Location and characterization of the Misiones plinthite (Argentina)

CARLOS E. SCHVEZOV; NESTOR SIVIERO; DANIEL VIGO

REVISTA DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGíA

CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIÓN Y DESARROLLO TECNOLÓGICO, FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS EXACTAS, QUÍMICAS Y NATURALES, UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE MISIONES

Lugar: Posadas; Año: 2022

0329-8922

Plinthite (Gr. Plinthos, brick) is a residual soil which expands in around 60 millions Hectares in theplanet. The Province of Misiones in Argentina is the south border of plinthite in South America,where is called “itácurú” in guaraní, in its cemented form or petroplinthite. Four centuries ago theJesuits, since 1601 in Loreto (Misiones), used petroplinthite blocks extracted from nearby deposits,for the construction of buildings, churches and houses. Few years ago it was employed for theconstruction of Road N° 2 (Uruguay riverside road).Considering the potential use of plinthite for restoration of Jesuit missions, allegoric, vial, en generalconstructions; and the lack of studies about the dimensions of the existing deposits and theirproperties suitable for the different applications, the present report is an exploratory research of thematerial from different deposits. First, some known deposits, such as those employed by theJesuits, and second, new deposits were localized and their potential was determined. Also, theirphysical and mechanical properties were measured as collected and after drying/wetting cycle.