Improving the Engineering Properties of Sandy and Calcareous Soils Using Basalt Powder

Abstract

Soil stabilization has become a crucial concern in geotechnical engineering due to the growing demand for sustainable construction practices. Conventional stabilizers such as cement and lime, although effective, are associated with significant carbon emissions and high production costs. In recent years, the utilization of industrial by-products and natural minerals has attracted considerable attention as eco-friendly alternatives. Basalt rock powder (BRP), a by-product of quarrying and stone cutting, possesses favorable physical and mineralogical characteristics that make it a potential soil stabilizer. This study investigates the effectiveness of BRP in improving the engineering behavior of sandy and calcareous soils, which are widely distributed in arid and semi-arid regions but typically lack adequate bearing capacity and stability for construction applications. Laboratory experiments, including standard Proctor compaction, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California Bearing Ratio (CBR), and direct shear tests, were carried out on soil samples treated with different percentages of BRP (0–15%) under varying curing periods. The results demonstrated that BRP significantly enhanced soil strength, stiffness, and resistance to deformation, with optimum performance observed at around 10% replacement. In particular, UCS and CBR values increased by 20–40% after 28 days of curing, while friction angle and cohesion also exhibited noticeable improvements. These findings confirm the potential of BRP as an environmentally sustainable stabilizer that not only improves soil performance but also contributes to recycling quarry wastes and reducing the carbon footprint of geotechnical practices.

Introduction

1. Background & Motivation

• Soil stabilization is crucial for safe and durable infrastructure, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where sandy and calcareous soils dominate.

  • Sandy soils: Low cohesion, high permeability, prone to liquefaction.

  • Calcareous soils: Prone to crushability, variable strength, and cementation issues.

• Traditional stabilizers (cement/lime) improve soil but have high CO? emissions.

• Basalt Rock Powder (BRP) is proposed as a sustainable, low-emission alternative due to its pozzolanic and filler properties.

2. Literature Review Highlights

• BRP shows potential in:

  • Enhancing strength through slow-reacting pozzolanic activity.

  • Improving soil health and compaction in various soils.

  • Providing potassium and improving pH for plant growth in sandy soils.

• Effectiveness depends on soil type, dosage (~8–12%), and activation method (thermal or alkaline).

• Other treatments (e.g., MICP, polymers) confirm mechanisms like micro-filling and bonding also found with BRP.

3. Material Properties

• Sandy Soil: Low CaCO? (2.5%), high permeability, non-plastic.

• Calcareous Soil: High CaCO? (38%), some plasticity, lower permeability.

• BRP Composition: High in SiO? (48.5%), Al?O?, Fe?O?, and CaO—making it a pozzolan and filler.

4. Methodology

• BRP was added to soils at 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%.

• Tests included:

  • Standard Proctor compaction

  • Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS)

  • California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

  • Direct shear tests

• Curing periods: 7, 14, and 28 days to capture short- and medium-term strength evolution.

5. Results & Discussion

A. Strength Improvements

• UCS and CBR improved by 20–40% at 10% BRP after 28 days.

• Cohesion increased by 20–30%, and friction angle improved by 1–2°.

• Enhancements due to:

  • Densification

  • Micro-filling

  • Pozzolanic bonding

B. Optimal Dosage: ~10%

• Dosages above 12% resulted in reduced performance due to oversaturation and inefficient bonding.

C. Effect of Curing Time

• Strength gains increased with curing time, confirming slow pozzolanic reaction.

• Further improvement is expected with longer curing (56–90 days).

D. Soil Type Comparison

• Calcareous soils showed greater improvement due to:

  • Higher reactivity with BRP.

  • More effective particle rearrangement and bonding.

Conclusion

The findings of this study demonstrate that basalt rock powder is an effective, eco-friendly stabilizer for sandy and calcareous soils. The optimum dosage was found to be approximately 10%, which yielded significant improvements in strength and shear resistance. Beyond technical benefits, the use of BRP promotes sustainable construction by valorizing quarry by-products and reducing reliance on carbon-intensive stabilizers.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Mohammed Ali Younus Alqasi, Hatem Asteil Ahmed Aljazwei, Osamah Mohammed Salim Abouhasan. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.