Geotechnical characteristics of the Barton Clay

Abstract — The geotechnical properties of the Barton Clay from the Hampshire Basin in England are presented. Barton Beds are important lithologies for many prominent micro and macro fossils in Britain. The common index properties of the clay soil for engineering including moisture content, plasticity, liquid limit and shrinkage limits are investigated. Mineralogical properties of the clay to determine its expansive potential are determined using X-Ray Diffraction. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) were used to determine the clay fabric properties. The characteristics of the Barton Clay from samples obtained at the type locality for the soil at the Barton-on-Sea area as well as from exposures in the Isle of Wight are compared