Estudio geotécnico in Sagunt/Sagunto

In Sagunt/Sagunto, substrates of limestones, dolomites and marbles predominate, complemented by layers of fine sands, silts and, to a lesser extent, gypsum, anhydrite and salts. Calciferous soils generally provide a high bearing capacity, offering favourable conditions for shallow foundations, provided that the level of alteration is low. However, the interbedded presence of soft materials such as silts or sands suggests the need to characterise the in situ compactness before defining the foundation solution. In addition, the occasional occurrence of gypsum and salts implies a possible risk of dissolution, which may compromise the long-term stability of the supporting ground.

The municipality’s seismicity is moderate, with 18 recorded events over the last 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 3.3, considering that seismic effects do not constitute a critical constraint for structural design. It is essential to highlight that the area has karst potential due to the dominant limestones and dolomites, which requires verifying the absence of cavities or associated instabilities before carrying out foundations. On the other hand, the non-clayey substratum rules out relevant risks of expansivity, consolidating the verification of karst and the solubility of the gypsum as the main constraints of the geotechnical study in this area.