Mineralogy of the unified soil classes of Wadi As Suqah: A sustainable engineering geology approach

Abstract

This research endeavors to enhance soil classification methodologies in alignment with sustainability goals for mining and construction activities. The study focuses on the evaluation, classification, and mapping of quaternary surface deposits in Wadi As Suqah. To achieve this objective, an integration of mineral analyses and unified soil classes was employed. Various research methods were utilized, including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), sieve analysis, Atterberg limits, and X-ray diffraction. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) on variance was employed to identify the most influential minerals within the deposits. Consequently, a sophisticated engineering geological map of the deposited category was created, resulting in the categorization of Wadi As Suqah into 13 groups (A, B, C, …, L) based on similar lithofacies. These groups further represented 7 clusters of mineral-based classes, such as quartz-anorthite or quartz-albite, leading to the formation of 5 unified soil classes, namely SP, SP-SM, SM, SC-SM, and SC. Among the classified groups, group C, characterized by rich sandy quartz with some albite content, emerged as the largest group, occupying 20.3% of the total area. Conversely, group M, consisting of rich fine anorthite with a trace of quartz, constituted the minor group, representing only 0.5% of the entire area. The study acknowledges the limitations of being confined to surface investigations and, therefore, strongly recommends further subsurface investigations for a more comprehensive geotechnical understanding. The findings of this research hold significant implications for sustainable mining and construction practices by enabling a refined soil classification approach based on mineral composition and unified soil classes.