Problem Soil and Rock Hazards
Hazards resulting from specific soil and/or rock properties, such as collapsible soil, expansive soil and rock, land subsidence and earth fissures, and radon gas are just a few of the effects of problem soil and rock. These hazards have caused extensive damage to buildings, utilities, and other infrastructure in Utah, resulting in high maintenance and replacement costs when not properly mitigated.
Caliche
Caliche is a calcareous material that can accumulate in the shallow subsurface of soils in arid and semiarid climates that can be very difficult to excavate.
Collapsible Soils
Soils that have considerable strength when in a dry, natural state, but significantly settle due to hydrocompaction (reduction of air space within the soil) when wetted. Typically, associated with young alluvial fans, debris flows, and loess.
Corrosive Soil and Rock
Soil and/or rock that is corrosive to exposed metals and/or concrete.
Expansive Soil and Rock
Soil and/or rock with high clay content that swells when wet and shrinks when dried.
Karst Landscape
Formed from the dissolution of limestone, dolomite, and gypsum rocks that can create features like caves, sinkholes, and breccia pipes (rubble-filled vertical tubes that form and project to the surface as overlying rock collapse into buried karst caverns).
Land Subsidence and Earth Fissures
Sinking of the ground surface caused by groundwater depletion and/or underground mine subsidence or collapse. Subsidence often causes earth fissures which are permanent, linear tension cracks in the ground that extend upward from the groundwater table.
Piping and Erosion
Subsurface erosion of soil or rock by groundwater flow that forms narrow voids. Piping can remove support of overlying soil and rock, resulting in collapse.
Radon Gas
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, and clear radioactive gas resulting from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all rock and soil, and when concentrated, such as in buildings or other confined spaces, can lead to lung cancer. It is Utah’s leading geologic hazard in terms of fatalities.
Learn More.
Salt Tectonics
Salt formations at depth below the ground surface may deform, causing deformation and/or cracks at the ground surface.
Shallow Bedrock
Rock at shallow depths that may be a concern when encountered in construction and other excavations.
Soluble Soil & Rock
Soil and/or rock that may be dissolved by water, causing a loss of internal structure and volume. The corresponding ground subsidence may lead to foundation collapse problems and may affect roads, dikes, underground utilities, and other infrastructure.
Wind-Blown Sand
Geologically young, active or partially stabilized, wind-blown sand deposits characterized by well-sorted, loose, sandy soil texture with little or no clay. Where disturbed, sandy soils may migrate across roads and bury structures, and wind erosion may expose foundations and underground utilities.
Expansive soil and rock that was not adequately considered during construction has produced cracks in the walls of this house in Santa Clara.
Impacts of Problem Soils and Rocks
Problem soils, such as expansive, compressible, and/or collapsible soils, can cause extensive damage to structures and foundations. Problem soils may also damage pavements after construction, resulting in high maintenance and/or replacement costs, along with increased legal and financial liability from pavement separation and/or gaps causing tripping hazards. In addition, future maintenance may disrupt business activities, resulting in increased costs and/or lost revenue. Except for radon gas, no deaths have been reported in Utah from other problem soil and rock hazards; however, they have caused an undetermined, but very significant, amount of infrastructure damage and resulting economic impact.
Related Information:
Highlighted Scientific Publications
Circular 122
Guidelines for Investigating Geologic Hazards and Preparing Engineering-Geology Reports with a Suggested Approach to Geologic Hazard Ordinances in Utah
Special Study 150
Investigation of Land Subsidence and Earth Fissures in Cedar Valley, Iron County, Utah
Miscellaneous Publication 06-5
Land Subsidence in Southwest Utah from 1993 to 1998 Measured with Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR)
Special Study 163
Geologic Hazards of the Tickville Spring quadrangle, Salt Lake and Utah Counties, Utah
Open File Report 655
Radon Hazard Potential Map of Southern Davis County, Utah
Special Study 162
Radon Map – Geologic Hazards of the Moab quadrangle, Grand County, Utah
Public Interest Articles
Problem Soil and Rock Articles: 15
