Abstract:
THE SOILS ON THE EASTERN SLOPES OF MAUNA KEA ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII WERE FORMED BY THE LATERIZATION OF VOLCANIC ASH UNDER CONDITIONS OF CONTINUOUS MOISTURE. BECAUSE OF THIXOTROPHY, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND EXCEEDINGLY HIGH NATURAL MOISTURE CONTENTS, THESE SOILS POSSESS UNUSUAL PROPERTIES. IN THE NATURAL STATE, THEY POSSESS THE STABLE PROPERTIES OF A SOLID ALTHOUGH THE MOISTURE CONTENTS ARE IN EXCESS OF THE PLASTIC LIMIT AND MANY TIMES IN EXCESS EVEN OF THE LIQUID LIMIT. WHEN REMOLDED, THESE SOILS BECOME PLASTIC OR EVEN SEMI-LIQUID (AT THE SAME MOISTURE CONTENTS) RESULTING IN DIFFICULT CONSTRUCTION PROBLEMS. ANOTHER PROPERTY IS THAT OF SELF-AGGLUTINATION SO THAT UPON COMPLETE DRYING THE MATERIAL TURNS GRANULAR. WHEN USED AS HIGHWAY SUBGRADES, SLOW CONSOLIDATION TAKES PLACE SO THAT AFTER A PERIOD OF YEARS THE MATERIAL BECOMES DECIDEDLY MORE TUFACEOUS. THE PECULIAR PROPERTIES OF THESE SOILS ARE BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF SILICA GEL. /AUTHOR/
Supplemental Notes:
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