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Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications; 1998; v. 15; p. 427-441;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.ENG.1998.015.01.43
© 1998 Geological Society of London

Section 8: Planning and geohazards

Some geohazards caused by soil mineralogy, chemistry and microfabric: a review

F. G. Bell1 & M. G. Culshaw2

1 Department of Geology and Applied Geology, University of Natal, King George V Avenue, Durban, South Africa
2 Coastal and Engineering Geology Group, British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK

The paper reviews three geohazards: swelling/shrinkage, dispersivity and collapsibility, that are not dramatic and do not usually cause disasters because they rarely result in loss of life, nor cause sudden huge financial losses. However, these unspectacular' geohazards result, over time, in the loss of millions of pounds and in disruption to people's lives due to damage to foundations or loss of land. The geological controls on the hazards are described; all result from the inherent microfabric, mineralogy and/or chemistry of the particular soils affected. From this understanding it is possible to design mitigation and remedial measures that will prevent, or reduce, the effects of these hazards; these measures are presented.