S-wave refraction survey of alluvial aggregate
Scientific Investigations Report
2005-5012
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Abstract
An S-wave refraction survey was conducted in the Yampa River valley near Steamboat Springs, Colo., to determine how well this method could map alluvium, a major source of construction aggregate. At the field site, about 1 m of soil overlaid 8 m of alluvium that, in turn, overlaid sedimentary bedrock. The traveltimes of the direct and refracted S-waves were used to construct velocity cross sections whose various regions were directly related to the soil, alluvium, and bed-rock. The cross sections were constrained to match geologic logs that were developed from drill-hole data. This constraint minimized the ambiguity in estimates of the thickness and the velocity of the alluvium, an ambiguity that is inherent to the S-wave refraction method. In the cross sections, the estimated S-wave velocity of the alluvium changed in the horizontal direction, and these changes were attributed to changes in composition of the alluvium. The estimated S-wave velocity of the alluvium was practically constant in the vertical direc-tion, indicating that the fine layering observed in the geologic logs could not be detected. The S-wave refraction survey, in conjunction with independent information such as geologic logs, was found to be suitable for mapping the thickness of the alluvium.
Suggested Citation
Ellefsen, K.J., Tuttle, G.J., Williams, J.M., Lucius, J.E., 2005, S-wave refraction survey of alluvial aggregate (Version 1.0): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5012, 14 p. and 3 plates, https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20055012.
ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | S-wave refraction survey of alluvial aggregate |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Report |
| Series number | 2005-5012 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sir20055012 |
| Edition | Version 1.0 |
| Year Published | 2005 |
| Language | ENGLISH |
| Description | 14 p. and 3 plates |