Geotechnical study in Gozón

In the municipality of Gozón, substrates of phyllites and schists predominate, occasionally complemented by fine sands and silts, and to a lesser extent there are urban anthropogenic fill materials and strata of limestones, dolomites and marbles. The mineralogical composition and the predominantly impermeable nature or low permeability of these materials generally result in a favourable bearing capacity; however, the localised presence of fine sands or fill materials means that the ground homogeneity must be recognised locally before defining the optimum foundation type for each project.

Seismicity in Gozón can be classified as high, with more than 150 events over 30 years, and although the maximum magnitude recorded does not exceed the critical threshold, this factor must be assessed in the structural design to ensure compliance with the relevant regulations. Since there are outcrops of carbonate rocks, the presence of karstification must be investigated to prevent problems associated with underground cavities. The risk of expansivity is negligible due to the absence of significant clayey materials, so the main factor for any geotechnical study in the area lies in characterising the rock substrate and verifying any karst phenomena before proceeding with foundation works.