In-Tank Processing (ITP) Geotechnical Summary Report

A geotechnical investigation has been completed for the In Tank Processing Facility (ITP) which consists of buildings 241-96H and 241-32H; and Tanks 241-948H, 241-949H, 241-950H, and 241-951H. The investigation consisted of a literature search for relevant technical data, field explorations, field and laboratory testing, and analyses. This document presents a summary of the scope and results to date of the investigations and engineering analyses for these facilities. A final geotechnical report, which will include a more detailed discussion and all associated boring logs, laboratory test results, and analyses will be issued in October 1994.The purpose of the investigation is to obtain geotechnical information to evaluate the seismic performance of the foundation materials and embankme nts under and around the ITP. The geotechnical engineering objectives of the investigation are to: 1) define the subsurface stratigraphy, 2) obtain representative engineering properties of the subsurface materials, 3) assess the competence of the subsurface materials under static and dynamic loads, 4) derive properties for seismic soil-structure interaction analysis, 5) evaluate the areal and vertical extent of horizons that might cause dynamic settlement or instability, and 6) determine settlement at the foundation level of the tanks

Evaluation of Cross-Hole Seismic Tomography for Imaging Low Resistance Intervals and Associated Carbonate Sediments in Coastal Plain Sequences on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina

The objectives of the pilot study were to investigate the limitations of the technique for imaging the presence, extent, and boundaries of the low-resistance intervals and associated carbonate sediments

Ground penetrating radar and direct current resistivity evaluation of the desiccation test cap, Savannah River Site

The Savannah River Site (SRS) has a variety of waste units that may be temporarily or permanently stabilized by closure using an impermeable cover to prevent groundwater infiltration. The placement of an engineered kaolin clay layer over a waste unit is an accepted and economical technique for providing an impermeable cover but the long term stability and integrity of the clay in non-arid conditions is unknown. A simulated kaolin cap has been constructed at the SRA adjacent to the Burial Ground Complex. The cap is designed to evaluate the effects of desiccation on clay integrity, therefore half of the cap is covered with native soil to prevent drying, while the remainder of the cap is exposed. Measurements of the continuing impermeability of a clay cap are difficult because intrusive techniques may locally compromise the structure. Point measurements made to evaluate clay integrity, such as those from grid sampling or coring and made through a soil cover, may miss cracks, joints or fissures, and may not allow for mapping of the lateral extent of elongate features. Because of these problems, a non-invasive technique is needed to map clay integrity, below a soil or vegetation cover, which is capable of moderate to rapid investigation speeds. Two non-intrusive geophysical techniques, direct current resistivity and ground penetrating radar (GPR), have been successful at the SRS in geologically mapping shallow subsurface clay layers. The applicability of each technique in detecting the clay layer in the desiccation test cap and associated anomalies was investigated

Magnetic survey of the R-Area Bingham Pump Outage Pits

The R-Area Bingham Pump Outage pits are a series of parallel trenches in which construction materials were buried. The suspected locations of three of the trenches are marked by HP orange waste unit marker balls, in addition to concrete pit monuments that were placed based on historical information. In order to confirm the locations of the trenches and to evaluate the presence of other buried ferric material, a magnetic survey was conducted at the R-Area Bingham Pump Outage Pits. The survey is defined by lines spaced 10 ft apart oriented subperpendicular to the trench elongation direction, with survey stations spaced at 5-ft intervals along each line. This resulted in a 10-ft by 5-ft rectangular grid node pattern. The magnetic survey resolved at least four linear arrays of magnetic field and gradient anomalies that result from buried ferric material. Three of the linear arrays correspond to suspected trench locations as delineated by HP orange marker balls and pit monuments. However, a fourth linear anomaly occurs between two of the suspected trenches, indicating the presence of an unmarked trench. In addition to linear anomalies that are associated with the trenches, other isolated anomalies occur due to ferric sources that can be identified on the surface, such as signs, monuments, and metal pipes.

Geological Interpretation of the Structure and Stratigraphy of the A/M Area, Savannah River Site, South Carolina

The geological interpretation of the structure and stratigraphy of the A/M Area was undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of deeper Cretaceous aged geological strata and structure on shallower Tertiary horizons

Interpretation of Geological Correlation Borings 1, 2, 3 in the A/M Area of the Savannah River Site, South Carolina

The Geophysical Correlation Boring (GCB) Program was organized to provide a comprehensive correlation capability between geological core and advanced borehole geophysical data, surface high resolution reflection seismic information and, when available, borehole geochemical and cone penetrometer data. This report provides results and initial geological interpretations of borings one, two, and three (GCB-1, GCB-2, GCB-3) located within the Upper Three Runs Watershed (A/M Area) of the Savannah River Site

Investigation on the Combined Use of Ground Penetrating Radar, Cone Penetrometer and High Resolution Seismic Data for Near Surface and Vadose Zone Characterization in the A/M Area of the Savannah River Site, South Carolina

This study compares data from Cone Penetrometer Tests (CPT), high resolution surface reflection seismic (HRS) data and ground penetrating radar (GPR) data in the upper 120 feet (40 meters) of the A/M Area, Upper Three Runs Watershed at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The CPT, GPR, and HRS data were obtained along the Silverton Road in the western sector of the A/M Area groundwater plume, and adjacent to Geophysical Correlation Boring {number_sign}1 (GCB-1). This location allows for multiple correlations to be made between the various data sources, and supports shallow investigations for near surface affects of the Crackerneck Fault, a major structural feature in the area. Borehole geophysical data from GCB-1 were used to provide subsurface constraints on the CPT, GPR, and HRS data. core data, natural gamma ray, spectral gamma data, multi-level induction resistivity, density and sonic data were utilized to distinguish clays, sands and silts. The CPT data provided tip bearing and sleeve stress, as an indicator of stratigraphy. Reflection seismic data provided continuous subsurface profiles of key marker horizons. Ground Penetrating Radar provided information on shallow subsurface geological features. Conclusions from this study suggest that there is a high degree of correlation between the CPT and borehole geophysical data, specifically, the Friction Ratio and gamma/spectral gamma curves. The Upland/Tobacco Road, Tobacco Road/Dry Branch, Dry Branch/Santee, Santee/Warley Hill and the Warley Hill/Congaree contacts are discernible. From these contacts it is possible to map structural relationships in the shallow subsurface that are tied to regional data. Because formation contacts are discernible, CPT, HRS, GPR, and geophysical log intra-formational anomalies are mappable. These features allow for stratigraphic and facies mapping using the GPR and HRS data for continuity and the CPT and geophysical data for lithofacies analysis. It is possible to use the combination of these tools to map shallow, stratigraphy and structure across the A/M Area

Relationships Between Eclogite‐Facies Mineral Assemblages, Deformation Microstructures, and Seismic Properties in the Yuka Terrane, North Qaidam Ultrahigh‐Pressure Metamorphic Belt, NW China

To understand the relationships between eclogite-facies mineral assemblages, deformation microstructures, and the seismic properties of subducting oceanic crust, eclogites from the Yuka terrane, North Qaidam ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt, NW China, were studied. Observations of mineral textures, deformation microstructures, and petrofabrics in the eclogites indicate that garnet, omphacite, and phengite were deformed by intracrystalline deformation (i.e., dislocation creep) during prograde metamorphism. In contrast, amphibole, which was formed by the topotactic replacement of omphacite at fluid-present conditions, is considered to have been deformed by diffusional flow (dissolution-precipitation creep) during amphibolite-facies retrogression associated with exhumation. Based on the petrofabrics in the samples, the seismic properties of the eclogites were calculated depending on eclogite-facies mineral assemblages such as garnet + omphacite, garnet + omphacite + phengite, garnet + omphacite + phengite + lawsonite, garnet + omphacite + phengite + amphibole, and garnet + omphacite + amphibole. We found that the seismic signatures of each of the eclogite-facies mineral assemblages were different. In particular, phengite-bearing eclogites (the garnet + omphacite + phengite/garnet + omphacite + phengite + amphibole assemblages), depending on phengite content, produced the strongest seismic anisotropy (AVp and AVs), with a strong polarization anisotropy, that was at least three times higher than bimineralic (phengite-absent) eclogites (garnet + omphacite assemblage). Our results indicate that phengite, as a stable phase at high-pressure and high-temperature conditions, can play an important role in the creation of trench-parallel seismic anisotropy in the eclogite-facies mineral assemblages found in subduction zones.N

Magnitude and symmetry of seismic anisotropy in mica- and amphibole-bearing metamorphic rocks and implications for tectonic interpretation of seismic data from the southeast Tibetan Plateau

We calibrated the magnitude and symmetry of seismic anisotropy for 132 mica- or amphibole-bearing metamorphic rocks to constrain their departures from transverse isotropy (TI) which is usually assumed in the interpretation of seismic data. The average bulk V[p] anisotropy at 600MPa for the chlorite schists, mica schists, phyllites, sillimanite-mica schists, and amphibole schists examined is 12.0%, 12.8%, 12.8%, 17.0%, and 12.9%, respectively. Most of the schists show V[p] anisotropy in the foliation plane which averages 2.4% for phyllites, 3.3% for mica schists, 4.1% for chlorite schists, 6.8% for sillimanite-mica schists, and 5.2% for amphibole schists. This departure from TI is due to the presence of amphibole, sillimanite, and quartz. Amphibole and sillimanite develop strong crystallographic preferred orientations with the fast c axes parallel to the lineation, forming orthorhombic anisotropy with V[p](X)>V[p](Y)>V[p](Z). Effects of quartz are complicated, depending on its volume fraction and prevailing slip system. Most of the mica- or amphibole-bearing schists and mylonites are approximately transversely isotropic in terms of S wave velocities and splitting although their P wave properties may display orthorhombic symmetry. The results provide insight for the interpretation of seismic data from the southeast Tibetan Plateau. The N-S to NW-SE polarized crustal anisotropy in the Sibumasu and Indochina blocks is caused by subvertically foliated mica- and amphibole-bearing rocks deformed by predominantly compressional folding and subordinate strike-slip shear. These blocks have been rotated clockwise 70-90° around the east Himalayan Syntaxis, without finite eastward or southeastward extrusion, in responding to progressive indentation of India into Asia.27 page(s