ROCK EXPLORATION

NEED & VARIOUS METHODS

DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED MECHANICS

SARDAR VALLABHBHAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SURAT 395007

PRESENTED BY:
APPLIED MECHANICS DEPARTMENT
SARDAR VALLABHBHAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY
SURAT, GUJRAT

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 Rock Exploration

It is the investigation of unknown region to

find out the properties of the rock mass.

It determines the strength, mineral composition,

physical, mechanical and electrical properties of
rock mass.

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 Needs For Rock Exploration
To make economical design
Safety and stability of an engineering structure
To find type of structure foundation
For geotechnical studies
Tunnel engineering
Dam and reservoir related projects
Environmental impact assessment
Hydraulic Investigations
Hazard detections
Archaeology
 Exploration Methods
Geological Exploration

Hydrological Exploration

Geophysical Exploration

Thermal Exploration

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 Geological Exploration
Geological exploration is concerned with
geological conditions of rock as well as various
properties of rock,
o Geological structures
o Stratification
o Faults
o Nature of rock weaknesses
o Discontinuities
o Rock performance under the action of load, water &
temperature.

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 Geological Exploration
Geological exploration also includes mapping
of rock exposures, and the study of a real rock
patterns on the ground as well as from aerial
photographs.
To reveal rock structure & materials at the site
under investigation, core drillings or borings
are made & rock cores are extracted.
Core drilling is expensive & a less expensive
method is electrical logging.

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Rock mapping

(http://en.wikipedia.org) 7
 Hydrological Exploration
Hydrological exploration should furnish
information on
o Precipitation
o Surface runoff
o Floods & tidal conditions
o Number and depth of ground water carrying layers
o Position of ground water table & its fluctuations
o Direction and velocity of ground water flow
o Location of springs
o Possibility of influx of water in rock excavations &
underground openings.
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 Hydrological Exploration
Saturated rock has less strength than a dry one
Study of influx of water through joints, faults
etc. is very important in rock exploration.
Ground water must be tested for its
aggressiveness with regard to soil, rock &
construction materials.

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 Geophysical Exploration
Geophysical exploration is practiced to defect
changes in rock of some physical properties,

o Specific gravity
o Magnetism
o The transmission or reflection of seismic waves

Geophysical exploration is mainly two types

magnetometric & seismic methods.

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Seismic method

(http://en.wikipedia.org) 11
 Geophysical Exploration
Magnetometric surveys are most successful in
regions where igneous rock(containing
magnetite) project into overlying sedimentary
rocks by faults or as erosional hills beneath
surfaces of unconformity.

Rock exploration in situ can be made quickly &

relatively inexpensively by seismic method.
From this the thickness and condition of
various rock strata can be determined.

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 Thermal Exploration

Thermal & hydrothermal exploration should furnish

information about underground temperature & thermal
gradients in rock. This helps for design of ventilation or
air conditioning systems.

This phase of exploration should pay attention to

anticipated influx of gases into underground opening &
subsurface structures. Gas exploration results may have a
bearing on the capacity & efficiency of the ventilation &
refrigeration systems & other kind of machinery
involving heat transfer.

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 Thermal Exploration
Temperature variations may bring about
spalling of rock. Large variations in
temperature induce thermal stresses in rock.

Especially in granite & other coarse grained

rocks, thermal stresses resulting peeling of the
rock surface. Such materials are rejected in
summer-winter climates for their use as a
riprap material in protecting slopes against
erosive wave action.

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 Evaluation Of Rock As Its
Diminution And Workability
It is of great importance, and necessary for
procurement and effective use of equipment
for work in rock
Rock crushing and grinding constitute an
integral part of temporary industry
Rock differ greatly in their value for building
purpose
Rock vary in hardness; this factor affects the
rate of drilling them and thus the cost

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 Conclusions
Rock exploration is as important as soil
exploration. Through this we can understand
the importance of various properties of rock.

Rock exploration is very important in any

construction work on a rock mass.

In future geographical methods will dominate

in the field of rock exploration.

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 References
Engineering in rocks for slopes, foundations
and tunnels T. Ramamurthy

Rock Mechanics Alfreds R. Jumikis

http://en.wikipedia.org

www.encyclopedia.com

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