Orange County NC Website
Mr. Reginald Gillespie <br />L2757 -92 <br />August 3, 1992 <br />Page 3 <br />vertical extent of a site being evaluated for a possible landfill will be approximated <br />based on this information coupled with any geophysically mappable characteristics of <br />the site. <br />Aquaterra proposes using DC Resistivity to determine any traceable bedrock units <br />for several reasons: <br />it is non- invasive <br />the relative ease of conducting the survey <br />it is not susceptible to aboveground interferences <br />Seismic Refraction Techniques <br />Another method of determining the vertical extent of a site being evaluated for a <br />possible landfill is seismic refraction techniques. The seismic refraction technique <br />uses information gathered of the arrival times of seismic compressional waves to <br />determine depths to and competency of definite geologic units. <br />Refraction lines can be conducted at selected sections to trace out a mappable <br />bedrock unit and detect depth to ground water. If the geologic conditions between <br />the soil and the bedrock are significantly different, the outline along the refraction <br />lines may be approximated. This method involves using a recorder that depicts <br />arrival times at set stations. These devices are sensitive to the movement of seismic <br />waves. An energy source (such as a hammer -like device) is used to generate the <br />seismic wave. <br />The ability to trace out geologic bedrock units and the water table is the key <br />advantage of this method. The advantages of this method are its non - invasive <br />nature, ease to conduct, and its ability to avoid aboveground interferences. <br />Aquaterra has used seismic refraction techniques on several sanitary landfill siting <br />studies. One particular study for Rowan County, reduced the need to employ <br />invasive drilling techniques to only two sites with one being the ultimate location for <br />their present landfill. <br />Electromagnetic Method <br />In this method, a remote transmitter is used as an energy source with frequencies <br />varying between 15 to 30 kilohertz. The receiver is set at a position normal to the <br />transmitter wave direction and profile lines are conducted along this trend. The <br />receiver measures the radio signal distortion along the profile caused by electrically <br />conductive structures in the subsurface. Aquaterra normally uses an ABEM Wadi <br />VLF instrument to conduct these surveys. <br />Fractures are located based on current density distributions of an electromagnetic <br />field. Current density is calculated by the conductivity meter and then plotted along <br />the profile. In general, positive current densities are associated with porous <br />fractures. Fracturing is considered a major limitation for a prospective landfill site. <br />AQUATFRRA <br />