Learning from the Past – the Geological Past

On behalf of my colleague, Dr. Maxim Ryskin and myself, I wish to thank ICE Publishing for including our short technical paper in their latest issue of Géotechnique Letters. This paper (The pyrite heave problem: new insights from trace-element analysis | Géotechnique Letters (icevirtuallibrary.com)), provides new insights into how geological processes hundreds of millions of years ago can impact the quality of construction products we use today. It’s not so much the quantity of pyrite present that is the problem but the characteristics of the pyrite defined by the mechanism by which it became encased in the sedimentary rock during its formation. The pyrite heave problem, identified in Dublin in 2007 has not only had huge financial impacts but social impacts also, when it transpired that for the majority of homeowners affected, the structural damage caused was not covered by insurance. The Irish government has stepped up and to date has contributed more than €100 million in repair grants. However, these damage mechanisms are complex and improved methods are needed to allow us to identify problematic aggregates with greater certainty so that our construction materials standards can be improved to avoid similar problems in the future.

It is important to acknowledge the construction, engineering and geological practitioners who volunteer their time on standards committees, around the world, to ensure that the lessons learned from past failures, are used to achieve continuous improvements in the standards that define the quality of our built environment and contribute to our quality of life.