Locating groundwater flow in karst by acoustic emission surveys
An acoustic emission survey of Newala Fm. (primarily dolomite) karst has helped to locate subsurface water flow. This survey was performed on the Rock Quarry Dome, Sevier County, Tennessee. A Dresser RS-4 recording seismograph, adjusted to provide a gain of 1000, collected acoustic emission data using Mark Products CN368 vertical geophones with 3-inch spikes. Data was collected for 5-15 second intervals. The geophones were laid out along traverses with 10, 20, or 30-ft spacing and covered with sand bags in locations of high ambient noise. Traverses were laid out: along and across lineaments known to correspond with groundwater flow in natural subsurface channels; across and along a joint-controlled sink suspected of directing groundwater flow; and across a shallow sinkhole located tangentially to the Little Pigeon River and suspected of capturing river water for the groundwater system. Acoustic emissions of channelized flowing groundwater have a characteristic erratic spiked spectral signature. These acoustic emission signatures increase in amplitude and number in the immediate vicinity of the vertical projection of channelized groundwater flow if it occurs within approximately 30 feet of the surface. If the groundwater flow occurs at greater depths the emissions may be offset from the projection of the actual flow, due to propagation of the signal along rock pinnacles or attenuation by residual soils.
- Research Organization:
- Vulcan Materials Company, Birmingham, AL (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6070898
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AQUIFERS
ACOUSTIC EMISSION TESTING
SEISMIC SURVEYS
GROUND WATER
ACOUSTIC DETECTION
CARBONATE ROCKS
CAVES
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
TENNESSEE
ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS
ACOUSTIC TESTING
CAVITIES
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
DETECTION
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS TESTING
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIATION DETECTION
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURVEYS
TESTING
USA
WATER
580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)
580203 - Geophysics- Geophysical Survey Methods- (1980-1989)