Abstract :
Fabric study, using an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) with a specially designed cooling stage, combined with energy diffraction analysis of X-rays (EDX), has been carried out on organic and calciferous clay from Oostvaardersplassen in the Netherlands for geotechnical engineering research purposes. Three types of clay states have been used: natural, remolded and fractured. ESEM and EDX test results reveal that this clay consists mostly of organic colloid/tissue clothed silt, microfossils, biological remains. Clay minerals were found to be a small fraction. Attention was then drawn to the identification of micro-morphology of calciferous and organic matter present in this clay, by combining these different techniques: ESEM, EDX and optical microscopy. Results indicate the presence of colloid-like film pieces of organic matter throughout the clay which implies the geotechnical properties of this clay, such as strength, could be increased because of cementation.
