Estudio geotécnico in Sant Mateu

In the municipality of Sant Mateu, calcareous materials such as limestones, dolomites and marbles predominate by a wide margin; these form the usual substrate for foundations. These soils, highly consolidated and with good strength, generally show an adequate bearing capacity for most buildings. However, the high permeability and aquifer nature of these materials requires special attention to hydraulic stability and to the possible leaching of fines at the foundation–soil contact.

Seismic activity in Sant Mateu is very low, with scarce recurrence and a low maximum magnitude, which implies a practically negligible seismic risk in structural design. Due to the clear presence of karst formations, it is essential to investigate the possible existence of cavities or dissolution before carrying out any foundation work, as these may pose serious risks of differential settlement. The most important constraint for the geotechnical study in the municipality is, therefore, verification of the karst phenomenon.