EFFECTS OF CARBONATE ON CEMENTATION OF MARINE SOILS

This study shows that calcium carbonate plays an important role as a c ementing agent of various marine sediments. The measured vane shear st rength of marine soil samples is shown to vary with depth and is stron gly correlated with the calcium carbonate content. The results show th at an increase in calcium carbonate of 1% causes an increase in shear strength of about 10 kPa. Moreover, under accumulating self-weight, co nsolidation is found to be enhanced by calcium carbonate. It was also found that both the cementation and condensation due to calcium carbon ate are the major factors accounting for the strength development of m arine sediments, beside consolidation. These effects are often greater than those due to grain size effects.