Geotechnical study in Magallón

In Magallón, fine sands and silts predominate as substrate, together with gravels and compact sands. Both soils are frequently encountered and provide a moderate bearing capacity, with gravels and compact sands being more favourable for shallow foundations. Limestone, dolomite and marble formations are also occasionally found, which implies a possible presence of hard soils with high strength. However, the existence of layers of gypsum, anhydrite and salts introduces the risk of dissolution, so it is crucial to determine their depth and thickness before defining the foundation bearing level. In any intervention, it is important to avoid founding on unstable levels or levels with potential for corrosion.

With regard to geotechnical risks, seismicity is very low in the municipality, with only 3 events in 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 2.6, so it does not represent a significant limitation for structural design. The subsoil is not clayey, eliminating the risk of shrink–swell. However, the possible presence of karst processes in the calcareous formations requires verification prior to the execution of the foundations, since the existence of subsurface cavities would represent the main condition to be controlled in the geotechnical study for Magallón.