TITLE:
Petrographic, Geochemical and Geotechnical Properties of Laterites from Two Quarries in the Diass Horst (Senegal, West Africa)
AUTHORS:
Mohamadou Moustapha Thiam, Adama Dione, Ndeye Penda Dione, Issa Ndoye, Arfang Lamine Soumare, Mame Madjiguene Dia, Louis Bernard Malo
KEYWORDS:
Laterite, Diass Horst, Petrographic, Geotechnical, Geochemical, Base Layer, Foundation Layer
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.15 No.12,
December
4,
2025
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to analyze the petrographic, geochemical and geotechnical properties of laterites to optimize their exploitation. A petrographic description was first carried out on the quarry faces of two sites located in the Diass horst. Five samples, taken according to the identified horizons, were collected and sent to the laboratory. Geochemical and geotechnical tests were performed. The results show that the face of Quarry 1 reveals horizon ST2 which corresponds to the crust. In Quarry 2, horizons ST1.1 (bedrock), ST1.2 (spotted horizon), ST1.3 (crust) and ST1.4 (a mixture of crust and spotted horizon) were identified. Geochemical tests indicate a predominance of iron oxide, confirming that these laterites are ferruginous. Geotechnical tests reveal exploitable potential in horizons ST1.4 and ST2, particularly ST1.4 as a base layer for low-traffic roads and ST2 as a foundation layer.