Austin Chalk Soil Type

Austin Chalk Soil Type

There are a whole host of factors that impact the type of soil in a certain part of the United States, and when it comes to the foundations of your property and looking after your home, this soil type really does make a difference.

In Dallas County, between a third and a half of the surface is covered in Austin Chalk, which dips between 15-40 feet per mile to the east. Some of the main areas are as follows:

Why do soils change from one place to another?

You may be wondering why soil is so different in one part of Texas when compared with another. There are a number of different factors that are at play here, including the temperature in the area, the terrain of the region, the sort of plant life present, and the vegetation present. The parent material is another factor that needs to be considered. This is a reference to the rocks from whereby the soil comes from.

In Dallas, Austin Chalk is significant because it is made up of marl and chalk, having a big impact on the landscape of the area. For those who are unaware, Austin Chalk is an upper Cretaceous geologic formation. It gets its name after some outcrops that are close to Austin.

The outcrops of Austin Chalk can be witnessed throughout the whole of Dallas, as well as extending southward underneath I-35 down into San Antonio and Austin.

In Austin chalk, you will find the presence of volcanic ash layers. The dates that have come from the radioactive minerals that are within the layers of ash indicate they were deposited via wind from volcanoes that erupted in the distance.

When we consider soils and rocks and the formation of the land, we cannot only look at the environmental and historical side, but need to think about the impact that we have had on places as humans as well. This is because man has had a massive impact on the world around us, especially in recent years. We are sure that this is something we can all agree on! As time has gone on, we had added organic materials to the surface of the soil. However, on the flip side, we have also taken nutrients from the ground as well. This all has an influence when it comes to the overall soil in an area.

Why does the type of soil in my area matter?

The type of soil in a location is imperative. Prior to deciding whether or not we need to carry out repair work on the foundations at your property, it is critical that we know the geological content of the soil in the area. This is because there can be huge differences from one type of soil to the next, and as discussed, there are a lot of different factors at play here. If we determine foundation repair work needs to be carried out, it could be that you need a different sort of pier system or drainage system, or something else entirely. Without knowing the make-up of the soil, it is impossible for us to make the right decision.

As a consequence, it is imperative to have a basic understanding of both applied physics and mechanics. This is imperative when it comes to determining whether foundation repair work needs to be carried out or not. A direct connection between the movement in the soil and the foundation and why this has happened must be determined. This is the only way to evaluate the problem and determine the nature of the work that needs to be carried out. After all, depending on the plasticity index of the soil, the amount of shrinking or swelling will change. This is why this data is imperative when figuring out the right solution for long-time stability.

Contact us today for more information about foundation repair services in Dallas

If you would like to find out more about the services that we provide, or you want to know more about the make-up of the soil in your part of Dallas, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today for more information. You can reach us on 972 251 0018 and you will speak to a member of our team. A friendly and experienced professional will answer any questions that you may have, no matter how big or small.