Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Expansive potentiality of sabkha soils of Rabigh Lagoon, Saudi Arabia: a case study

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The geotechnical assessment of expansiveness potentiality of sabkha soils, Saudi Arabia has been achieved on subsurface clayey soil samples collected in Rabigh sabkha along the Red Sea throughout a variety of physical, chemical, mineralogical, and mechanical tests. The obtained results show that the studied Rabigh sabkha clays were deposited in restricted supra-tidal marine conditions. These sabkha clayey soils consist of silts (53.4 to 69.1%), clays (20.1 to 35.7%), and sands (5.457 to 9.93%) and are classified into high plasticity clays (CH) and high inorganic silts (MH). The clay mineral species (montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite, chlorite, and palygorskite) are of detrital origin except palygorskite that was formed authigentically. Based upon the activity (A), these sabkha soils are classified into active soil type. The swelling potentiality of Rabigh sabkha clays ranges from moderate to critical swell potentiality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdullah WS, Alshibli KA, Al-Zou’bi MS (1999) Influence of pore water chemistry on the swelling behavior of compacted clays. Appl Clay Sci 15:447–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abu Seif ES (2006) Geological and engineering properties of expansive Soils of Gharb El-Mawhoob Area, Dakhla Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt. PhD. Thesis, South Valley University, Faculty of Science, Sohag

  • Abu Seif ES (2007) Engineering geology of Al-Kawser City, NE Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The 5th International Conference on the Geology of Africa, Assiut-Egypt, 15–28

  • Agarwal KP, Sharma SG (1973) A method for measuring swelling pressure of an expansive soil. 3rd Int. conf. on expansive soils, 1, 155–159

  • Al-Amoudi OSB (1995) Soil stabilization and durability of reinforced concrete in sabkha environments. Proceedings of the 4th Saudi Engineering Conference, Volume II November 1995, Jeddah, pp.313–338

  • Alnuaim AA, El-Naggar MH (2014) Performance of foundations in Saudi soil: numerical investigation. Geotech Geol Eng 32:637–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Rawas AA, Goosen MFA (2006) Expansive soils, recent advances in characterization and treatment. Taylor & Francis, Balkema Group, London

  • Amin A (2004) Comparative study of the geotechnical properties of the coastal sabkhas of Saudi Arabia and their hazardous effects. B Eng Geol Environ 63(4):309–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aqeel A, Sabtan A, Amin A (2013) Classifying Obhor sabkha to “Bthin sabkha” and “Bthick sabkha” based on geotechnical investigation, Jeddah–Saudi Arabia. Sana’a Univ Fac Sci Bull 25:39–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Aqeel A (2016) Investigation of expansive soils in Obhor Sabkha, Jeddah-Saudi Arabia. Arab J Geosci 9:314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-016-2341-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arman A (1969) A definition of organic soils, an engineering identification, Engineering Research Bulletin No. 101, Louisiana State University, Division of Engineering Research for Louisiana Department of Highways

  • Assadi A, Shahaboddin S (2009) A micro-mechanical approach to swelling behavior of unsaturated expansive clays under controlled drainage conditions. Appl Clay Sci 45(1–2):8–19

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (1986) One dimensional swell or settlement potential of cohesive soils. ASTM Standards 04(08):992–1001

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM C136 (2004) Standard test method for sieve analysis of fine and coarse aggregates. American Society for Testing and Materials, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM D2216 (2005) American Society for Testing and Materials. Test method for laboratory determination of water (moisture) content of soil and rock, ASTM section 4-construction

  • ASTM D2974 (2000) Standard test methods for moisture, ash, and organic matter of peat and other organic soils. American society for testing and materials, 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19103

  • ASTM D4318 (2005) Standard test methods for liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of soils. ASTM Designation D4318–05

  • ASTM D854 (2006) American Society for testing and materials. Standard test method for specific gravity of soils, ASTM Designation D854–06

  • Avsar E, Ulusay R, Sonmez H (2009) Assessments of swelling anisotropy of Ankara clay. Eng Geol 105(1–2):24–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell FG (2007) Engineering Geology, 2nd edition, Butterworth-Heinemann is an imprint of Elsevier, 581

  • Chamley H (1989) Clay Sedimentology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman HD (1965) Cation exchange capacity. In: Black CA, Evans DD, Ensminger LE, White JL, Clark FE, Dinauer RC (eds) Methods of soil analysis, agronomy 9. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, pp 891–901

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen FH (1988) Foundations on expansive soils, development in geotechnical engineering 54. Elsevier, New York, p 467

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen FH (1975) Foundation on expansive soils, development in Geothechnical engineering, vol 12. Elsevier, New York 280p

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen L, Yin Z, Zhang P (2007) Relationship of resistivity with water content and fissures of unsaturated expansive soils. J China Univ Min Technol 17(4):537–540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edgell HS (1992) Desert Evaporite Associations of Eastern Saudi Arabia. 29th International Congress, Abstracts 2:411, Kyoto

  • El-Ghonaimy AY (1992) Prediction of shear strength for Port Said soft clay. M. Sc. Thesis Faculty of Engineering, Cario University, 144p

  • El-Sohby MA, Rabba SA (1981) Some factors affecting swelling of clayey soils. Geotech Eng 12:19–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferber V, Auriol JC, Cui YJ, Magnan JP (2009) On the swelling potential of compacted high plasticity clays. Eng Geol 104(3–4):200–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franklin AF, Orozco LF, Semrau R (1973) Compaction of slightly organic soils. JSoil Mech Found Div ASCE 99:541–557 No. SM7

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukue M, Nakamura T (1996) Effects of carbonate on cementation of marine sediments. Mar Georesource Geotech 14:37–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs RJ (1971) Preparation of X-ray diffraction mounts. In: Carver RE (ed) Procedures in sedimentary petrology. Wiley, New York, pp 531–540

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin G (1971) Interpretation of x-ray diffraction data, In: Procedure in Sedimentary Petrology. (Edt. Carver RE) Willey-Interscience, New York, 541–568

  • Grim RE (1962) Applied clay mineralogy. MC-Graw. Hill, Book Company, Inc., pp. 207–277. New York, Toronto, London

  • Holtz RD, Kovacs WD (1981) An introduction to geotechnical engineering. Prentice-Hall, Eaglewood Cliffs, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtz WG, Gibbs HJ (1956) Engineering properties of expansive clays. Trans ASCE 121:641–663

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang R, Wu L (2007) Stability analysis of unsaturated expansive soil slope. Earth Sci Front 14(6):129–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Komorink A. Livneh M (1969) Influence of granular constituents on the swelling characteristics of expansive clays. 2nd Int. Conf. on expansive clay soils, 279–290

  • Malkawi AH, Alawneh AS, Osama T, Abu-Safaqah (1999) Effects of organic matter on the physical and the physicochemical properties of an illitic soil. Appl Clay Sci 14:257–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell JK (1993) Fundamentals of soil behavior, 2nd edn. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore TA, Al-Reaili MH (1989) Geologic map of the Makkah quadrangle, sheet 21D, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources Publication, Jeddah, KSA

    Google Scholar 

  • Muntohar AS (2002) Improvement of the bearing of soil by using lime-rice husk ash, Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. of Geotech. and Geoenvironmental Eng. in Arid Land, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, 71–79

  • Odell RT, Thornburn TH, Mckenzie LJ (1960) Relationship of Atterberg limits to some other properties of Illinois soils. Proc Soil Sci Soc Am 244:297–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oster JD, Shainberg I, Wood JD (1980) Flocculation value and gel structure of Na/Ca montmorillonite and illite suspension. Soil Sci Soc Amer J 44:955–959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popescu ME (1986) A comparison between the behaviour of swelling and of collapsing soils. Eng Geol 23:145–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabba S (1975) Factors affecting engineering properties of expansive soils. M.Sc. Thesis Al-Azhar University, Cario, Egypt

  • Radwan AM (1988) Mineral distribution and swell potential of marl. Civil Eng Magaz. Al-Azhar University, Cario, Egypt, 10 (3), 54–65

  • Ramasy CR (1986) Geological map Rabigh quadrangle, sheet 22D, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Jeddah: Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Mineral Resources, Geologic map GM-84C, scale1:250,000

  • Rhoades JD (1982) Soil pH. In: Methods of soil analysis, Part A, chemical and microbiologica properties. Agronomy Monogr., 9

  • Ruwaih IA (1987) Experiences with expansive soils in Saudi Arabia. In: Proceedings of the sixth international conference on expansive soils, New Delhi, 317–322

  • Sabtan AA (2005) Geotechnical properties of expansive clay shale in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. J Asian Earth Sci 25:747–757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seed HB, Mitchel JK, Chan CK (1962) Studies of swell and swell pressures characteristics of compacted clays. Highway Res Board Bull 313:12–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer A (1979) Palygorskite in sediments: detrital, diagenetic or neoformed. A critical review. Geol Rundsch 68:996–1008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skempton AW (1953) The colloidal activity of clays. Proc. 3rd Int. Conf. Soil Mech. Found. Eng., 1, 57–61

  • Smart P, Tovey NK (1982) Electron microscopy of soils and sediments. Technique. Claredon Press, Oxford

  • Smart P (1967) Particle arrangements in kaolin. In: Proceedings of the 15th National Conference on clays and clay mineral, 15: 241–254

  • Smith JW (1980) Reconnaissance geology of the At Taif quadrangle, sheet 21/40C, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabian Directorate General of Mineral Resources geological Map GM-56, 1:100,000 scale, 33

  • Taj R (2012) Textural characteristics and environmental interpretation of the lower miocene siliciclastic succession, Dafin formation, Rabigh Area, Saudi Arabia. J King Abdulaziz Univ: Earth Sciences 23(1):85–109

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsiambaos G (1991) Correlation of mineralogy and index properties with residual strength of Iraklion marls. Eng Geol 30:357–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vail JR (1985) Pan-African (Late Precambrian) tectonic terrains and the reconstruction of the Arabian-Nubian Shield. Geology 13:839–842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warren JK (2016) Evaporites: a geological compendium, 2nd edition. Springer, DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13512-0,1813

  • Williams AAB (1980) Severe heaving of a block of flats near Kimberley. Proceed Seventh Region Conf Africa Soil Mech Found Eng Accra 1:301–309

    Google Scholar 

  • Yilmaz I (2006) Indirect estimation of the swelling percent and a new classification of soils depending on liquid limit and cation exchange capacity. Eng Geol 85:295–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) for technical and financial support. Also, the authors are deeply grateful to Prof. Dr. A.M. Al-Amri (the Editor-in-Chief) and the three anonymous reviewers for insightful comments and criticism that improved this manuscript.

Funding

This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant no. G-299-145-37.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80206, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Bader A. Hakami & El-Sayed Sedek Abu Seif

  2. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, P.O. Box 82524, Sohag, Egypt

    El-Sayed Sedek Abu Seif

Authors
  1. Bader A. Hakami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. El-Sayed Sedek Abu Seif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to El-Sayed Sedek Abu Seif.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hakami, B.A., Seif, ES.S.A. Expansive potentiality of sabkha soils of Rabigh Lagoon, Saudi Arabia: a case study. Arab J Geosci 12, 107 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4271-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4271-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation