CHARACTERIZATION AND SUITABILITY ASSESSEMENT OF LATERITIC SOIL IN MAIDUGURI AND ITS ENVIRONS FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION

ABSTRACT The geotechnical and geochemical properties of some lateritic soil deposits derived from Borno Formation in parts of Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria, were determined and used to evaluate the suitability of the laterites for road construction. Two lateritic soil samples were collected from Dusuman and Gajiram-Bolori road and are subjected to some geotechnical analysis (Atterberg limit, compaction, particles-size distribution and California Bearing Ratio) and geochemical tests (major oxide composition) in the Laboratory, Results of the study show that the lateritic soils derived from those Formation have an average liquid limit, plasticity index, maximum dry density, optimum moisture content, soaked CBR and unsoaked CBR values of 6.50%, 0.9%, 1.8Mg/m3, 11.65%, 10.5% and 32%, respectively. The average silica/sesquioxide ratio of samples is 4.3. On the basis of average silica/sesquioxide ratio, the soil can be classified as a Non-lateritic soil. A comparison of the determined geotechnical properties with standard specifications of materials for roads by Federal Ministry of Works (liquid limit 30% and unsoaked CBR >80%) which shows that the soils met every aspect of the geotechnical properties except the CBR and the geochemical properties values as a good construction material. However, the soils can still be used as road construction materials if the CBR values are improved by stabilizing them with Ordinary Portland Cement or other method of stabilization