Geological Investigations

pre investigations
maps of all types
complimentary field studies
drillings and drill hole logging
geophysics
detailed mapping
active design as the work goes on changes are
made due to the geological conditions
 Source of maps
Geological Survey of the country all countries
have one
Geological maps of
bed rock distribution
soil types and distribution (glacial & post glacial)
hydrological conditions
geophysical (magnetic, electric, radiactivity)
many other types (engineering, rock quality)
 Surface Mapping
Aerial photo interpretation several are in
the book for your review
Field mapping at a scale
1/10,000 for highly populated areas
1/250,000 for sparsely populated areas
others -
 Example of the unconsolidated
sediments maps 1:10 000

Genetic
Grain Size & Sorting

Mapping depth 50 cm
(under soil zone)
 Example of the hydrological maps
1:10 000

unconsolidated
sediment map (base)
wells
location and depth
production
chemistry of water
groundwater table and
isochrones
flow direction
Example of the
bedrock maps
1:10 000
rock outcrops
identified during
soils mapping

stratigraphic age
Rock type
 Cross sections of maps
cross sections
stratigraphic
relationship
oldest at bottom
youngest at top
predicted subsurface
continuation of the
rocks and soils
Cross sections of maps
Aerial photos remote sensing -
satellite images
 Aerial photos remote sensing -
aerial photos cover all of Sweden
photos from several different years
photos of different types
black white
infra red
stereo view
 Aerial photos remote sensing -
interpretation
aerial photos
satellite photos
require interpretation and field checking
 Aerial photos remote sensing -
interpretation
slope stability study
large area viewed in little time
location of slides mapped
location compared to geology and
geological structures
conclusions can be drawn as to which
positions along the slope are more
susceptible to sliding
slope failure
 aerial photography
who does it? Governmental agency!

you can not order a private study for a given

project
photos are available
you can visit the survey office to view them
purchase of photos
 aerial photography
(note that quality varies from year to
year so it can be good to have visited the
office to see first that the year you order
is not taken when there were lots of
clouds)
 What can we determine from
aerial photos?
landforms
landslides faults
avalanches volcanic flows extent
river meanders (old
abandoned channels)
layering of rocks
high water table conditions strike and dip of rocks
sinkholes joints
magmatic intrusion
extent
alluvial deposits extent
 What can we determine from
aerial photos?
landforms
landslides faults
avalanches volcanic flows extent
river meanders (old
abandoned channels)
layering of rocks
high water table conditions strike and dip of rocks
sinkholes joints
magmatic intrusion
extent
alluvial deposits extent
 Maps are of the surface
- how do we determine the subsurface
geology?
- information on maps
- understanding of the stratigraphy
- correct model of the geological history
Principles of structural geology can be
employed to predict the extension of the
surface geology
 Under Surface Mapping
trenches and holes
geophysical methods

- seismic seismic
- electric
- magnetic
- gravity
- radar
geophysical methods
geophysical methods seismic
- seismic
- electric
- magnetic
- gravity
- radar
seismic in drill holes holes
 geophysical
methods
geophysical methods electric resistivity of
electric currents
- seismic
- electric
- magnetic
- gravity
- radar
 magnetic

rocks with different Fe

contents
gravity
rocks with different
densities
radar
profile of reflectors
needs interpetation
 Further investigations!
logging the cores
core recovery
rock quality, RQD
oriented cores
index test
 logging the cores

core recovery
rock quality, RQD
oriented cores
index test
logging drill holes
drill holes
logging drill holes
heat
caliper
geophysical
water-pressure test
borehole photography
logging drill holes
drill holes
logging drill holes
heat
caliper
geophysical
water-pressure test
borehole photography
logging drill holes
drill holes
logging drill holes
heat
caliper
geophysical
water-pressure test
borehole photography
logging drill holes
drill holes
logging drill holes
heat
caliper
geophysical
water-pressure test
borehole photography
trenches

a scratch at the surface

 Further investigations!
- trenches Complimentary tests
- are expensive
geophysics
- drilling
students seem to
- logging drill holes believe geophysics is
- logging cores the answer to
everything
NO
Interpretation is
needed
 Further investigations!
- Maps are
relatively
inexpensive
- Complimentary
tests are costly
 Further investigations!
- Maps are
relatively
inexpensive
- Complimentary
tests are costly

drill holes are isolated points

geophysic profiles = one line
What information do we get from
maps compared to complimentary
tests?
amount of information
accuracy of information
cost of obtaining information
cost of having to change our project if the
geology is unsuitable for the design
What information do we get from
maps compared to complimentary
tests?

maps
Principles of Structural geology can be
employed to predict the subsurface
extension of the surface geology
What information do we get from
maps compared to complimentary
tests?

geophysics
can be applied to areas or linear
traverses. They, however, require
interpretation, which in turn requires
concrete information from drill holes
What information do we get from
maps compared to complimentary
tests?
drill holes
isolated points that show the relationships
downward at that point
information from the drilling is not 100% exact
what comes up is often bits and pieces of rock
 Important questions
where do we need to know more about the subsurface
geology
what geophysical methods can be used
where, how frequent, do we need to drill
what is our budget
what is the required level need for the project
 what is the required level need
for the project
Dignity of the engineering project dictates the
need for pre-investigations
coupled to
construction cost
risk due to failure
EXAMPLES?
 dignity of engineering projects
Sport area for running, football etc
Private home
Road / Railroad construction
High-rise housing project
Rock quarry or gravel pit
Dam
Land fill
Mine
Tunnels
Construction of an atomic energy plant
 dignity of engineering projects
Would there be any general
difference for pre-investigations
required in Sweden compared
to other countries?

Past results
Geological situation in
Sweden
tradition Geological situation in
another country
 Geological processes
Character of rock mass
Sweden Other countries
no large earthquakes
last volcanic eruption
was millions of years
ago
landslides occur
floods occur
hard crystalline rocks
predominate
 Data base
basis for decisions
concerning pre-
investigations
 correctness of pre- investigations

pre-investigations are interactive construction

the basis for bids real geological conditions
project commissioned documented
evaluation of design versus
operation and
the real conditions
maintenance phase
possible change in design
geology evaluated
information concerning the
real compared to
predicted geology needs to be added to
the data base so future
projects can gain