Estudio geotécnico in Salar

In the municipality of Salar, the geotechnical subsoil is dominated by limestones, dolomites and marbles, high-competence materials that represent more than 66% of the identified soils. These rock types generally favour good bearing capacity, although the presence of fine sands, silts and, to a lesser extent, deltaic muds and peats introduces localised zones of lower resistance that must be carefully characterised in order to avoid foundations bearing on poorly competent strata. The formations are mostly impermeable or have very low permeability, although they may enclose local near-surface aquifers, which is an aspect to take into account in foundation design projects.

The Salar area experiences high seismicity, with 189 events in the last 30 years, although the maximum recorded magnitude reaches 3.9. While this value does not require exceptional measures, the frequency does recommend attention to the seismic design of structures. It is essential to verify the existence of karstification, especially given the predominant limestones and dolomites, since underground cavities or dissolutions can seriously compromise any foundation. The non-clayey substratum rules out the risk of expansivity in this setting, directing the main controlling factor towards detailed investigation of karst processes and the identification of possible levels of soft material.