Arba Minch University

School of Graduate Studies [Institute of Technology]

Civil Engineering Department

PG2-Summer in Geot.Engg

Assignment No.1

Date of submission-1-08-2017

Q.1. what is a mineral? Define. Also write, at least, eight or more such physical properties of a mineral
which may help to identify it.

Q. 2. Select any six rocks from each of Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

Describe their main characteristics which may help you to identify it practically.

Write prime mineral or minerals for each of the rock selected, with their chemical composition

and crystalline structure. Give some description of each mineral. Use figures where ever necessary.

3. What are the basic structural units of clay minerals and how these combine to form various clay
minerals? Describe giving their charges.

4. Describe the following clay minerals giving their structure, specific surface, cation exchange capacity
and chemical composition: Kaolinite, Illite, [Na, K,,Mg] Montmorillonites, Gibbsite, Holloysite,
Pyrophyllite, mica, Hydroxy-Interlayered, Vermiculite and Semectite, Chlorite, Palygorskite,Zeolite,
Allophane.

Note- You must carefully notice the combination of basic units to form various clay minerals.

5. What is Base Exchange capacity and CEC? Define with their units. Describe how these affect the clay
properties. Give examples.

6. Write the various bonding forces acting on a clay particle? Describe with neat

sketches

7. What is the roll of clay- structure in their behavior? Describe in details.

8. Describe separately the various modern techniques for identifying the clay

minerals. Draw neat sketches where ever necessary to make your answer clear and

understandable.

9. What are the factors which are responsible for the formation of lateritic soils in tropical zones only?

10. List the various factors which affect the swelling pressure in expansive soils. Also describe fully how
each of them takes place.
11. How will you estimate the lateral pressure behind a retaining wall if expansive soil is used as a
backfill material?