Characterization of the Activity, Mineralogy and Correlations between the Properties of Clayey Soils

Abstract

The activity is related to the mineralogy and geological history of clays. Soils with the same value of the liquidity limit or plasticity index can have very different characteristics depending on the amount and type of clay minerals. The methylene blue value characterizes the activity of the clays and reflects the surface activity. Ten inactive soils contain minerals (kaolinite, illite), these soils absorb little water. Two swelling soils have normal activity and are composed of minerals (kaolinite, illite, Montmorillonite). The relationships between clayey soils properties, their activities and between the activity and the liquidity limit are defined. The correlations obtained are linear fit and exponential and sigmoidal fits. The correlations obtained with a coefficient of determination of R2 (0.859 - 0.999) can be used to characterize and predict certain parameters of fine-grained soils as a function of clay content.