REFLECTION SEISMICS FOR SHALLOW GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS - A CASE-STUDY FROM CENTRAL ENGLAND

The applicability of the seismic reflection method for exploration at shallow depths (< 100 m) has been investigated at Bardon Hill Quarry in Charnwood Forest where Triassic sedimentary rocks overlie a Precambrian basement. A high-resolution system, comprising high-frequency response equipment coupled with a data-logging microcomputer, was developed. The reflection data provide a significantly more reliable model of the sub-Triassic surface than do either existing widely-spaced boreholes or seismic refraction investigations; in addition, they provide information on the internal structure of the Triassic strata. The resolution and accuracy of the reflection data demonstrate the potential of this method in engineering geophysical investigations.