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Lesson 2 Geological Materials
Lesson 2 Geological Materials
Lesson 2
Geological Materials
Prepared by:
Engr. Leo
Abaquita
Learning Outcomes
1. To understand the importance of earth mass,
geologic environment and geologic factors affecting
the construction, operation and maintenance of civil
engineering structures.
2. To know how to determine the bearing capacity of soil
as a basis in the design of structures.
3. To understand the static and dynamic forces that
may affect the soil.
Prepared by : Engr. Leo Abaquita
2.1 IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTIC
OF GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS
• Engineers work with large volumes of soil
and rock which will contain variable
amounts of fluid in their pores and
fractures. It is helpful to distinguish the
material from which these volumes are
made from the mass which they form.
2.1.1 SEDIMENTS
The coarsest sediments are those produced by landsliding and glaciat
ion wich may transport fragments of rock so large that an examinatio
n at close range may fail to recognize that they have been displaced.
More commonly, rock fragments found below eroding cliffs may be
many tones in weight. Such very large fragments may be further ero
ded during river transportation to gravel and boulder size. These frag
ments are recognizably rock but, as they disintegrate to yet smaller a
nd sand-size grains, the grains tend to be largely of single minerals.
The type of mineral of which they are composed will depend upon th
e source rock and the degree of abrasion suffered during transportati
on. Thus the most common sand-forming mineral is quartz, but in li
mestone areas the grains may be predominantly calcareous. If there a
re local sources of less erosion-resistant minerals, such as mica, thes
e may be found mixed with more resistant minerals transported from
distant sources. The distribution of grain sizes in
sediment may vary (Fig. 2.1).
Fig. 2.1. Types of grading in granular sediments
SEDIMENTS