Geotechnical study in Montesa

In the municipality of Montesa, calcareous materials predominate, such as limestones, dolomites and marbles, which account for more than half of the soils present. These competent formations, by nature, provide a suitable foundation for shallow foundation work thanks to their good bearing capacity, although fine sand and silt horizons may occur locally, as well as compact gravels and sands, which also offer favourable conditions. It is essential to identify the depth and continuity of the competent strata in order to guarantee safe foundations and avoid unwanted differential settlements.

The seismic activity recorded in the area is very low, with only 6 events in the last 30 years and a maximum magnitude of 2.9, which implies a low seismic risk in the context of structural design. Given the calcareous nature of the bedrock, it is essential to carry out a specific analysis of the possible presence of karst, since the existence of cavities could significantly affect the stability of foundations. The non-clayey substrate rules out the risk of expansive soils, so the main focus should be on evaluating karst as the primary conditioning factor for building projects in Montesa.