Identification and Mapping of Calcrete Deposits in Inhambane Province and Preparation of a Calcrete Classification System and Specifications for the Use of Calcrete in Road Construction in Mozambique. Final Report

Abstract

Road-building materials meeting conventional specifications are scarce along much of the coastal and inland areas of Mozambique and, in particular, in Inhambane Province. The non-availability of good natural gravels for the construction of wearing courses has resulted in high maintenance costs for unpaved roads and expensive options such as chemical and bituminous stabilisation of sand for the construction of sealed roads in the province. The main locally available gravel material is calcrete, which in the past was considered as marginal because it frequently does not meet traditional specifications for road construction. However, calcrete has been used successfully elsewhere in the region in similar situations where good roadbuilding materials are scarce. If calcrete deposits in the province can be relatively easily located and appropriate specifications derived for their use, then this will lead to more appropriate and extensive use of this material for road construction.

This report contains a summary of the objectives, presentations, discussions and outputs from a workshop and associated field visit. The workshop described in the report was held to present the objectives, methodology and outcomes of the project to practitioners in the road sector and to provide participants with an opportunity to contribute to discussions on the project outputs and recommendations for future work.

Citation

TRL Limited. Identification and Mapping of Calcrete Deposits in Inhambane Province and Preparation of a CalcreteClassification System and Specifications for the Use of Calcrete in Road Construction in Mozambique. Final Report. (2013) 57 pp. [Report No. RPN 2551]

Identification and Mapping of Calcrete Deposits in Inhambane Province and Preparation of a Calcrete Classification System and Specifications for the Use of Calcrete in Road Construction in Mozambique. Final Report

Published 1 January 2013