University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)

Origin of Soil

By: CE Faculty
Introduction
Soils are formed by weathering of rocks due to mechanical disintegration of chemical
decomposition. When a rock surface gets exposed to atmosphere for an appreciable time, it
disintegrates or decomposes into small particles and thus the soils are formed.

Soil may be considered as an incidental material obtained from the geologic cycle which
goes on continuously in nature. The geologic cycle consists of erosion, transportation,
deposition and upheaval of soil
 Origin of Soil
If the soil stays at the place of its formation just above the parent rock, it is known as residual
soil or sedentary soil. When the soil has been deposited at a place away from the place of its
origin, it is called a transported soil.

Residual Soil Transported Soil

- The engineering properties of
residual soils vary considerably from the
top layer to the bottom layer. Residual
soils have a gradual transition from
relatively fine material near the surface to
large fragments of stones at greater
depth. The properties of the bottom layer
resemble that of the parent rock in many
aspects. The thickness of the residual
soil formation is generally limited to a few
maters.
- The engineering properties of
transported soils are entirely different
from the properties of the rock at the
place of deposition. Deposits of
transported soils are quite thick and are
usually uniform. Most of the soil deposits
with which a geotechnical engineer has
to deal are transported soils.
 Three Types of Rocks
a. Igneous Rock
- Igneous rocks are formed by the
solidification of molten magma ejected
from deep within the earth’s mantle. After
ejection by either fissure eruption or
volcanic eruption, some of the molten
magma cools on the surface of the earth.
Sometimes magma ceases its mobility
below the earth’s surface and cools to
form intrusive igneous rocks that are
called plutons.
 Three Types of Rocks
b. Sedimentary Rock
- The deposits of gravel, sand, silt,
and clay formed by weathering may
become compacted by overburden
pressure and cemented by agents like
iron oxide, calcite, dolomite, and quartz.
Cementing agents are generally carried
in solution by groundwater. They fill the
spaces between particles and form
sedimentary rock. Rocks formed in this
way are called detrital sedimentary
rocks.
 Three Types of Rocks
c. Metamorphic Rock
- Metamorphism is the process of
changing the composition and texture of
rocks (without melting) by heat and
pressure. During metamorphism, new
minerals are formed, and mineral grains
are sheared to give a foliated texture to
metamorphic rock.
Transportation of Soil
1. Water Transported Soils
- Flowing water is one of the most important agents of
transportation of soils. Swift running water carries a large quantity of
soil either in suspension or by rolling along the bed. Water erodes the
hills and deposits the soil in the valleys. All type of soils carried and
deposited by water are known as alluvial deposits. Deposits made
in lakes are called lacustrine deposits. Marine deposits are formed
when the flowing water carries soils to ocean or sea.
Transportation of Soil
2. Wind Transported Soils
- Soil particles are transported by wind. The particle size of the
soil depends upon the velocity of wind. The finer particles are carried
far away from the place of the formation. A dust storm gives a visual
evidence of the soil particles carried by wind. Soils deposited by wind
are known as aeolian deposits.

Large sand dunes

- It occurs in arid regions and on the leeward side
of sea with sandy beaches

Loess
-These deposits have low density, high compressibility,
low bearing capacity, and high permeability
Transportation of Soil
3. Glacier-Deposited Soils
- Glaciers are large masses of ice
formed by the compaction of snow. As
the glaciers grow and move, they carry
with them soils varying in size from fine-
grained to huge boulders. Soils gets
mixed with the ice and are transported
far away from their origin position. Drift is
a general term used for the deposits
made by glaciers directly or indirectly.
Deposits directly made by melting of
glaciers are called till.
Transportation of Soil
4. Gravity-Deposited Soils
- Soils can be transported through short
distances under the action of gravity. Rock
fragments and soil masses collected at the foot
of the cliffs or steep slopes had fallen from
higher elevation under the action of the
gravitational force. Colluvial soils, such as talus,
have been deposited by the gravity. Talus
consists of irregular, coarse particles. It is good
source of broken rock pieces and coarse-
grained soils for many engineering works.
Transportation of Soil
5. Soils transported by combined action
- Sometimes, two or more agents of transportation act jointly and
transport the soil. Example, a soil particle may fall under gravity and may be
carried by wind to a far off place. It might be picked up agin by flowing water
and deposited. A glacier may carry it still further
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines
Civil Engineering Department

QUESTIONS

By: CE Faculty