ABSTRACT
Newer Volcanics forms the surface cover of a large part of the western and northern Melbourne metropolitan area, extending out to a considerable part of the south-west of Victoria. This chapter shows that the engineering properties of the Newer Volcanics are variable and cannot usually be defined by specific strength and deformation properties. The geological conditions have influenced the economics of construction and land use in the Newer Volcanics areas. Site investigation techniques need to be chosen carefully to provide the data to allow the influence of the Newer Volcanics on design and construction and performance to be properly assessed. The geological conditions presented by the Newer Volcanics give rise to the type of ground in which open excavations may collapse without warning. Bored piles socketted into rock are sometimes favoured as footing systems in Newer Volcanics and the selection of vertical boring machines to productively excavate the variable materials is critical.
