The Tees laminated clay

Abstract

AbstractThe Tees Laminated Clay forms a continuous deposit around the Tees estuary and was deposited during late glacial times. It overlies till, with which it has a sharp contact, and varies in thickness up to 9 m. The laminations consist of alternate layers of clay and silty sand. They are frequently indistinct or may be contorted and in some areas are not observed. It has been suggested that these laminated clays represent fluvio-glacial deposits laid down in an ice-dammed lake.The fabric of the clays was examined in thin sections under polarized light and measurement of transmitted light intensities on rotation of the microscope stage gave values which indicated a medium particle orientation or parallel planar fabric of the clay minerals. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the presence of quartz, illite, kaolinite and some chlorite.In addition to the determination of the basic soil properties of the Tees Laminated Clay, the influence of its anisotropic character on the more noteable engineering properties, in particular, on the strength of the clay. In fact, it was found that the shear strength along the laminations on average, was 25% less than it was normal to the laminations. It also was found that the clay suffered a significant loss of strength on remoulding, it being medium sensitive to sensitive. The laminated clay is lightly consolidated with a medium to high compressibility.