Estudio geotécnico in Orellana la Vieja

In Orellana la Vieja, the predominant ground materials are slates and schists, which exhibit favourable characteristics in terms of stability and bearing capacity, although they are usually low-permeability materials. The deposits of overconsolidated clays and marls that are occasionally found can also provide good foundation conditions, thanks to their dense and rigid state. The presence of gravels, sands and silts is scarce, so they constitute a smaller part of the ground. In general, the bearing capacity available for shallow foundations is adequate, and the occurrence of settlement-related compressibility problems or liquefaction is uncommon, given the limited presence of soft soils and the predominant firmness.

Seismic activity in the municipality is notable, with 52 events in the last 30 years, although the maximum recorded magnitude is 4.4, below the critical threshold for conventional structures, but one that requires considering seismic design code requirements in structural projects that are sensitive. There are no risks associated with karst or with expansive movements in the ground, as no predominant expansive clays are detected and the substratum is mainly non-clayey. Therefore, the main recommendation is to assess the integrity and compaction of the slaty and schistose materials, which constitute the primary geotechnical constraint for any pre-foundation geotechnical study in Orellana la Vieja.