Lyell Collection
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Sherwood, P. T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology; 1967; v. 1; issue.1; p. 47-55;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.QJEG.1967.001.01.05
© 1967 Geological Society of London

Article

Classification tests on African red clays and Keuper Marl

Philip Thomas Sherwood, B.SC. F.R.I.C.

Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire

This paper describes the results of soil classification tests carried out on African red clay soils from Kenya and soils from the Keuper Marl formation in England. It shows that in both groups of soils aggregations of clay particles can occur and give rise to anomalous classifications of the soils when they are tested by standard procedures.

The manner in which the particles are cemented together is different for the two groups of soils. In the case of the red clay soils the aggregations give rise to low plasticity values being obtained whereas in the case of the Keuper Marl soils they give rise to low clay contents being obtained when the particle size distribution is determined by sedimentation techniques.

The reason for the aggregation in the red clay soils is shown to be the presence of free iron oxide cementing the particles together. Silica is shown to be the most likely cementing agent in the Keuper Marl soils.

Apart from the aggregation of the Keuper Marl soils there is evidence that non-aggregated clay particles in excess of 0·002 mm diameter are also present. This is an additional reason for anomalous particle size distribution results being obtained for these soils.


Related articles in Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology:

Classification tests on African red clays and Keuper Marl
A. G. Davis, N. Birch, and R. J. Chandler
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 1968 1: 207-209. [Abstract]  



This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and HydrogeologyHome page
G. West, J.H. Atkinson, P.G. Fookes, B.F. Miglio, and G.S. Pettifer
Discussion of 'Destructuring and disaggregationof Mercia Mudstone during full-face tunnelling' byJ H Atkinson, P G Fookes, B F Miglio & G S Pettifer Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrology, Vol. 36, 293-303
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 2004; 37: 165 - 168.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and HydrogeologyHome page
J.H. Atkinson, P.G. Fookes, B.F. Miglio, and G.S. Pettifer
Destructuring and disaggregation of Mercia Mudstone during full-face tunnelling
Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 2003; 36: 293 - 303.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]