Practical 10 – Interpretation of Geoelectrical Soundings

1.1.
Log10(pa)
Spacing Log10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sounding
(m) (Spacing)
8
0.25 -0.60 1839 2351 2626 1752 2367 2343 2052 1698 3.23
0.50 -0.30 1738 2538 3289 2098 2134 2469 2147 1588 3.20
1 0 1231 2469 3170 1979 974 1947 2263 1223 3.09
2 0.30 1074 1139 1803 1080 563 900 1115 805 2.91
4 0.60 772 506 507 371 272 322 432 403 2.61
8 0.90 399 350 252 205 190 198 211 264 2.42
16 1.20 602 408 292 210 194 168 153 126 2.10
32 1.51 1096 643 434 303 247 163 111 119 2.08
64 1.81 2812 1123 690 485 402 277 181 90 1.95
128 2.11 5831 4195 2274 921 689 411 237 85 1.93

1.2.

The data shows that expected statigraphic column is correct because all soundings show the same trend of
having high resistivity in the top layer and then resistivity lowers, showing the presence of water, and then
resistivity rises again proofing the presence of sandstone.
2.1
P2/P1 Master Curve = 1/20
Layer 1 Thickness = 3.5m
Layer 1 Resistivity = 2000Ω
Layer 2 Resistivity = 100Ω (2000/20)

2.2
Layer 1 corresponds to the Alluvium layer and Layer 2 corresponds to the Gravel layer. Out of the three
listed objectives A and B have been completed. However, C has not been completed by 2.1 because the
sandstone was not detected. From the results of 2.1 the electrical resistivity of the water saturated layer is
100Ω.

3.1

400.00
350.00
Apparent Resistivity

300.00
250.00
200.00
150.00
100.00
50.00
0.00
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Porosity

3.2
For the water to be drinkable porosity would have to be around 2.8. This is lower then what would be
expected from the results above. This is geologically possible if the gravel grains are offset with a
rhombohedral packed structure or have a high clay content. If this is true then the water is potable.

3.3
180.00
160.00
Apparent Resistivity

140.00
120.00
100.00
80.00
60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Porosity

If the TDS were lowered the porosity would appear to be higher. This would make more water sources
appearing to have high salinity contents, making less water suitable for extraction.
4.1
From the results of the geoelectrical survey a cross section of sounding 8 can be constructed. This is below.
Results so far indicate that the top layer of Alluvium is 3.5m thick and has a resistivity of 2000Ω. The
second layer of gravel, which is the aquifer, has a resistivity of 100Ω but its depth is as yet unknown. If the
estimate of the gravels porosity is correct then the ground water within the aquifer has a suitably low salinity
content and is therefore potable.

4.2
From the geoelecrical survey objects A and B have been met but at present no data has been collected which
can completed objective C. In order to the millstone grit surface I would use a reflection survey. I have
chosen a reflection survey because it will image all the layers below the surface. Not only will this detect the
top millstone grit it will also give its thickness and confirm the thickness of layer 1. I chose reflection over
refraction because layer 1 to thin for refraction work even if wavespeeds increase with depth.