What Does
Cemented Soil Mean?
Cemented soil's particles are held together by a binding agent which may be naturally present, or introduced into the soil by other means. Natural binding agents may include such chemicals as calcium carbonate. Artificial binding agents may include plastic fibers. Cemented soils are not of the same classification as cohesive soils. Cemented soils are those which do not crumble into individual soil particles when squeezed between the fingers. Cohesive soils are clays, which are hard to break when they are dry.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Cemented Soil
Sandstone is a form of cemented soil created by external pressure; it maintains its internal elasticity while its exterior remains hard and somewhat brittle. While a bit of calcium carbonate and the surrounding soils may be easy enough to drill through, naturally occurring sandstone, although brittle on the outside and mushy on the inside, can wreak havoc with a trenchless project if workers are unaware of its presence along the design pathway. A good geotechnical report, however, will indicate its presence and alert workers to the type of drill bit that must be used.