Regional distribution of sulphate in rocks and soils of Britain

Abstract

AbstractThe damaging effect of sulphate salts on concrete is well known and is usually a problem encountered by concrete structures buried below the water-table in sulphate-bearing soils. Although some individual sulphate-bearing soils, such as London Clay, are well known, little attempt has been made to consider sulphate-bearing soils on a regional basis. The environmental geology and other mapping projects carried out by the British Geological Survey have enabled geotechnical databases to be compiled which can be used as a basis for an examination of the regional distribution of the sulphate-bearing rocks and soils of Britain. The occurrence of sulphate in geological formations is examined and a five part division of geological formations with regard to sulphate attack potential is suggested, which can be used as a guide when specifying the sulphate test requirement for a site investigation.