Estudio geotécnico in Arcas

In the municipality of Arcas, the soils are predominantly composed of gypsum, anhydrite and salts, forming more than half of the substrate, accompanied mainly by limestones, dolomites and marbles. These lithologies generally show low permeability at the surface, although they may contain important aquifers at depth. Due to the high frequency of soluble materials such as gypsum and salts, there is a risk of dissolution, which can adversely affect the bearing capacity and requires a thorough analysis in order to select safe and durable foundation systems.

Seismicity in Arcas is very low, with only four events recorded over thirty years and a maximum magnitude of 2.4, so it does not constitute a relevant constraint for structural design. However, the presence of karst is significant and must be verified exhaustively before any foundation project, since it can give rise to cavities or instability in the ground. As the substrate is non-clayey, expansivity risk is ruled out, so the main geotechnical factor to control in the area is the possible existence of karstification and dissolution phenomena associated with gypsum and salts.