Utilization of Magnesium-Rich Olivine as a Sustainable Alternative for Soil Stabilization

Sustainability in soil stabilization involves using methods and materials that are effective in enhancing the engineering performance of the soil while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. The concept of sustainability can be incorporated into soil stabilization by advocating the use of natural materials that are cost-effective, abundantly available, and have a low carbon footprint. Despite the proven effectiveness of traditionally used additives such as lime and cement, these materials are constantly criticized for their negative effects on the environment as a result of carbon dioxide emissions involved in their production. In contrast, magnesium-rich olivine is a naturally occurring mineral found abundantly in the earth’s subsurface. The presence of high amounts of MgO suggests that it may be effective in improving soil strength. The use of naturally available, magnesium-rich olivine or forsterite as a sustainable additive to stabilize a non-swelling soil is investigated in this research. Laboratory experiments conducted indicate that forsterite is effective in improving soil strength. The optimum dosage of forsterite for strength improvement was found to be 25% for all curing durations. The strength improvement is attributed to the development of M–S–H and M–A–H compounds as indicated by SEM micrographs.