Estudio geotécnico in Casares

In the municipality of Casares, formations of limestones, dolomites and marbles predominate, followed by slates, schists, and to a lesser extent sandstones, conglomerates and flysch. The dominant presence of carbonate rocks implies a competent substrate for foundations, although its permeability is usually low, except for any occasional shallow aquifers associated with it. In areas where slates and schists crop out, bearing capacity can vary locally depending on weathering, whereas the granitic soils and the levels of fine sands and silts, although scarcer, must be specifically verified due to their lower bearing capacity and geotechnical variability.

The seismicity recorded in Casares is notable, with 68 events in the last 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 3.6, so the corresponding seismic assessment is recommended for relevant structural projects. Given the dominant presence of limestones and dolomites, there is a potential risk of karstification, which makes prior checking of cavities or dissolution features mandatory before designing any foundation. Thanks to the absence of predominantly clayey materials, the risk of expansivity for the area is ruled out. The main geotechnical constraint in Casares is the possible presence of karst cavities, which must be identified and characterised through specific investigation before designing the foundation.