LESSON 2 GEOLOGICAL DATA
COLLECTION and STEREOGRAPHIC
PLOTTING
Learning Outcomes List important geological parameters of
discontinuities;
Plot and analyze structural orientation
(stereonet) data.
2-1
Range of rock mass characteristics.
2-2
Scale
2-3
Pervasive discontinuities
Favorably oriented
2-4
Strong rock widely spaced
joints.
2-5
Unfavorably oriented discontinuities control
2-6
Definition of Geological Terms
Standard
Definitions/Procedures Necessary for:
- Consistency and Compatibility Between Different
-
Data Collectors
Facilitate Communication Between Different Parties
Quantitative Basis for Engineering Evaluation and
Analysis
Completeness in Data Collection
2-7
Definition of Discontinuity Parameters
Figure 2-2
Page 2-6
2-8
A. - Rock Type
Deere
and Miller
Colorado School of Mines Quarterly
(Russell B Travis)
2-9
B Discontinuity Type
Contact
- (Continuous and Sometimes Low
Shear Strength e.g. Weathered Paleosurface
Dipping into Cut)
Fault/Shear - (Continuous, Potentially Low
Shear Strength)
Joint - (Cooling in Basalt, Tectonic Effects
Sedimentary/Igneous)
Bedding - (Sedimentary Layering)
2-10
B Discontinuity Type (contd)
Flow
Banding - (Igneous Flows; May Not be
Weakness)
Foliation/Schistosity/Cleavage - (Metamorphic
Layering)
Vein - (Includes Healed Joints - May Not be
Weakness)
2-11
Joints are controlling discontinuities
2-12
Bedding is
controlling
discontinuity
I40, NC/TN
2-13
C Discontinuity Orientation
Dip
- Angle of Steepest Inclination of Plane,
Measured Below Horizontal (two digits 00 to 90)
Dip Direction (Dip Azimuth) - Azimuth of the
Line of Dip (three digits 000 to 360)
Strike - Azimuth of a Horizontal Line (90
Degrees to Dip Direction) - Unsuitable for Rock
Slope Engineering
2-14
Definition of Dip, Dip Direction,
Strike
2-15
Structural Compass
2-16
D Discontinuity Spacing
Measure
True Spacing in Surface Mapping
Range:
Extremely close spacing (<20 mm)
Extremely wide spacing (>6000 mm)
Line
Mapping or Coreholes: Use Terzaghi
Correction for True Spacing
2-17
True and Apparent Spacing
Sapp
Fracture Set
Sapp
Sapp
Rock Face
S
S
2-18
Extremely close foliation
spacing
Will strongly influence rock
mass:
strength
deformability
permeability
excavatability
2-19
E Persistence
Document
Visible or Inferred Length
- Range:
Very low (<1 m)
Very high (>20 m)
Document
Termination of Joints (0, 1, 2)
Statistical Estimates of Length Distribution (e.g.
Pahl, page 2-8)
Persistence cannot be Measured in Core
2-20
Measurement of Persistence
(t)
(t)
(t)
(t)
(c)
(c)
(t)
(c)
(t) Scanline
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
(c)
H
L
2-21
Persistence of family of
faults will control abutment
design
2-22
Irregularity/Roughness
Descriptive
Shape:
Stepped
Undulating
Planar
Roughness:
Rough
Smooth
Slickensided
Semi
Quantitative - Joint Roughness Coefficient
(JRC)
Rough Undulating JRC 20 e.g. Tension Joints
Smooth Undulating JRC 10 e.g. Foliation/Joints
Smooth Planar
JRC 5 e.g. Bedding
2-23
Discontinuity Roughness
Measurement
Quantitative approach
i2d
id
i8d
i4d
8d
4d
Mean dip
2d
d
1
2
2-24
2-25
G Wall Rock Strength - (Joint
Compressive Strength - JCS)
Estimate
Compressive Strength Based on:
- Field Classification (ISRM) - Table 2-1:
Range:
Extremely weak (0.25-1MPa)
Extremely strong (>250 MPa)
Field Testing (Point-Load Test or Schmidt Hammer)
Laboratory Testing
2-26
H Weathering
ISRM
Weathering Classification - Table 2-2
Fresh
Slightly weathered
Moderately weathered
Highly weathered
Completely weathered
Residual soil
2-27
Differential shale weathering
2-28
Chemical decomposition
2-29
Aperture
Measure
Directly, Table 2-1:
Range:
Very tight (<0.1 mm)
Cavernous (>1000 mm)
2-30
Filling/Width
Measure
Width (Table 2-2)
Characterize Wall Rock
Infilling Characteristics
- Mineralogy
- Particle Size
- Water Content
- Stiffness
2-31
25 mm thick, continuous clay
infillings (bedding plane shears)
2-32
Controlling structure for slope design
Rocky Point Viaduct, OR
2-33
K Seepage
Document
According to Field Sheets
Tight and dry
Dry
Dry, rust staining
Damp
Seepage, drops
Continuous flow
2-34
Number of Joint Sets
Number
of Systematic Joint Sets
- Often three orthogonal sets
- Maximum four or five sets
- Record faults and shears separately from joints and
bedding
2-35
M Block Size/Shape
Use
code on Data Collection Sheet
SHAPE
- Blocky
- Tabular
- Columnar
- Shattered
SIZE
Very large (>8 m3)
Large (0.2 8 m3)
Medium (0.008-0.2 m3)
Small (0.0002 0.008 m3)
Very small (<0.0002 m3)
2-36
Blocky structure
2-37
Refer to Figure 2-2 of Reference Manual on page
2-6
2-38
Geotechnical Mapping
Line
Mapping
- Documenting All Structures that Intersect a Tape or
Painted Scan Line
Window
(Cell) Mapping
- Document All Structures Within a Representative
Areas or Windows
2-39
Geotechnical Drilling
2-40
Diamond Drilling
Triple
Tube or Double Tube with a Split Inner
Tube
Geotechnical Logs - RQD, Recovery, Fracture Frequency, Joint
Angle
(Cornerstone of Communication !!!)
Core
Photographs & Core Handling
Structural Orientation Data from Drilling
- Oriented Coring - Clay Impression Method
- Borehole Imaging
2-41
Core Photographs
2-42
2-43
Core Orientation Reference Line
Dip
Joint
Dip Vector
Top of Core
(In Situ)
Dip
Reference Angle
Side View
End View
2-44
2-45
2-46
Borehole Televiewer Logging
2-47
Core Orientation Borehole Camera
0
Trace of
joint
Core
90
180
270
360
Dip
Direction
Dip
Unwrapped Core
2-48
Project No. 052-2005 Date: May 2008
Comparable section of core quality and televiewer data.
Acoustical
Log
Borehole Televiewer Logging
Optical
Log
id# Dip DDR
DDR = dip direction
