This work presents a study concerning the influence of an alkaline fluid in the shear strength of two soils originating from Poços de Caldas-MG, which one of them is a sienitic residual and the other a colluvium. For that, it was elaborated an experimental program consisting of the execution of CIU triaxial (residual soil) and direct shear (colluvium) tests. The tests were performed with the soils in the natural and contaminated states. The soils were contaminated through total or partial substitution of the pore fluids for a caustic liqueur, a residue originating from alumina production process. In order to provide better support for the analysis of strength tests results, it were performed physical, chemistry and mineralogical characterization tests, with the soils in both states. The experimental program results have shown that the liqueur causes loss of strength in both soils.