The Engineering Geology of the Balkh University New Campus of Mazar-I-Sharif City, Afghanistan

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International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 76 The Engineering Geology Of The Balkh University New Campus Of Mazar-i-Sharif City, Afghanistan

¹Sabirullah Muradi Balkh University, Engineering Faculty,Mazar-i-Sharif, Balkh province, Afghanistan [email protected],

Abstract-- The Balkh University New Campus construction area information that emanated from those studies had been lost is situated in eastern part of Mazar-i-Sharif city. The city, the over the years due to the prolonged wars, political disarray capital of Balkh province is located at the north of the and anarchy in the country. Recent studies were mad [1] on Afghanistan and at the north foot hill of Allburz-Marmul range. groundwater supply [5] on seismic risk. The findings of the Preparation of engineering geology information on foundation study could therefore be applied to various other large and practice and soil exploration for the area is a vital tool for medium size urban center developments in the city which is planner and decision maker to reduce subsurface geo- environmental impacts from urbanization. In this paper, the currently in the process of reconstruction after three decades foundation practice within Quaternary deposits of area is of civil war in Afghanistan. examined. The methodology comprises from desk investigation, Study area field investigation, interviews as well as some laboratory works. Mazar-i-Sharif city is the second largest city in Afghanistan For this purpose, a large amount of surface and subsurface data and accommodates 650.000 inhabitants [14]. The city is derived from 5 boreholes and 5 test pits and information from located in the northern part of Afghanistan about 425 field investigation was collected and analyzed The combinations kilometers north of the country’s capital city of Kabul. It is of the collected geotechnical and geological information have led surrounded by Uzbekistan in the north, Sari Pul and Jowzjan to the making of any hoped engineering geological evalvition of Provinces in the southwest and Kunduz Province in the east. It the area for the Practical applications of the preliminary design purposes of shallow foundations of engineering structures. is located at . Latitude and . N Longitude and at an Although, the results of the study are still limited due to the altitude of 378m meters above mean sea level, (See Fig.1, constraints from various situations, it is hoped that the findings Fig.2a, Fig.2b and Fig.3) and the climatology graphic shown could be utilized for the construction of the area and all around in (Fig.4). it. The city particularly lacks the basic geological information and database such as engineering geological map, hazard Index Term-- Balkh University, engineering geology, zoning and similar information that could substantiate any foundation practice, Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan urban land use planning. The situation becomes more acute due to rapid population growth and urbanization. Information I. INTRODUCTION on ground conditions and hydrology has been increasingly After more than three decade civil war Mazar-i-Sharif city is important in the purview of emerging problems that often progressing in population and infrastructure; Thus, emerge from infrastructure development such as cracks in Information of geology and subsurface soil is vital tools for a buildings, land erosion, exposure of the city to frequent rational land use, assessment activities, construction, as well earthquakes, and groundwater contamination. as environmental impact studies and urban developments. To The Balkh University New Campus (BUNC) located on the these purposes, site investigations and laboratory works are eastern part of city with 1200.000 m² areas (See Fig.3). generally carried out and many boreholes are excavated in different locations or some information derived from geophysics around large cities. During these investigations, numerous tests are carried out in order to determine soil characteristics of subsurface layers. The results of such studies are used for the particularly construction site. The purpose of this study is to provide a preliminary geological engineering characterization of the subsurface zone of the Balkh University new campus, some geological and hydrological studies were carried out in Mazar-i-Sharif city area by Afghan Geological Survey (AGS) (1969–1997), as Fig. 1. Location of Mazar-i-Sharif city and Afghan Tajik Basin well as other international and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) mainly for the development of water supply and similar purposes. Nevertheless, most of the

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International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 77 Scope: This paper presents the results of the first all-around study that has ever been conducted in the area. The Scope of this study is to provide engineering geological information and foundation practice for sustainable development of the study area. Although, there are many limitation like lack of the laboratories and financial supports for normal research works. Hence, this study will offer financial saving and environmental benefits to the municipality and city planner, such as cheaper engineering geological and soil surveys, and better archive management.

GEOLOGY Surface geology: The lithological and stereographical characteristics of the Quaternary sediments and rocks in the Fig. 2a. Location of Mazar-i-Sharif city Study Area are shown on (See Fig5). The geological units of direct interest to the study area are the Quaternary aged alluvial, proluvial and aeolian deposits covering the Afghan north Plain. . According to [11] and [1].the Quaternary deposits in the Study Area can be divided into two main units, like Alluvium deposits (Hilly area) and comprise terrace sands and gravels, with occasional cobbles , Proluvial deposits and cover most of the area. According to [6] there are eight lithological sub- divisions of these deposits. However, the [11] suggest that only four of these have hydrogeological significance like Loam and sandy loam with inter-layers of clay and sand underlain by a continuous very thick shingle-gravel bed, Loam and sandy loam with inter-layers of clay and sand underlain discontinuously by shingle or intercalations of shingle Sandy and dusty loam, often with inclusions of variously sized fragments of rock and Loam and sandy loam Fig. 2b.Topographic Map of the study area [1] underlain by inter-bedded clay and sand, and in places by gravel. According to [7], Afghanistan is situated in the southern margin of the Eurasian plate postulated during the Permian– Triassic times. It comprises three thick sedimentary rock regions, namely: Northern Afghanistan Basin, Southwestern Afghanistan Basin and Southeastern Katawaz region. The area of Mazar-i-Sharif city is mostly situated within the Northern Afghan Basin (Fig.1) and the Allburz-Marmol Mountain. The Afghan-Tajik Basin is located in the desert and semi- desert areas of southwest Uzbekistan, southeastern Tajikistan, and northern Afghanistan [13]. Northern Afghanistan has a pre-Jurassic unconformable basement overlain by Jurassic to Fig. 3. Location of study area (BUNC) [19] Paleocene oil- and gas-bearing terrigenous and carbonate rocks, which in turn are unconformable and overlain by Neocene orogenic continental clastic rocks [2].The Mazar-i- Sharif area basin contains Mesozoic to Cenozoic rocks of

approximately seven or eight kilometers thick [3]. The Allburz-Marmol fault zone may be a left-lateral transpression zone [12].According to [15], this depression is situated on a zone of acute negative gravity anomalies, and it

has the thickness of the earth’s crust within depression alters from 45 kilometers mostly in the depression to 55 to 60 kilometers along the eastern margin [15]. The Afghan-Tajik depression is an area such as deep down warping, and the

basement is at a depth of 10 to 15 kilometers or more as shows the geophysics results [15]. Duo to, poor resolution of the Fig. 4. Climate graph of Mazar-i-Sharif [18]

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International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 78 geophysical methods employed, the basement cannot be the Hindu Kush, a complex and vast mountain range that mapped [15]. The Afghan-Tajik depression marginal extends through central Afghanistan and separates the basins structural steps is 3 to 8 kilometers) uplifted, which is surround this depression [15].The major steps include the TABLE I North Afghan High, the Dushanbe and Baysun steps, 15]. geological units of the area Suprasalt post-Jurassic sedimentary cover of the Afghan-Tajik Quaternary Geological Materials basin was isolated along Jurassic salt in Neogene time and Deposits deformed into a series of thrust anticlinoria and synclinoria. In Conglomerate and sandstone (Early this anticlinoria, Paleogene rocks are commonly exposed on Pleistocene) - Alluvium: Shingly and the surface where synclinoria are filled with several kilometers detrital sediments, gravel, sand more of Neogene to Quaternary continental clastic deposits. abundant than silt and clay.

Complex fold-thrust structures are present in the sedimentary Conglomerate and sandstone (Late cover within the depression [15]. According to [3] Surkhan Pleistocene) – Alluvium: Shingly and megasyncline and Mazar i Sharif basin contain Mesozoic to detrital sediments, gravel, sand more Cenozoic rocks approximately 7 or 8 kilometers thick in abundant than silt and clay northern Afghanistan. The Gravimetry shows that the Conglomerate and sandstone megasyncline is usually divided into two parts by a fault (Holocene)-Alluvium: Shingly and boundary running longitudinally through Mazar i Sharif. detrital sediments, gravel, sand more According to [3].The Kafirnigan megaanticline is located east abundant than silt and clay. of the Surkhan megasyncline and is divided into two parts by Conglomerate and sandstone (Late the Mir Ali trough .The eastern part of the Kafirnigan mega Pleistocene) –Alluvium (Holocene- anticline is topographically more elevated than the western Late Pleistocene)-Alluvium: Shingly part [3]. and detrital sediments, gravel, sand According to [9], surface geological units correlate with the more abundant than silt and clay. soils in the study area (See Fig.5and Table.1); Eolian deposits (Holocene and Late The units found and their distributions are:(i) The study area, Pleistocene)-sand unit Q34a comprise from conglomerate and sandstone Loess(meddle Pleistocene)Loess [Holocene and late Pleistocene] - Alluvium; shingly and more abundant than sand and clay detrital sediments, gravel, sand, more abundant than silt and Salty marsh deposits(Holocene)- clay).(ii)In the North of study area, interspersed within the Mud, Silt and Clay more abundant Q34a zone, roughly in a semicircle, are found large patches of than sand, limestone gypsum and salt Q4sm like salt marsh deposits[Holocene] - mud, silt, clay, Clay and Siltstone (Early Miocene)- more abundant than sand; limestone, gypsum, and salt. (iii) To red clay, Siltstone more abundant the north of the area Q34a zone, unit Q3a predominates same than silt and clay description asQ34a except without the younger Holocene of the Amu Darya River from those of the Kabul and Helmand contributions.(iv) Further north still, towards the Amu Darya, rivers in eastern and southern Afghanistan [1]. unit Q θ, Eolian deposits [Holocene and late Pleistocene] - The Thick of Quaternary alluvial deposits consisting of sand, Sand is found.(v) In the Balkh river course from its entry into silt, conglomerates, gravel, and clay fill this valley north of the the lower Balkh system to its tail end past Aqcha, Unit Q4a is Hindu Kush. The subsurface lithology near the mountain hilly found (same description as Q34a except without the older area close to the mountains is mainly sand, gravel, and Pleistocene contributions). changes to finer material moving towards the Amu Darya To the south and southern of the study area are the mountain River in the north. However, in the middle of the valley there highlands which consist of a narrow belt of small ranges are occurrences of inter-bedded sand and clay, while at the known as the Shadyan and Marmol, and the Kholum depth of 150 meters a gravel bed may be encountered [1].The Mountains, southeast of the town of Kholum respectively. The Cretaceous limestone approximately 100 m below the surface Kholum River cuts between the Marmol and Kholum ranges just northeast of the study area and beyond the reach of the in a narrow pass known as Tangi Tash Qorghon. The river deltas that form fans of alluvial deposits, lies the Dasht-i- mountain which ranges at the south-east of the site is mainly Shortepa (Amu Darya Desert), this narrow dune desert area composed of limestone with inter-bedded marl, runs along the northern Afghanistan border, parallel to the conglomerates, and sandstone of Upper Cretaceous/Paleocene Amu Darya River, and consists of windblown sands. The origin, as well as later Paleocene and Miocene sedimentary dunes are migrating eastward and have become a major and volcanic rocks. The limestone is mostly fractured and has concern in terms of maintenance of the road that connects the joints which absorb rain and snow during the winter season. north-east and north-west area to rest of Afghanistan.to the Later in the year, this absorbed water emerges as springs. northern port town of Hairatan on the Afghan border with These three ranges form a rim on the northern-most extent of Uzbekistan. In the Afghan Northern River Basin, there are four watersheds: Balkh, Kholum, Sari Pul, and Shirin Tagab.

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International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 79 In the Afghan Tajik Block there are three watersheds: (1) Balkh watershed with an area 32. 194 km²; (2) Kholum watershed with an area 11.919 km² and Amu Darya river; The tectonic pattern of Northern Afghanistan is briefly described as comprising Pre-Jurassic folded basement rocks covered by Jurassic-Palaeogene sedimentary rocks, with the territory assumed to comprise part of the Cimmerian Platform. Several tectonically stepped rocks are singled out and these together with the lithostratigraphic features of the Balkh Aqcha region were described [16] and [1]. According to [7] and [4], Afghanistan is situated in the southern margin of the Eurasian plate postulated during the Permian–Triassic times. The area of Mazar-i-Sharif city is mostly situated within the Afghan-Tajik Basin (Fig.1).The Afghan-Tajik Basin is located in the desert and semi-desert areas of southeastern Uzbekistan, southwest Tajikistan, and Fig. 5. Geological map of Mazar-i-Sharif [8] northern Afghanistan [13]. Paleocene oil- and gas-bearing terrigenous and carbonate rocks, which in turn are unconformable and overlain by Neocene orogenic continental clastic rocks [2]. The Mazar-i-Sharif area contains Mesozoic to Cenozoic rocks of approximately seven or eight kilometers thick [3]. The Allburz-Marmul fault zone may be a left-lateral transpression zone [12]. According to [9], surface geological units correlate with the soils in the study area. The geological units and their distributions are shown in (Fig.4).

Fig. 6. Geological cross section of Mazar-i-Sharif, 2012

II. ENGINEERING GEOLOGICAL PROBLEMS AND METHODOLOGY OF STUDY As a result of the urban geological setting of the study area several geological problems are frequently encountered in the area and some of these problems are discussed below. Geological engineering study was made based on the collected data, desk investigation including topography and surface geological information, engineering characteristics of the soil, as well as some laboratories works. Data of Balkh University new campus (BUNC) is from boreholes and test pits collected from many sources, governmental like (AGS) and private engineering construction sites. Data from 5 boreholes and 5 test pits (See Fig.7) are specified for the database imported into database to determine the relationship between different types of soil parameters within the area was developed for borehole characteristics and all collected data were recorded in the forms. The main characteristics of each borehole include borehole location, and physical and mechanical properties of soil in different depths. In this study the topography elevation, the available topographic map of the area based on the topographic maps was used [8], and Google map. The slope was automatically derived from the topography using the grid utility of Arc GIS9.3 tools and shape files.

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Fig. 7. Location of boreholes and test pits within the study area

Subsurface geology: Zones of subsoil in the Balkh University new campus and surrounding vicinity are loess alluvial, fluvial and eolian zones.

At Balkh University new Campus(BUNC) (See Fig.8 ) :To Fig .9. Standard penetration test (SPT) result within study area about 10-12 m clayey soils (silty clay/sandy clay, loam) (ML, From interviews and field investigations we have found that in CL) Density 1.6g/cc, SPT 3-30 (soft to very stiff); below 10- the procedure of soil exploration and foundation practice, the 20m, Gravelly soils (GP, GW, GM) – very dense, SPT more extent of soil investigation carried out in Mazar-i-Sharif City than 50, Ground water table is very low (deeper than 10-15 depends on the type of site, its purpose, and the types and m). magnitudes of projects to be considered there. It also depends on the kind of owner (private or governmental) or organization responsible for the planning of the site investigation program

and the amount the client will be paying. In general, in the studied area soil investigation analysis and laboratory tests have not been performed. Laboratory analysis shows that the major soil groups in the area consist of lean, salty silt in the northern part of the city and silty some clay. The soils are classed as (ML) and (CL). Urban structures in Mazar-i-Sharif city have underground basement; the result of on subsurface soil is on the BUNC of the city is as below:

TABLE II Fig. 8. the Balkh University new Campus (BUNC) Result of soil bearing capacity analysis in the study area (BUNC) Subsoil properties at New Balkh University campus five Soil parameters Value storey buildings construction site were investigated using shallow spread footings placed at depth of 1-3 m below the surface (seeFig.8 and Table II) Bulk density,(δ) 1.65g/cc Soil type Silty Clay/Clayey Silt Foundation Practice: The engineering structures built in Angle of internal 15 Degree Mazar-i-Sharif have not been based on soil data at all due a lack friction, (φ) of communication and absent a common data base. Cohesion,(c) 0.48 kg/sq.cm Ordinary residents in the study area constructed based on their own experiences. Soil investigation is not usually done and Initial void ratio, ( 0.7657 building design performed only on assumed calculation and Compression index 0.1517 bearing capacity. Soil investigation programs usually include ,(Cc) digging of test pits, boreholes and performance of field and Plasticity Index (PI) 2-12 laboratory tests. As a results, of the soil investigation within Liquid limit of 18-35 Mazar-i-Sharif such as Balkh University new campus, can be concluded that the major soil group consists of gravel, silty clay cohesive soil,(LL) Moisture contents, 12.7% and gravel, silty clay (central part of city) and clay and mixture of clay, silt gravel, and loam (in southern part of city). (Wc) Specific gravity , (Gs) 2.5-2.8

Organic matter content 245-272 , (Oc)

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International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 81 Based on field investigation and laboratories testes we found Seismic activities: Afghanistan is one of the most active that, the allowable bearing capacities of most of subsurface seismic regions of the world. The geological structure of soils are (67-100 kPa), cohesion is (2-20kPa), Internal friction Afghanistan is the result of accretion of colliding Gondwanan angle is (φ= 0°-30°) and consistency is various from soft (all microplates or fragments onto the margins of Eurasia along ground surface within area up to depth of 2m to 5m) to very the Herat-Panjshir E-W striking geosuture. Similar structures stiff soils of the depth more than 20m. Nevertheless, most of along the Chaman-Moqor NE-SW striking fault system, the the ongoing building constructions in the study area are Sarobi-Altimore NE-SW arcuate fault system, and other devoid of any sort of soil and geotechnical laboratory analysis secondary faults cover most of the regions of Afghanistan. (Table .3 and Table.4) and result of Standard penetration test According to [5], [7], northeastern Afghanistan has the highest (SPT),(see Fig.9). earthquake hazard. Mazar-i- Sharif city is situated on the TABLE III verge of three major tectonic plates, namely: Eurasian Plate, Result of soil bearing capacity analysis in the study area (BUNC) Indian Plate and Arabian Plate. The Allburz-Marmol fault Depth Internal system is just 35 kilometers from Mazar-i-Sharif city. The Net from Cohesion friction measurements of tilted quaternary terraces of this fault system Consistency ASBC1 Surface (kPa) angle indicate that land adjacent to the study area has been rising at (kPa) (Meters) (φ) the rate of 21 to 38 mm/yr. With a history of strong earthquakes, the region has experienced an earthquake of

o intensity (I) of (ІV) with an estimated magnitude of more than 1 40.1 0 Medium 67 6.5 points on the Richter scale as seen in (Fig. 10) [7].

3 20 0o Soft 19

5 3.5 23.7o Medium 76

o 7 1.6 25.4 Stiff 82

9 0 27.7o Very stiff 100

11 - - Very stiff >100

13 to19 - >30o - >>100

1.Allowable Soil Bearing Capacity

TABLE IV The soil types in the study area (BUNC)

Depth Soil class Consistency Type of Fig.10. historical earthquakes and Seismic activities [7] from soil ground Several sources of seismicity are present in the study area surface making Mazar-i-Sharif city prone to earthquakes of (I–IV) 2m ML Soft Silty and intensity. It should be noted that the Afghan seismicity is due consistency clay to the movement of the Arabian Plate by >1.3 cm/yrs. 4m to CL Medium Silty northwards and that of the Indian Plate by >2, 9 cm/yr. Both 6m consistency plates duck under the Eurasian Plate that generates 6m to CL-ML Stiff Silty earthquakes in the study area. The seismotectonic map of 8m consistency clay Afghanistan and Mazar-i-Sharif city, recent deformation has 8m to CL-ML Very stiff Silty been studied by [10]. These indices are associated with main 10m consistency clay active faults like the S-W Allburz-Marmol fault, Hindu Kush 10m to CL-ML Very stiff Silty fault, i.e., strike–slip fault at the anticline of Allburz-Marmol. 12m consistency clay Finally, here maximum peak ground acceleration (PGA) ranges from 0.249 to in excess of 0.489 in the eastern-most 12m to GP,GW,GM Dense gravely regions. 20m condition With this in mind, all construction in the proposed BUNC will comply with the seismic load design of the 2003 edition of the

International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 82 International Building Code (IBC). Updated standards have Erosion and salty soil: The salty desert has resulted from a been incorporated, including the 2002 edition of Minimum salty marsh formation within the area over a long geological Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures. process. From geological investigations and a study of the Aggregate Resources: Fluvial sand and gravels near mountain history of the area we know that the city of Mazar-i-Sharif zone abundant (Fig.11), but there are no suitable sources of was established about more than 800 years ago in the 12th Rocks for construction. Construction materials receiving Century by Sultan Hussein Bayqra at the village of Tali crushed gravels and rock aggregates borrowed sites are Khayran at the present location of the Tomb of Shrine Ali situated in the western-southwestern parts of the study area. (See Fig.14). The studied area is a large Central Asian oasis that has been inhabited, and thus modified by human activities, for millennia. Extremely rich concentrations of Mesolithic and Neolithic settlements dating as far back as 10,000 BCE have been found south of the Amu Darya in the Turkistan plain. The area was also under water for a long period, with salty marshes and swamps. The evidence indicates that this might be a cause of the formation of the salty desert at Mazar-i- Sharif. Our results suggest that all types of sediment (alluvial, fluvial, collavial and Aeolian) can be the high speed of the Afghan wind over 2m /s which usually blows in the hot summer (July-August), and rain from the Shadyan and

Fig. 11. Fluvial gravels near mountain zone, gravels – abundant Marmol mountains. Flow channels and river flooding may be other causes of salty desert formation. The evidence found The lateritic soil in the Mazar-i- Sharif city, it consists of a here owing to the long period of geological activity from the medium percentage of fine rock fractions with liquid limit of Balkh and Amu Darya rivers is that the Afghan wind is so fine particles which is relatively good, such construction strong that even sand materials are suitable for impervious embankment construction purposes. Based on the interview with local residents, engineers and Municipality officers of the city, the cost of construction materials was mainly contingent upon the transportation cost. There are ten gravel quarrying sites in the study area close to the urban center (eastern, southern and western parts of the study area), while there are two sources of sand for construction, one is the wind-blown Hairatan sand dunes and the other is from the Balkh River. However, a comprehensive study on the mineral resources in Balkh Province has not yet been conducted.

Fig. 13. Salty silt soil affected area on construction within study area

and pebbles can be lifted high into the air. Consequently, step by step, over a long period, geological activity has filled the area with various sediments. Excessively salty soil and salt in the shallow groundwater are extremely conductive of moisture and, have eroded the soil foundations of structures. In addition, erosion in the area is mainly in the form of chemical, wind and alluvial erosion. For example, in the southern part of the city, along the river, numerous instances of siltstone, limestone and rocks more than one meter in size can be found. The evidence suggests that this can only be the result of erosion from the Shadyan and Marmol mountains. One of the most important factors involved in the permeability of clay,

limestone and concrete is water of poor quality containing Fig. 12. The Satellite image of Mazar-i-Sharif city [17] salty organic materials and other chemical components. Since limestone, clay mud bricks and concrete are solid porous materials, salty water can flow from outside foundations into cracks and micropores, while evaporation flows with a

International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering IJCEE-IJENS Vol:12 No:06 83 hydraulic gradient, causing a difference in water content ranges from 0.249 to in excess of 0.489 in the eastern-most between materials (See Fig.13). regions. Historical site: Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of the Balkh province With this in mind, all construction in the proposed (BUNC) is a historical site. Many Historical building such as Tomb of will comply with the seismic load design of the 2003 edition Shrine Ali structures, mosques and etc. were constructed from of the International Building Code (IBC). Updated standards bricks, limestone and gypsum on Quaternary sediments (Fig. have been incorporated, including the 2002 edition of 14).Due to lack of foundation practice and poor construction Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures materials, these buildings encountered with serious problems like cracks and settlements; IV. CONCLUSION According to results of study, it is concluded that the geological condition of study area, which could be traced from the Pre-Jurassic era and part of the Cimmerian Platform, comprises the Neocene and Quaternary (Pleistocene) sediments and loess (Fig.5).The geological engineering study of the study area has provided some key insights on the soils parameters for urban building constructions by highlighting on the potential risk zones which need consideration during the land use planning of the area. In almost studied area, soils have not potential of swelling and liquefaction. The BUNC and all around it, preliminary database in foundation practice and soil exploration has been formulated for use, and for future development of urban area, and to make Fig. 14. Historical Tomb of Shrine Ali in Mazar-i-Sharif geological engineering evalvition. As a result, this study will offer financial saving and environmental benefits to the III. DISCUSSIONS municipality and city planner, such as cheaper soil surveys The engineering geology study has different purposes. Thus, and better archive management, with cost savings in to provide a lot of geological and geotechnical information, geotechnical and environmental surveys, and further cost like liquefaction susceptibility, bearing capacity, properties of saving as a result of studied area ;The results for the area sub soils, foundation practices and Geohazards zonation maps indicate that the southern part of study area is predominantly are an important tool of engineering geologist concerning in underlain by relatively coarse grained materials, while the urban development. The study result therefore suggests that northern party of the region is underlain by weaker soils with the BUNC and Mazar-i-Sharif need to promote the pile poor geotechnical characteristics (salty desert and Collapsible system foundation practices because most of the soils in the soil)(see Fig.12) . The area Geotechnical database needs to be study area are sandy loam, clay, silt, and loose which could completed it should be in priority of farther study. not support any foundation that are constructed based on From the point of engineering geological problems, quaternary existing practices. Development of regulations on foundation sediments alluvium fan generally provide good ground standards and foundation practices is extremely important as conditions. But Physical, Mechanical parameters and the city is exposed to earthquakes of more than M > 6.5 weathered zones should be investigated in detail. magnitude in the Richter scale [5].In the north salty and • Over-consolidated geological units generally have bearing collapsible soil and in the south of the city some loess with capacity problems whereas they have stability problems settlement risks are not suitable for construction . In order to especially in up to 4-5m from ground surface. determine the specifications of the foundations of buildings in • The bearing capacity of the alluvium is very low, and area, it is recommended that site specific soil testing should be artificial fills, from ground sediments have negligible bearing made as a prerequisite for any type of construction works in capacity. Foundations of buildings constructed on these the study area. The allowable bearing capacities of most of sediments generally have instability and settlement problems. subsurface soils are (67-100 kPa), cohesion is (2-20kPa), • Earthquake risk gradually increases from South to the North. Internal friction angle is (φ= 0°-30°) and consistency is Duo to the active faults in the Hindu Kush ranges also the various from soft (all ground surface within area up to depth lithological characteristics of the weak rocks of 2m to 5m) to very stiff soils of the depth more than 20m. and soils. Nevertheless, most of the ongoing building constructions in Finally, extending the urban land use within the area and all the study area are devoid of any sort of soil and geotechnical around it, and increasing in population. For example, such us laboratory analysis. planning of Shar-i-now (New City) urban construction project The existing source of construction materials in the study area site, Sharak Ameri and many of others urban construction is not suitable for future expansion of the city and for land use. areas. Thus, preparation of the engineering geological data Exploration of new construction materials pit close to the base for the area is an important tool for planners and decision mountain in the southern part of the study area is necessary. makers. To this the area needs more information of foundation Finally, here maximum peak ground acceleration (PGA) practice, soil exploration, hydrogeological and engineering geological studies in detail.

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