Abstract
The Neogene Pliocene series (N2) laterite is a special zonal soil widely distributed in northwestern China. However, given that it is largely covered by loess and other Quaternary deposits, there has been a lack of in-depth studies on its engineering geological characteristics. In recent years, with the development of resources and the construction of grand-scale industrialization in northwest China, many projects (slope, tunnel, mining, etc.) have encountered geological engineering problems due to the N2 laterite. Investigating the engineering geological characteristics of the N2 laterite provides the key to solving these problems. Using N2 laterite samples from typical regions in northwestern China and conducting laboratory tests, this paper analyzes the mineralogical composition, particle size distribution, clay mineral content and microstructure characteristics of the N2 laterite. It discusses its origin and depositional environment characteristics, and probes into its physical, hydrological and mechanical properties. Finally, the engineering environmental effect of the N2 laterite is summarized. According to the results, the N2 laterite composition is dominated by quartz, followed by feldspar; interstitial materials mainly consist of fine grained-microcrystalline calcite and clay minerals; particle size distribution mainly covers clay and silt, with relatively uniform particle sizes; in clay minerals, the contents of hydrophilic minerals montmorillonite and illite/montmorillonite mixed layer are fairly high. N2 laterite is mainly an aeolian deposit, with medium water-holding capacity and plastic, hard-plastic or hard in its natural state, and as a medium swelling soil. It is relatively impermeable; under natural moisture content conditions, the N2 laterite has a relatively high strength, but, when subjected to long-term groundwater, its strength decreases rapidly. In addition, the N2 laterite is a medium-high compressibility soil.
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