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Mapping calcretes in Inhambane province, Mozambique, for use in road construction
Abstract Calcretes have been used extensively in southern Africa, and elsewhere, for low-volume road construction. In Inhambane province of Mozambique, naturally occurring gravels are rare and calcrete is used wherever it is known to occur in reasonable proximity to the road network. While considerable research and development has been undertaken in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa on the prospecting and engineering usage of calcrete, little work has been undertaken in Mozambique. Remote sensing and field probing, followed by trial pitting and laboratory testing were undertaken in order to locate hitherto unknown deposits of calcrete and to test its basic engineering properties for use in road construction. The findings from other parts of southern Africa were examined in terms of their applicability to Inhambane province, and the locations of existing calcrete borrow pits were examined to determine whether they had common geographical attributes that could assist in the identification of new sources. The study led to the discovery of approximately 20 locations of calcrete potential. Thirteen of these were investigated using trial pits, and ten of these yielded calcrete. A list of additional sites within the vicinity of the road network was developed from remote sensing. The occurrence of calcrete appears to be quite localised within the province and its location is governed by very subtle changes in topography and drainage regime, some of which may be inherited from past climate and environmental factors that are no longer apparent.
Mapping calcretes in Inhambane province, Mozambique, for use in road construction
Abstract Calcretes have been used extensively in southern Africa, and elsewhere, for low-volume road construction. In Inhambane province of Mozambique, naturally occurring gravels are rare and calcrete is used wherever it is known to occur in reasonable proximity to the road network. While considerable research and development has been undertaken in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa on the prospecting and engineering usage of calcrete, little work has been undertaken in Mozambique. Remote sensing and field probing, followed by trial pitting and laboratory testing were undertaken in order to locate hitherto unknown deposits of calcrete and to test its basic engineering properties for use in road construction. The findings from other parts of southern Africa were examined in terms of their applicability to Inhambane province, and the locations of existing calcrete borrow pits were examined to determine whether they had common geographical attributes that could assist in the identification of new sources. The study led to the discovery of approximately 20 locations of calcrete potential. Thirteen of these were investigated using trial pits, and ten of these yielded calcrete. A list of additional sites within the vicinity of the road network was developed from remote sensing. The occurrence of calcrete appears to be quite localised within the province and its location is governed by very subtle changes in topography and drainage regime, some of which may be inherited from past climate and environmental factors that are no longer apparent.
Mapping calcretes in Inhambane province, Mozambique, for use in road construction
Hearn, Gareth J. (author)
2014
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
BKL:
56.00$jBauwesen: Allgemeines
/
38.58
Geomechanik
/
38.58$jGeomechanik
/
56.20
Ingenieurgeologie, Bodenmechanik
/
56.00
Bauwesen: Allgemeines
/
56.20$jIngenieurgeologie$jBodenmechanik
RVK:
ELIB18
Mapping calcretes in Inhambane province, Mozambique, for use in road construction
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