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Regional geological and geotechnical survey of South Essex

Levé géologique et géotechnique dans le South Essex

  • IAEG Symposium “Engineering Geological Mapping for Planning, Disign and Construction in Civil Engineering”, Newcastle Upon Tyne, 3–6 September 1979
  • THEME 1 Regional Engineering Geological Mapping for Planning Purposes Contributions
  • Published:
Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology - Bulletin de l'Association Internationale de Géologie de l'Ingénieur Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A comprehensive regional geological and geotechnical survey of an area of about 450 sq. km between the Rivers Crouch and Roach in South Essex has been carried out for the Department of the Environment to guide planners in the then proposed urban and industrial development to accompany construction of a third London airport at Maplin. Geological mapping, borehole, pit, trench, core penetrometer and geophysical investgations in the field were supported by laboratory studies of the mineralogy, micropalaeontology and geotechnical characteristics of the superficial, drift and Tertiary deposits of the area. These studies enable geotechnical groups and units to be identified and various presentations of the three dimensional engineering geology, principally in maps and sections at 1∶15,000 scale, have been produced, both manually and by computer. The potential engineering problems are associated with landslips in London Clay, variable thicknesses and character of Alluvium and metastability of loessic “Brickearth”. An engineering planning map divides the area into zones of engineering significance.

Résumé

Le levé synthétique régional, géologique et géotechnique d'une aire de 450 km2 environ située entre les rivières Crouch et Roach, dans le South Essex, à été effectué par le Ministère de l'Environnement, pour guider les planificateurs vers un développement industriel et urbain proposé pour accompagner la construction du troisième aéroport de Londres à Maplin. Les levés sur le terrain, carte géologique, sondages, puits, tranchées, essais au pénétromètre carottier et levés géophysiques furent complétés par des études de laboratoire: minéralogie, micropaléontologie et caractères géotechniques des dépôts superficiels, alluvionnaires et tertiaires. Ces études permettent d'identifier des groupes et des unités géotechniques et de produire, manuellement ou par ordinateur, divers types de représentation de la géologie de l'ingénieur en trois dimensions, principalement sous forme de cartes et de coupes au 1/25 000. Les problèmes géotechniques qui peuvent se poser ont trait aux glissements de terrain dans l'argile de Londres, aux variations d'épaisseur et de caractéristiques de l'alluvion et à la métastabilité de la “terre à briques” loessique. Une carte de planification technique divise l'aire levée en zones ayant une signification technique.

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References

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  • INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES (1975/7): South Essex Geological and Geotechnical Survey. Open file Report prepared for Dep. of the Environment in 12 parts. PART 1. Introduction. (1975) C.R. Cratchley & R.D. Lake. PART 2. Geology. (1975) R.D. Lake, R.A. Ellison, M.R. Henson & B.W. Conway. PART 3. Engineering Geology. (1977) K.J. Northmore, B. Denness & B.W. Conway. Appendix A: Sample test results, (1975) B. Denness, B.W. Conway & K.J. Northmore. Appendix B: Consolidation & triaxial test results. (1975) B. Denness, B.W. Conway & K.J. Northmore. PART 4. Computing. (1977) T.V. Loudon, J.M. Cubitt, M.R. Henson & S.V. Duncan. PART 5. Geophysics (1975) M. Sarginson, C.R. Cratchley & D.M. McCann. Appendix A: Resistivity surveys, (1975) M. Sarginson and C.R. Cratchley. Appendix B: Seismic reflection surveys. (1975) M. Sarginson, D.M. McCann & R.A. Floyd. Appendix C: Laboratory & in situ acoustic measurements. (1975) D.M. McCann & J. Darwell. PART 6. Paleontology. (1975) M.J. Hughes. PART 7. Mineralogy. (1975) R.J. Merriman. PART 8. Borehole Logs. (1975). PART 9. Dutch Cone Graphs. (1975) K.J. Northmore. PART 10. Particle Size Analyses Graphs. (1975). PART 11. Maps & Sections (in wallet). (1977). PART 12. Summary. (1977) C.R. Cratchley & R.D. Lake. Appendix: Geotechnical Atlas of South Essex. (1977).

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Cratchley, C.R., Conway, B.W., Northmore, K.J. et al. Regional geological and geotechnical survey of South Essex. Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology 19, 30–40 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02600444

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02600444

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