EG 3027 LECTURE 7: GEOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF SITE INVESTIGATION
Prof Ian Alsop
Geology & Petroleum Geology, Meston Building
Objectives of site investigation
Assess site suitability Assess ground conditions and properties Assess potential ground difficulties Collect ground data for use in design of structure
Geological objectives
Assess soil/drift conditions Determine depth to rockhead Assess nature of bedrock
Drift
Transported rock debris In UK = sediment <2 Ma
Alluvium Glacio-fluvial
sands /
gravels Tills Peat Lake sediments
Investigation stages
1. Initial stage
Desk
study Site visit Preliminary report / fieldwork plan
2. Main stage
Fieldwork Lab
testing (mainly soils) Final report
3. Review stage
Monitor
site during excavation / construction
Initial stage desk study
Identify possible problems Target problem areas Geological data
Geological
maps and records Local sources
Councils,
universities, farmers
Mining
records Topographical maps Air photographs
BGS
(British Geological Survey)
www.bgs.ac.uk Maps Regional guides Technical reports Borehole data
Geological maps
Mining records
Coal Authority legally obliged to keep coalmine data Records incomplete prior to 1947 No controlling authority for other mining types
But
new Mining Access Portal
Old topographical maps
Useful for: Past land use
Mines,
quarries
streams coasts
Filled-in features
Ponds,
Erosional changes
Rivers,
Air photographs
Useful for some sites: Tone
Water
content
Texture
Rock
changes
Trends
Structures
Initial stage site visit
Geology
Compare
site with existing map Examine outcrops
Geomorphology
of slope natural or artificial? River terraces, floodplains, moraines
Breaks
Disturbed ground
Mining,
waste dumps, landslips
Groundwater Any previous structures?
Main stage field work
Surface geology
Is
mapping required? Examination of in situ material Describe:
Strength Structure Colour Texture Grain
size Rock name
Main stage field work
Geophysical investigation
Ground Seismic
penetrating radar (GPR)
cavities
Shallow
refraction/reflection
depth variation location
Rockhead
Magnetic Gravity
Deep
anomalies
Mineshaft
anomalies
cavities variable drift
Electromagnetism
Laterally
Main stage field work
Subsurface Trial pits, trenches, boreholes
Drilling logs
Log should record: Rock type and description Unit thicknesses Rock Quality Designation (RQD) Rock strength Permeability
Difficult ground conditions
Soft, variable drift
Difficult ground conditions
Fractured / weathered bedrock
Difficult ground conditions
Natural / artificial cavities
Difficult ground conditions
Groundwater flow
Difficult ground conditions
Slope failure Planar/wedge slides along rock failure surface Rotational slides along clay failure surfaces Mud/debris flows develop from weak clays or previously failed material
Difficult ground conditions
Landfill
Difficult ground conditions
Old building foundations
Main stage lab work
Rock strength tests: Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS)
Relates
broadly to porosity Igneous UCS typically >200 MPa
Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
Measure
of fracture density % of core in >10 cm sections (ideally >70)
Soil strength tests
Final report
Site description
General
geology Location of boreholes, trenches, samples Correlate fieldwork with lab analysis
Fieldwork results Laboratory results Interpretation and recommendations
Exam tips
1 (a) Using diagrams where appropriate, describe the different processes by which metamorphic rocks are formed: Metamorphism is solid state change of existing rocks by heat and/or pressure. Metamorphic grades: low grade high grade Main types of metamorphism: - Regional - Contact (or thermal) - Mechanical - Chemical (metasomatism)
Exam tips
(b) Give three examples of metamorphic rock types and explain how they were formed. [6 marks] Examples could include:
Marble Slate Schist Quartzite Hornfels Gneiss
Exam tips
(c) Discuss the factors that should be considered: when using metamorphic rocks as aggregates when putting foundations into metamorphic rocks [4 marks] Foliation a key consideration: Heavily foliated metamorphics = poor aggregates Before sinking foundations into heavily foliated rocks, detailed knowledge of foliation orientation and variation required Generally requires expensive reinforcement Hornfels, quartzite, gneiss and psammite have a high crushing strength = good aggregates Slate = poor aggregate, but excellent roofing material. Marble = good ornamental or dimension stone
