The weathering of pyritic mudrocks can have serious consequences for construction, and in particular for earthworks. Prediction of the likely behaviour of pyritic mudrocks involved in earthworks tends to be overlooked, with only the determination of aggressivity to steel and cementitious materials carried out. British Jurassic mudrocks tend to be soil-like overconsolidated deposits, typically with significant calcite and pyrite content. They may have appropriate engineering properties for earthworks under certain conditions, but they are susceptible to rapid atmospheric deterioration in the presence of both oxygen and water. The rate and products of pyrite oxidisation are dependent upon the mineralogy and fabric of the host material, its hydrological setting, and its immediate environment following exposure. This ultimately controls the rate and impact on construction.
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