Basic geotechnical properties,chemistry and mineralogy of some laterite soils from S.W. Nigeria

Laterite soils derived from four basement complex rocks and a sedimentary formation from Southwestern Nigeria are analysed for their basic geotechnical properties, chemistry and mineralogy. Results obtained show that the granite gneiss derived and the sedimentary laterite soils are good engineering materials. The amphibolite derived laterite soil has a linear shrinkage of 10% and contains SO ₄ ^2? ions. The quartz schist derived and the micaschist derived laterite soils contain rather high amounts of muscovite ?30% and 25% respectively. The usability of the laterite soils and the implications of the presence of SO ₄ ^2? ions and mica and the high linear shrinkage are discussed.