIGASU M.D., 1973. Review of Identification of problem laterite soils in highway engineering. Transport Research Board, Washington 497, 96–111.
GIDIGASU M.D., 1976: Laterite Soil Engineering, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 554 pp.
HOLMES D.L., 1964: Holmes principles of physical geology. The English Language Book Society and Nelson, 730 pp.
JONES H.A. and HOCKEY, R.D., 1964: The geology of parts of southwestern Nigeria. Explanation of 1∶250,000 sheets Nos 59 and 68, Geological Survey of Nigeria Bulletin 11, 101 pp.
MADEDOR A.O., 1983: Pavement design guidelines and practice for different geological areas in Nigeria. In: Ola S.A. (ed.). Tropical soils of Nigeria in Engineering practice, A.A. Balkema (Publishers), Rotterdam, Netherlands, 291–297.
MADU R.M., 1977: An investigation into the geotechnical and engineering properties of some laterite of Eastern Nigeria. Eng. Geol., Amsterdam, 12(2), 101–125.
MESIDA E.A., 1985: The influence of geological factors on the engineering properties of some western Nigerian residual lateritic soils as highway construction materials. Unpublished Ph. D. thesis, University of Ife, Nigeria.
OGUNSANWO O., 1989: Some geotehnical properties of two laterite soils compacted at two different energies. Technical note. Eng. Geol., Amsterdam 26, 261–269.
TUNCER E.R. and LOHNES R.A., 1977: An engineering classification for certain basalt-derived laterite soils. Eng. geol., Amsterdam, 2(4), 319–339.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Adeyemi, G.O. The influence of parent rock factor on some engineering index properties of three residual lateritic soils in Southwestern Nigeria. Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology 52, 3–8 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02602677
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02602677