The particular "rammed earth" of the Saadian sugar refinery of Chichaoua (IVth century, Morocco): mineralogical, chemical and mechanical characteristics

This work focuses on the building material used in the Saadian sugar refinery of Chichaoua (about 70 km southwest of Marrakesh). The study involved a classification of different types of rammed earth, followed by their mineralogical characterization based on optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These studies are complemented by chemical investigations, X-ray fluorescence, and thermal analysis (DTA and TGA). The results demonstrate the use of two types of earth for the realisation of rammed earth, the first one non-plastic, -grained with added lime, the other one of low plast ity, fine grained without addition of lime. Mechanical tests on site and in laborato how at the first t pe of material exhibits great strength, exceeding the values known for rammed earth