ASSESSMENT OF THE GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF TERMITE REWORKED SOILS

The determination of the geotechnical properties of inhabited termitaria (termite mounds) from three different locations in Lagos, Nigeria was carried out. Soil samples were taken at the cores of termitaria and also at 3m of either side of termitaria. Nine bulk representative soil samples depicting three termitaria soils and six adjacent soil samples were collected. Some geotechnical properties such as specific gravity, grain size distribution, consistency limits, linear shrinkage, CBR, and consolidation of the soils were determined. The chemical properties of the termitaria soil as compared to the adjacent surrounding soil was also analysed. The result showed that the geotechnical properties of termitaria are far better than the adjacent or surrounding soils. The activity of termites was identified as the primary cause of these improvements