Location and characterization of the Misiones plinthite (Argentina)

Abstract

Plinthite (Gr. Plinthos, brick) is a residual soil that occupies 60 million hectares on the planet. The Province of Misiones (Argentina) is the border zone of South America where this soil appears, locally called in its cemented state or petroplinthite as itácurú (stone toad in the Guarani language). Four centuries ago, it was used in the form of blocks cut from nearby deposits for the construction of the Jesuit reductions since 1601 in Loreto. Since then, there is a time jump until it is used in the construction of Coastal Route No. 2. In view of its potential and in the absence of systematic studies, this report aims to promote this mining resource for the restoration of reductions, constructions allegorical and road use. To this end, prospecting has been carried out in search of new deposits and others previously exploited that have been detected and evaluated; some used by the Jesuits. The location, size and approximate power of each of the explored deposits are presented, as well as the geotechnical values. The experimental results of the physical-mechanical properties and the effects on the properties of the different drying/wetting cycles carried out are presented and analyzed.