Depositional and geotechnical properties of marine clays in Lianyungang, China

The mineralogy, geochemistry and geotechnical properties of clay samples in Lianyungang, China are presented. The correlations of depositional history, depositional environmental and geotechnical properties are discussed. A series of X-ray diffraction tests show that the principal clay minerals of the soil are illite–smectite mixed-layer mineral and illite. The geochemistry investigation results indicate that the pore water of the Lianyungang marine clay is dominant by sodium. The pH of the soils varies in the range of 7.8 to 8.9. The depositional environment is oxidation condition. The correlations of the geochemistry with the geotechnical properties are examined by the statistic analysis.

Research highlights
► Depositional history and depositional environment of Lianyungang marine clay.
► Soil dominant ions and clay minerals, and geotechnical profiles.
► Correlation of soil geochemistry and three geotechnical parameters.