Influence of petrology on geotechnical characteristics of lateritic gravels from Lolabe-Campo area (Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon) and their valorization in road construction

Influence of petrology on geotechnical characteristics of lateritic gravels from Lolabe-Campo area (Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon) and their valorization in road construction | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Influence of petrology on geotechnical characteristics of lateritic gravels from Lolabe-Campo area (Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon) and their valorization in road construction Anne Pauline M Akono, Florent Sikali, Paul Désiré Ndjigui, Antoine Elimbi This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7895511/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Geotechnical and Geological Engineering → Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The influence of geochemical composition on the geotechnical properties of lateritic gravels was studied to determine their suitability for use in road construction. The research focused on materials from the Atlantic coast of Lolabé-Campo, South Cameroon, which formed on variable rocks (micaschists, metasyenites, quartzites, and gneisses). Petrological analyses, including petrography, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were carried out and supplemented by geotechnical analyses. Petrography correlated with the materials' geochemistry, while XRF confirmed by SEM results, assessed the degree of alteration. The findings revealed that, depending on the parent rocks, the gravels consist of one, two, or three types of nodules. Lateritic gravels of metasyenites and quartzites, richer in iron with lower silica-aluminum-iron indices (S/R), contain coarser iron particles and exhibit more pronounced red brown and black tones of cortex, cores and fine matrices than the gravels of micaschists and gneisses. The index of lateritization values (IOL), adapted to advanced weathering phases, suggest that gravels developed on metasyenites and quartzites are more weathered. This geochemical variability leads to a wide range of geotechnical properties. The geotechnical analysis revealed that not all these gravels meet the technical specifications for subbase layers. Principal component analysis showed that the Califonian Bearing Ratio (CBR) positively correlated with SiO 2 and negatively with Fe 2 O 3 along with coarse particles. The knowledge of geochemistry allows for better selection and use of lateritic gravels in road construction. Given the scarcity of compliant materials in some areas the world over, these technical specifications should be revised. Lateritic gravels Parent rocks Geochemistry Geotechnical properties Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 12 Figure 13 Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Tables 1 to 7 are available in the Supplementary Files section. Supplementary Files Table1.docx Table2.docx Table3.docx Table4.docx Table5.docx Table6.docx Table7.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 12 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Geotechnical and Geological Engineering → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 13 Nov, 2025 Reviews received at journal 07 Nov, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 Oct, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 22 Oct, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 21 Oct, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 20 Oct, 2025 First submitted to journal 18 Oct, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7895511","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":538578411,"identity":"adb40494-8218-4983-9b09-95ef990b250b","order_by":0,"name":"Anne Pauline M Akono","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé I","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Anne","middleName":"Pauline M","lastName":"Akono","suffix":""},{"id":538578412,"identity":"71544ada-099a-4591-85fc-bae9206477ca","order_by":1,"name":"Florent Sikali","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Yaoundé 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Ocean, Cameroon) and their valorization in road construction","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"geotechnical-and-geological-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"gege","sideBox":"Learn more about [Geotechnical and Geological Engineering](https://www.springer.com/journal/10706)","snPcode":"10706","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10706/3","title":"Geotechnical and Geological Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Lateritic gravels, Parent rocks, Geochemistry, Geotechnical properties","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7895511/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7895511/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe influence of geochemical composition on the geotechnical properties of lateritic gravels was studied to determine their suitability for use in road construction. The research focused on materials from the Atlantic coast of Lolab\u0026eacute;-Campo, South Cameroon, which formed on variable rocks (micaschists, metasyenites, quartzites, and gneisses). Petrological analyses, including petrography, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were carried out and supplemented by geotechnical analyses. Petrography correlated with the materials' geochemistry, while XRF confirmed by SEM results, assessed the degree of alteration. The findings revealed that, depending on the parent rocks, the gravels consist of one, two, or three types of nodules. Lateritic gravels of metasyenites and quartzites, richer in iron with lower silica-aluminum-iron indices (S/R), contain coarser iron particles and exhibit more pronounced red brown and black tones of cortex, cores and fine matrices than the gravels of micaschists and gneisses. The index of lateritization values (IOL), adapted to advanced weathering phases, suggest that gravels developed on metasyenites and quartzites are more weathered. This geochemical variability leads to a wide range of geotechnical properties. The geotechnical analysis revealed that not all these gravels meet the technical specifications for subbase layers. Principal component analysis showed that the Califonian Bearing Ratio (CBR) positively correlated with SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and negatively with Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e along with coarse particles. The knowledge of geochemistry allows for better selection and use of lateritic gravels in road construction. Given the scarcity of compliant materials in some areas the world over, these technical specifications should be revised.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Influence of petrology on geotechnical characteristics of lateritic gravels from Lolabe-Campo area (Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon) and their valorization in road construction","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-11-04 04:17:56","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7895511/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-11-13T22:46:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-11-07T09:15:19+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"113729079502409542808174976107641945668","date":"2025-10-24T13:37:18+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-10-23T01:49:26+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-10-21T19:59:53+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-10-21T01:54:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Geotechnical and Geological Engineering","date":"2025-10-18T21:01:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"geotechnical-and-geological-engineering","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"gege","sideBox":"Learn more about [Geotechnical and Geological Engineering](https://www.springer.com/journal/10706)","snPcode":"10706","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10706/3","title":"Geotechnical and Geological Engineering","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"43d37d26-424b-46d9-a708-9f13c00bd238","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 4th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-19T16:48:13+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-7895511","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-025-03599-w","journal":{"identity":"geotechnical-and-geological-engineering","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Geotechnical and Geological Engineering"},"publishedOn":"2026-01-12 16:29:54","publishedOnDateReadable":"January 12th, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-11-04 04:17:56","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s10706-025-03599-w","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-025-03599-w","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7895511","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7895511","identity":"rs-7895511","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}