Geotechnical study in Páramo del Sil

In the municipality of Páramo del Sil, formations of slates and schists predominate, which implies a majority presence of metamorphic substrates with low permeability. Although these materials usually provide good bearing capacity, it is essential to analyse the possible presence of muds and peats, especially in deltaic areas, since these soils are not suitable as a support layer for foundations due to their high compressibility and long-term instability. The incidence of hard clays and marls is very low, so their impact on the overall behaviour of the ground is limited.

Seismicity in Páramo del Sil is high, with 200 events recorded over 30 years, although with a maximum magnitude of 3.5, which requires special attention regarding seismic safety in the design of structures. The non-clayey substrate eliminates the risk of expansiveness in the area. However, the existence of karst phenomena must be checked in detail before any foundation is constructed, as these processes can create voids and pose a significant risk to the stability of the works. The main constraint, therefore, is the combined karst assessment together with the verification of soils that may be compressible.