Geotechnical study in Villanueva del Arzobispo

In Villanueva del Arzobispo, the soils are composed mainly of limestones, dolomites and marbles, occupying a broad 72.1% of the territory, to which is added an occasional presence of gypsum, anhydrite and salts at 15.71%. These lithologies, of competent nature and generally low permeability, provide good conditions for bearing capacity for normal foundations, although in areas with gypsum and salts there may be a risk of dissolution, which requires special attention when choosing the type and depth of support.

Seismicity in this municipality is very low, with only 6 events in 30 years and a maximum recorded magnitude of 2.1, which minimises the impact of this factor on structural design. However, given the karstified nature of the carbonate materials, it is essential to carry out a thorough verification of the presence of cavities or dissolutions before designing the foundation, this being the main geotechnical constraint for future developments. The non-clayey substrate rules out risks associated with expansivity.