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Influence of faults on alteration, mineralogy, and geotechnical behavior of granitic residual soils

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Abstract

Contact metamorphism and metasomatism are imposed on granitic rocks by late intrusions. This study shows the consequences of this phenomenon on the pedogenesis of granitic rocks and on the geotechnical properties of granitic residual soils. This study comprises two saprolitic soils formed from the same granitic body in a site located in the Southern Brazil Coast. A biotite-rich residual soil (BR soil) was formed in the vicinity of a dyke that crosses the study area and concentrates a history of landslides. The second soil, a red saprolitic residual soil (RR soil), was formed far from the intruded fault. Chemical, physical, and mineralogical characterizations were carried out to describe the materials and the changes imposed by their alteration. Effects of alteration on the soil’s behavior were assessed in terms of hydraulic conductivity, one-dimensional compressibility, and shear strength. Both soils presented a fragmented structure and cataclastic texture over feldspar matrices. The good drainage conditions induced the development of large amounts of kaolinite. Suction values increase with the alteration level and hydraulic conductivity decreases. Under oedometric loading BR soil is stiffer than RR soil, despite its higher porosity. RR soil has higher shear strength than BR soil, which explains the history of landslides that mobilize this soil.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the São José Municipality Civil Defense, UFRGS, and CAPES.

Funding

The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) provided research grant (476360/2012–9).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal University of Santa Catarina, Dona Francisca St. 8300, Block U, Joinville, 89219-600, Brazil

    Marcelo Heidemann

  2. Federal University of Rio Grande Do Sul, Osvaldo Aranha Av. 99, Porto Alegre, 90035-190, Brazil

    Luiz Antônio Bressani

  3. Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João Ferreira Lima, Florianópolis, 88040-900, Brazil

    Juan Altamirano Flores

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  1. Marcelo Heidemann
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  2. Luiz Antônio Bressani
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  3. Juan Altamirano Flores
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Correspondence to Marcelo Heidemann.

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Highlights

• Both soils presented fragmented structure and cataclastic texture.

• The soil formed near to the fault is more altered, porous, and plastic but less permeable.

• Under 1-D loading the structure of RR soil yields at lower stress than BR soil.

• BR soil has lower peak friction angle than most residual soils from granitic rocks.

• The hyperbolic model can predict the triaxial stress-strain behavior for both soils.

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Heidemann, M., Bressani, L.A. & Flores, J.A. Influence of faults on alteration, mineralogy, and geotechnical behavior of granitic residual soils. Bull Eng Geol Environ 80, 7051–7068 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02351-x

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