construction over diatomaceous earth

[Galt01]

Hi All

Just wondering if anyone has experience with construction over a thick layer of (suspected) diatomaceous earth? We're going to fill the area with 2-4 m of compacted sand. Do we have to worry about short and long term settlement of the underlying DE?
Thanks

 

[EireChch]

I had to google what "diatomaceous" meant.

Diatomaceous earth is a type of powder made from the sediment of fossilized algae found in bodies of water. Because the cells of these algae were high in a compound called silica, the dried sediment produced from these fossils are also very high in silica. These deposits are found all over the world.

Without out too much thought, I think you should do you due diligence.

If its soft, then yes you should be worried. If its extremely hard then you should not be worried.

With such little information is hard to give an anymore than that....

 

[dik]

Why compacted sand? rather than well graded compacted 'bigger stone', even cobble size? If your excavaton is 2 to 4 metres?

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Do you feel any better?

-Dik