Engineering geological conditions of the Holocene sediments of Anzali area, South Caspian Coast, North Iran

A broad assessment of the geological, sedimentological, and geotechnical characteristics of the coastal Holocene sediments of Anzali Area (North Iran) was made to provide a useful guide for development, planning, and construction. Based on the sedimentological and geotechnical properties of the sediments, three engineering geological units as Upper Sandy Zone (USZ), Middle Clayey Zone (MCZ), and Lower Sandy Zone (LSZ) were identified and introduced in the form of an engineering geological model. Then the engineering geological characteristics of the units of the model were analyzed and the main engineering geological problems associated with the deposits of each unit were identified. The results showed that USZ has high liquefaction potential, low bearing capacity, settlement susceptibility, and excavation problem; MCZ has low-bearing capacity as well as high settlement susceptibility and excavation problem; and LSZ has good geotechnical properties, then it poses few problems.