Practical Application of Theoretical Models to Magnetometer Surveys on Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites — A Case History

Wastes were to be exhumed and removed from a hazardous and chemical waste disposal site. The major disposal practice was shallow burial of wastes in metal drums in parallel trenches. The actual boundaries of the trenches beneath the landscaped cover were not accurately known.
Theoretical two-dimensional models were used to evaluate the application of magnetic methods to define trench boundaries on the disposal site. The models predicted that both the total field and the vertical component anomalies were diagnostic; however, the vertical component anomaly was more focused on the trench boundaries.
A survey with a vertical component fluxgate magnetometer was successful in defining trench boundaries. Observations made along traverses that trended perpendicular to the long axis of the parallel trenches indicated vertical magnetic intensity values with a cyclical pattern of large positive values over trenches and large negative values over intertrench corridors. Vertical magnetic intensity values determined with theoretical two-dimensional models compared favorably to the observed vertical magnetic values. The models were used to constrain the interpretation of the field observations to define trench boundaries; the magnetic survey defined trench boundaries with an accuracy within ± 2 feet.     

A Comparison of Ground Water Monitoring Data from CERCLA and RCRA Sites

Ground water quality data generated during the investigation of 334 hazardous waste disposal sites were used to contrast the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) monitoring. programs. The minimum RCRA-required network of four wells was equaled or exceeded at 94 percent of the 156 RCRA sites and 70 percent of the 178 CERCLA sites in the data base. A sampling frequency of four events per year or more was used at 60 percent of the RCRA sites compared to only 24 percent at the CERCLA sites. CERCLA records compiled to date indicate that 480 compounds have been detected and another 220 compounds have been tentatively identified in ground water in the vicinity of hazardous waste disposal sites. However, the composite data from 123 RCRA site monitoring programs only indicates the presence of 100 chemical substances. The most significant discrepancy in the RCRA detection monitoring program is that it only generates data on three of the 20 organic contaminants that have been most frequently detected during the CERCLA hazardous waste disposal site investigations. Modification of the current RCRA program to include routine analysis for volatile organic compounds would correct this weakness.     

Recovery of Phosphate Sludge as Concrete Supplementary Material

The automotive industry plays a major role in the worldwide economy and represents an opportunity to increase the performance of the Turkish economy. Phosphating units in the automotive manufacturing plants generate phosphate sludge as waste, which is classified as hazardous waste in the European Waste Catalogue. Phosphate sludge must be disposed of in licensed disposal plants according to the current environmental regulations. Solidification/stabilization (S/S) is a widely used treatment technology for the disposal of hazardous wastes. Portland cement is used for the solidification and stabilization processes to immobilize Ni and Zn in the phosphate sludge as well as to create construction material to be used as cobble stone for pavement. Examination of products obtained by S/S processes is performed for two points: to determine the quality and to assess the environmental impacts. The phosphate sludge samples are subjected to chemical characterization and a size distribution analysis leaching test. Concrete for cobble stone was produced by the S/S process with the addition of phosphate sludge to replace sand. Tests for the quality of the product were carried out to determine compressive strength, permeability, and elasticity. At the end of the leaching test, elution concentrations of Zn and Ni while using water with pH values of 4.0, 5.4, and 9.0 were determined to be under the limit of inert material properties. Use of phosphate sludge should be considered as a sand replacement in the proportion of 1% of phosphate sludge to cement in concrete production, such as for cobble stone for pavement, without any adverse environmental impacts.     

Geophysical investigation of the Sandalp rock avalanche deposits

In the study of rock avalanche phenomena, numerical modelling makes use of back analyses of the rock avalanche propagation for calibration of the modelling assumptions and parameters. The back analyses require knowledge of the run-out area boundaries and the thickness distribution of the deposit. Geophysical methods can be applied to retrieve the thickness distribution, but, due to strong heterogeneities and logistic problems they are seldom applied. The aim of this work is to assess the potential of integrated geophysical methods to recognise and characterise a deposit created by two rock avalanches which occurred in the Sandalp valley (Switzerland) in 1996. The topography of the site before and after the rock avalanche is known and can be used as a benchmark. Resistivity tomography, seismic P-wave tomography, and active and passive surface wave analysis have been applied on several profiles deployed both on the rock avalanche deposit and in the surrounding area. Innovative approaches for surface wave analysis based on laterally constrained inversion and multimodal inversion have been applied to the data. A comparison of the results of the geophysical investigations with the topographic benchmark has shown the capability of the geophysical methods to locate the bottom of the deposit in the areas where the contrast with the host sediments properties is significant. In these areas, the deposit has higher resistivities and lower seismic velocities than the underlying materials. In the areas where the deposit is thicker and richer in fine-grained materials the geophysical parameters are not able to discriminate between the rock avalanche deposit and the underlying sediments. As a secondary task, the geophysical methods also allowed the bedrock pattern to be outlined.     

黄土覆盖区钼矿综合地球物理找矿技术组合:以沙坡岭钼矿为例

覆盖区寻找隐伏矿成为当前找矿工作的热点问题,为了能在地表地质信息少的黄土覆盖区,寻找隐伏的有经济价值的矿床,本文以沙坡岭钼矿为例,综合应用r能谱、高精度磁法、高密度电法三种地球物理方法进行找矿勘探,辅以偏提取化探法对地球物理异常进行约束,结合地质资料进行解译,预测了有利的成矿区域,通过钻探得到了有效验证,初步建立了黄土覆盖区钼矿的综合地球物理找矿模式,为下一步的综合勘探打下了基础.     

地质雷达在乌拉山山前断裂探测中的应用

地质雷达是利用电磁波对地下不同电性介质进行探测的地球物理仪器，其探测速率快、分辨率高，可弥补探槽和其他地球物理方法存在探测盲区的缺陷，正在越来越多地应用于活动断层探测领域。本文以乌拉山山前断裂为例开展地质雷达探测工作，使用无人机正射影像技术对测线进行地形校正，获得断层浅部地质雷达图像。研究结果表明，本文研究方法能有效反映探槽揭露的地层单元和断层分布。本次探测中，雷达波形图像特征为:浅地表的土壤层反射波总体较弱；粗粒沉积为主的砾石层反射波总体较强，同相轴连续性好；细粒沉积为主的砂层反射波弱于砾石层，波形以中、高频为主，同相轴具有弱连续性；对于洪冲积地区，地质雷达能分辨具有一定特征的地层单元，这为剖面图像的断层识别提供了标志；通过无人机正射影像技术对地质雷达测线进行地形校正，有利于获得更为准确的探测结果。     

Mineshaft imaging using surface and crosshole 3D electrical resistivity tomography: A case history from the East Pennine Coalfield, UK

Hidden mineshafts located in urban areas are a significant problem across much of the industrialized world. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a technique that can detect and characterize hidden mine entries by exploiting resistivity contrasts between the shaft and surrounding materials, resulting from either compositional or structural differences. A case study is presented in which both surface and crosshole 3D ERT surveys are used to image a hidden backfilled mineshaft at a built environment site, situated on Carboniferous Lower Coal Measures strata in the UK.Backfilled shafts generally present the greatest challenge for detection using geophysical methods, as contrasts between the fill and bedrock are typically low compared to air or water-filled conditions. Nevertheless, the shaft in this case was identified by both the surface and crosshole 3D surveys. The shaft appeared as a strongly resistive anomaly relative to background materials, which we interpreted as resulting from the disturbed fabric of the fill materials rather than any significant compositional differences. The study highlighted the respective strengths and weaknesses of the surface and crosshole ERT methodologies for this type of problem. The surface survey, which covered a non-rectangular area to accommodate irregular boundaries and other physical obstructions, provided a relatively rapid means of investigating the study site. However, this method had a limited depth of investigation and was constrained in its coverage by the locations of buildings. By contrast, the 3D crosshole method was able to image the shaft to the level of the deepest borehole electrodes. Although crosshole ERT is too expensive to be used for large-scale mineshaft surveys, this study clearly demonstrates its suitability for targeted investigations where surface methods cannot be deployed, such as scanning beneath surface structures or in situations where it is essential for resolution to be maintained with depth.     

Evaluation of DC, FDEM and IP resistivity methods for imaging perched saltwater and a shallow channel within coastal tidal flat sediments

Presently, electrical resistivity methods are applied in a wide variety of geological and environmental site investigations. Geologically, the coastal tidal flat sediments formed shallow channel-like features at the northern part of Germany. Three geoelectrical methods are applied to image the near surface sediments including a shallow conductive zone within the tidal deposits at the North Sea coast. These methods, direct current (DC) resistivity, frequency domain electromagnetic (FDEM) and spectral induced polarization (SIP), are evaluated to show which one can provide the required spatial resolution under study area conditions. This evaluation also includes a synthetic modeling to assess the DC resistivity imaging technique.The results constitute an encouraging example using these geophysical methods in characterizing the coastal aquifers. The inversion results show that the subsurface resistivity distribution of tidal sediments can change rapidly within a short distance. A thin high conductive layer is observed above the peat and clay layers reflecting a perched saltwater. The 2D IP section shows that the perched saltwater is restricted to patched forms above an impermeable layer of clay. According to the IP images the boundaries of the clay layer are recognized with a good resolution due to the high membrane polarization of the clays. The EM and DC profiles show a shallow channel-like feature within tidal deposits. In this paper, the best FDEM field parameters and the role of EM in lithologic studies are emphasized. Two main limitations can be observed from DC synthetic modeling: (a) A smearing in the lower boundary of the perched saltwater; (b) an amplification of the lateral effect of the highly conductive layer. These limitations decrease the resolution of DC imaging for accurate defining our targets. Because the IP response depends on microgeometry, fluid chemistry and saturation, the 2D IP results demonstrate the suitability of this method to characterize the tidal deposits in the coastal area with a good resolution. In this study, the success of SIP method supports further investigations into studying the hydraulic parameters of tidal deposits in this area. The obtained results during this investigation provide an overview of the coastal aquifer and they can serve as a basis for refining the conceptual model of morphological elements and sedimentary sequences of the coastal tidal flat.     

Migration of Chlorophenolic Compounds at the Chemical Waste Disposal Site at Alkali Lake, Oregon —1. Site Description and Ground-Water Flow

The hydrogeology of the chemical waste disposal site in the closed basin at Alkali Lake, Oregon has been examined. Interest in the site is due to the burial (November 1976) of 25,000 drums of herbicide manufacturing residues in unlined trenches on the playa of the basin. Included in the wastes were large amounts of chlorophenols and polymeric chlorophenoxyphenols. The flow of the alkaline (pH ∼10) ground water in the site area is driven by: (1) springs which create a mound east of the site; and (2) the sump effect of “West Alkali Lake,” a topographic low to the west of the site. Porosity, bulk mass densities, and grain-size distributions were determined. At one piezometer, the depth to ground water ranged between 0.9 m and 2.2 m. With the bottoms of the trenches in which the chemicals were buried between 0.60 and 0.75 m below the level of the ground surface, the bottom portions of the trenches may, at least occasionally, be in direct contact with the ground water.     

利用电磁方法探测内蒙古塔木素高放废物预选场址岩体的内部构造

高放废物地质处置库选址要求围岩完整稳定,它与岩体深部地质结构密切相关,因此是场址评价中必须考虑的因素.在高放废物储库选址新区内蒙阿拉善塔木素岩体,采用可控源音频大地电磁法进行了剖面探测.分析了典型测深曲线,区分了地质构造和完整围岩的响应特征;针对高放废物预选场址的特点,对原始数据进行了处理;结合已有地质、钻井及测井资料完成了解释;结果表明,利用可控源音频大地电磁法有效地查明了该地岩体内部结构,该岩体存在裂隙和破碎,完整性欠佳.     

桂地区页岩油气地球物理勘探现状及展望

“十三五”规划中桂地区页岩气基础地质调查地球物理勘探正有序开展。桂地区页岩油气地球物理勘探基础较薄弱,如何有效开展地球物理勘探是当前基础地质调查重要课题。着重阐述了桂周边地区页岩油气地球物理勘探研究现状,指出桂周边地区页岩油气地球物理勘探技术成熟并取得了进展性突破。基于桂地区与其周边地区页岩油气地质条件具有较好可比性,重点讨论了周边地区页岩油气地球物理勘探成功经验对桂地区页岩油气地球物理勘探工作开展的几点认识及展望。指出今后开展桂地区页岩油气地球物理勘探及评价项目中需要注意的几个研究方向,即稳健推广二维地震勘探、优先发展2.5维电磁勘探、加强系统物性测试与分析、重磁电震综合为终极目标,为实际勘探开展奠定理论基础。      

复杂地区油气地球物理勘探技术集成

随着我国油气勘探程度的不断提高,勘探难度不断加大.全国油气资源战略选区调查与评价项目历经六年,通过对深水海域、西部复杂山地、西藏高原、南方碳酸盐岩、火山岩覆盖区等几类典型地球物理勘探久攻不克的复杂地区开展地震、重磁电、综合地球物理勘探联合攻关,以及天然地震层析成像攻关实验,取得了长足进步,直接带动获得了一批有价值的油气...     

Geophysical exploration for geothermal low enthalpy resources in Lipari Island, Italy

Integrated geophysical surveys were performed in two sites, Fossa di Fuardo and Terme di San Calogero in Lipari Island, Southern Italy with the intent of the exploration of low-enthalpy geothermal fluids. Both sites show strong geochemical and geologic evidences of hydrothermal activity. The geophysical methods consist of two microgravimetric surveys, two 2D geoelectric profiles, a seismic reflection profile and a five seismic refraction profiles. The seismic methods allowed us to locate the main subsurface seismic discontinuities and to evaluate their geometrical relationships. The gravity field was used to constraint the seismic discontinuities, while the electric prospecting let discriminate more conductive areas, which could correspond to an increase in thermal fluid circulation in the investigated sites.The results obtained by the different geophysical methods are in good agreement and permit the definition of a reliable geo-structural model of the subsurface setting of the two investigated areas. A low-enthalpy geothermal reservoir constituted by a permeable pyroclastic and lava sequence underlying two shallow impermeable formations was found at Fossa del Fuardo. The reservoir is intersected by some sub-vertical faults/fractures that probably play an important role in convoying the thermal water up to the surface. At the other site, Terme di S. Calogero, the geophysical surveys showed that an intense circulation of fluids affects the subsurface of the area. This circulation concentrates along a ENE-trending fault located at a little distance from the thermal resort. The hot fluids may upraise along the fault if the width of the ascent area is smaller than 20 m.     

CPT-based seismic stability assessment of a hazardous waste site

In areas of high seismicity, seismic stability often controls hazardous and solid waste landfill closure design. The undrained shear strength (S_u) of the waste mass is fundamental to seismic slope stability analyses. The value of S_u for hazardous waste fill is often difficult to characterize. The physical and chemical natures of the waste fill typically preclude laboratory testing of the materials. In certain cases, Cone Penetration Test (CPT) soundings can provide a viable technique for evaluation of S_u provided that the cone shear strength factor N_k can be established. If hazardous waste materials laboratory testing is not an option, N_k may be evaluated based upon results of non-intrusive in situ testing. This paper presents a case history of the seismic stability assessment of a hazardous waste site in which N_k was established from the results of non-intrusive Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW) soundings and empirical correlations to shear strength of soils. Generalization of the proposed methodology to other sites should be done with caution owing to variability among the parameters used in the analyses.     

Tectonic erosion at trenches

Tectonic erosion of inner trench slopes of some arc systems has been suggested as a viable process. The discontinuity and truncation of structures along the coastline from Mexico to Chile demands a process by which continental crust is removed, but marine geologic and geophysical evidence indicates that accretion rather than erosion is presently occurring in those trenches. A more plausible process is the rifting of continental margins along the trend of the arc systems as an effect of oblique sucduction. This process can be observed in the Baja California region. Tectonic erosion in oceanic trenches, as the Tonga trench, is precluded by the steady growth of the inner slope area. Geologic and geophysical data from these regions implies the accretion of oceanic basement.     

Airborne geophysical prospecting for ultramafite associated talc, Altermark, northern Norway

Talc-rich rocks in Altermark occur as rims around magnetite bearing serpentinite lenses which are up to about 1 km wide. The content of magnetite in the serpentinite makes magnetic measurements possible as a method for talc-prospecting. In 1991 a helicopter-borne geophysical survey combined with geological and petrophysical mapping was carried out in the Altermark area. Several positive magnetic anomalies were detected. Positive magnetic anomalies with oval shapes, well defined boundaries and smooth anomaly curves were interpreted to be caused by serpentinite lenses. Laboratory measurements revealed susceptibilities for the serpentinites between 0.006−0.36 SI and a Q-value of approximately 0.3. Magnetic modelling of the Nakkan anomaly and subsequent drilling revealed that it was indeed a serpentinite body surrounded by talc rocks which was the cause of the anomaly. The shallowest part was located about 150 m below surface. The geophysical exploration led to the discovery of a talc-carbonate deposit with an anticipated in situ tonnage of more than 1 million tons. The present study consequently proved to be a classical case study where we were able to locate and establish the three-dimensional form of serpentinite bodies associated with talc deposits. We conclude that helicopter-borne geophysical surveying is an effective tool in the exploration of serpentinite cored talc bearing rocks in complex geological areas where exposures are poor or absent and accessibility difficult. The rough topography and dense vegetation in the Altermark area make this type of survey very cost effective.     

Study of Current Underground Injection Control Regulations and Practices in Illinois

In 1984, the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources was required to assess the regulations and practices of the Illinois Underground Injection Control (UIC) program as it relates to Class I hazardous waste disposal wells. Nine injection wells, including two standbys (one inactive), are currently in operation at seven sites in the state. These wells range in depth from 1540 to 5524 feet (470 to 1683m; most inject wastes into porous carbonate formations (two wells inject into a thick sandstone). In 1984, approximately 300 million gallons (1.1 billion liters) of industrial wastes were disposed of in these wells. Acids were the most common waste disposed of, although water made up 70 to 95 percent of the wastes by volume. Illinois has been granted primacy in operating this program.
The geologic environment, consisting of the unit accepting the waste and confining units lying above and below, has the capacity to accept the waste, to retain it, and to protect all underground sources of drinking water (USDW) from contamination by its injection. The geology of Illinois is relatively simple and includes disposal zones and associated confining units suitable for deep-well injection across the central two-thirds of the state.
The regulatory structure for Class I injection wells is generally adequate in concept and scope to ensure containment of injected wastes and to safeguard underground sources of drinking water in Illinois. There is a need to update and strengthen selected portions of the regulatory practices in the areas of waste sampling protocol, chemical analysis of collected waste samples, and evaluation of injection well testing and monitoring data.
A number of technologies exist that can treat and dispose of most hazardous and non-hazardous waste streams. Each of these technologies has associated with it economic, environmental and societal impacts.     

Geophysical mapping of hyporheic processes controlled by sedimentary architecture within compound bar deposits

Hyporheic exchange influences water quality and controls numerous physical, chemical, and biological processes. Despite its importance, hyporheic exchange and the associated dynamics of solute mixing are often difficult to characterize due to spatial (e.g., sedimentary heterogeneity) and temporal (e.g., river stage fluctuation) variabilities. This study coupled geophysical techniques with physical and chemical sediment analyses to map sedimentary architecture and quantify its influence on hyporheic exchange dynamics within a compound bar deposit in a gravel-dominated river system in southwestern Ohio. Electromagnetic induction (EMI) was used to quantify variability in electrical conductivity within the compound bar. EMI informed locations of electrode placement for time-lapse electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) surveys, which were used to examine changes in electrical resistivity driven by hyporheic exchange. Both geophysical methods revealed a zone of high electrical conductivity in the center of the bar, identified as a fine-grained cross-bar channel fill. The zone acts as a baffle to flow, evidenced by stable electrical conditions measured by time-lapse ERI over the study period. Large changes in electrical resistivity throughout the survey period indicate preferential flowpaths through higher permeability sands and gravels. Grain size analyses confirmed sedimentological interpretations of geophysical data. Loss on ignition and x-ray fluorescence identified zones with higher organic matter content that are locations for potentially enhanced geochemical activity within the cross-bar channel fill. Differences in the physical and geochemical characteristics of cross-bar channel fills play an important role in hyporheic flow dynamics and nutrient processing within riverbed sediments. These findings enhance our understanding of the applications of geophysical methods in mapping riverbed heterogeneity and highlight the importance of accurately representing geomorphologic features and heterogeneity when studying hyporheic exchange processes.     

Electrical resistivity tomography survey for delineating uncharted mine galleries in West Bengal,India*

The history of subsidence, fires, flooding and other kinds of environmental hazards related to shallow coal workings in India goes back to colonial times some 300 years ago. As coal production accelerated in modern times, so did the environmental and socio-economic drawbacks related to exploitation. In the mid-1980s, a hydropneumatic sand-stowing method was developed to fill in abandoned galleries but their exact location had to be known. Unfortunately, most of these old workings are uncharted and consequently large tracts of land cannot be stabilized. A research programme making use of integrated surface, borehole and cross-hole geophysical methods was undertaken over a five-year span to try to solve this problem. Surface geophysical methods, being cheaper and faster than their cross- and downhole counterparts, were used to cover larger areas on an exploratory basis, while cross-hole methods were employed to locate more accurately one or a network of galleries to be perforated by drillhole(s) and used as a conduit for sand stowing. We report the results of one of the cross-hole geophysical methods: electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). A pole–dipole configuration is used and both cross-hole and surface-borehole methodologies are tested. Forward modelling and inversion of synthetic data making use of downhole and surface physical and geometrical parameters are presented first. This phase is followed by the inversion of real data. It is concluded that ERT is not applicable for the detection of dry voids, but is effective in a waterlogged environment which is estimated to represent 85–90% of the cases. In waterlogged galleries, ERT is applicable in both cross-hole and surface-downhole modes, the latter allowing a larger surface coverage at low cost. ERT is thus a reliable geophysical tool to image water-filled voids and an adequate technique to address environmental and geotechnical problems.     

Preliminary Study on Paleoearthquake Chronology on the Northern Liulengshan Piedmont Fault in Yangyuan, Hebei Province, China

The northern Liulengshan piedmont fault is located along the southern margin of the Yangyuan basin and represents a dip-slip normal fault,generally NEE-trending and NNW-dipping.Landforms offset by the fault are fairly developed and well preserved in the Dushanpu area of Yangyuan County,Hebei Province.Two trenches were excavated in front of a scarp of the northern Liulengshan piedmont fault at Dushanpu and two paleoseismic events were revealed in the trenches,from which several samples were collected for dating.The samples were dated using the IRSL dating technique.The preliminary result shows the possible ages of the two paleoseismic events.