STUDY ON THE PHYSICAL AND INDEX PROPERTIES OF ANT HILLS

Abstract

This research investigates the physical and index properties of anthills and their potential as sustainable construction materials. Samples were collected from an anthill located at latitude 4.97°N and longitude 6.10°E on the main campus of Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The samples were taken from three height levels: at the surface, 12 ft above the ground, and at the top. Geotechnical tests, including the Atterberg limits test, specific gravity tests, and particle size analysis, were conducted to determine the soil characteristics. The estimated specific gravity of the clay soil is 2.70, while that of clay and silty soils ranges from 2.6 to 2.9. The specific gravity of the soil solid obtained is 1.875, which falls below the typical range of 2.6 to 2.75, indicating the presence of Kurnakovite. The results infer that anthill soils possess enhanced plasticity and stability due to ant secretions, making them less susceptible to cracking compared to natural clays. The Liquid Limit (LL) is 41.6, indicating medium plasticity; the Plastic Limit (PL) is 22.45%; the Plasticity Index (PI) is 19.15, indicating medium to high plasticity; and the Liquidity Index (LI) is 0.92. These properties indicate that anthill soils have the potential to improve the quality of building materials, particularly for road construction, in developing regions.

KEYWORDS Anthills, Geotechnical, Building materials, Index properties, Sustainable construction