MR11B-0934 0800h
Integrated Earth Science Research in Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratories
There are three types of sites being considered for deep-underground earth science and physics experiments: (1) abandoned mines (e.g., the Homestake Gold Mine, South Dakota; the Soudan Iron Mine, Minnesota), (2) active mines/facilities (e.g., the Henderson Molybdenum Mine, Colorado; the Kimballton Limestone Mine, Virginia; the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant [in salt], New Mexico), and (3) new tunnels (e.g., Icicle Creek in the Cascades, Washington; Mt. San Jacinto, California). Additional sites have been considered in the geologically unique region of southeastern California and southwestern Nevada, which has both very high mountain peaks and the lowest point in the United States (Death Valley). Telescope Peak (along the western border of Death Valley), Boundary Peak (along the California-Nevada border), Mt. Charleston (outside Las Vegas), and Mt. Tom (along the Pine Creek Valley) all have favorable characteristics for consideration. Telescope Peak can site the deepest laboratory in the United States. The Mt. Charleston tunnel can be a highway extension connecting Las Vegas to Pahrump. The Pine Creek Mine next to Mt. Tom is an abandoned tungsten mine. The lowest levels of the mine are accessible by nearly horizontal tunnels from portals in the mining base camp. Drainage (most noticeable in the springs resulting from snow melt) flows (from the mountain top through upper tunnel complex) out of the access tunnel without the need for pumping. While the underground drifts at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, have not yet been considered (since they are relatively shallow for physics experiments), they have undergone extensive earth science research for nearly 10 years, as the site for future storage of nation's spent nuclear fuels. All these underground sites could accommodate different earth science and physics experiments. Most underground physics experiments require depth to reduce the cosmic-ray-induced muon flux from atmospheric sources. Earth science experiments can be spatially extensive, from sub-room-size scale to ten-kilometer scale. The DUSEL sites with vertical depth and lateral extent can accommodate many different experiments. Hydrologic studies can characterize the in-flow along drifts, ramps, and shafts. Geophysical and rock mechanics studies can have seismic and electromagnetic sensors stationed on site, for both local monitoring of excavations and long-term stability, and mine-scale network of sensors to form a large aperture for tomography imaging. The geo-biochemical studies can include the ecological evaluation of the effects of introduced materials and the search for the origin of life in isolated fluid pockets at depth. The muon flux can be measured underground to detect empty space (or lack of it) above detectors, as demonstrated at the Chephren pyramid, Egypt, in the 1970s and currently at the Pyramid of the Sun, Mexico. Conventional geophysical tomography, with wave propagation through rock mass, can be extended to include particle rays, with high-energy muon flux as an example. Muons interacting with atoms have implications for both geochemical and biological processes. This type of research can further promote collaboration between earth scientists with physicists. A deep laboratory can accommodate a deep campus for suites of physics detectors, and several campuses at different depths within the same site for earth science experiments in rock mechanics, hydrology, geochemistry, ecology, geo-microbiology, coupled processes, and many other branches of earth and planetary sciences.
MR11B-0935 0800h
Earth Science Research in DUSEL; a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory in the United States
A summary of efforts to create one or more Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratories (DUSEL) in the United States is presented. A workshop in Berkeley, August 11-14, 2004, explored the technical requirements of DUSEL for research in basic and applied geological and microbiological sciences, together with elementary particle physics and integrated education and public outreach. The workshop was organized by Bernard Sadoulet, an astrophysicist and the principal investigator (PI) of a community-wide DUSEL program evolving in coordination with the National Science Foundation. The PI team has three physicists (in nuclear science, high-energy physics, and astrophysics) and three earth scientists (in geoscience, biology and engineering). Presentations, working group reports, links to previous workshop/meeting talks, and information about DUSEL candidate sites, are presented in http://neutrino.lbl.gov/DUSELS-1. The Berkeley workshop is a continuation of decades of efforts, the most recent including the 2001 Underground Science Conference's earth science and geomicrobiology workshops, the 2002 International Workshop on Neutrino and Subterranean Science, and the 2003 EarthLab Report. This perspective (from three earth science co-PIs, the lead author of EarthLab report, the lead scientist of education/outreach, and the local earth science organizer) is to inform the community on the status of this national initiative, and to invite their active support. Having a dedicated facility with decades-long, extensive three-dimensional underground access was recognized as the most important single attribute of DUSEL. Many research initiatives were identified and more are expected as the broader community becomes aware of DUSEL. Working groups were organized to evaluate hydrology and coupled processes; geochemistry; rock mechanics/seismology; applications (e.g., homeland security, environment assessment, petroleum recovery, and carbon sequestration); geomicrobiology and micro/molecular evolution. Ideas articulated both at and subsequent to the workshop will be evolved in site-specific programs at Henderson Mine, CO; Homestake Mine, SD; Icicle Creek, WA; Kimballton Mine, VA; Mt. San Jacinto, CA; Soudan Mine, MN; Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, NM; and several other potential sites in abandoned mines and new tunnels below high mountains. The feasibility of multiple DUSELs is being investigated. The sites also offer opportunities to study tectonic and crustal evolution from deep crust in ancient rocks, in sedimentary formations, to igneous processes. Although any one site is inevitably limited with respect to the research scope, advances in understanding and in testing techniques from DUSEL can facilitate shorter-term studies at environmental and industrial sites, where access for long-term research is not possible. International integration with the Underground Research Laboratories (URLs) is intended. Scientists conducting ongoing studies in energy/resource production, environmental protection, earthquake prediction, and industrial manufacture in low-background underground settings are all welcome to participate/contribute to both generic and site-specific proposals for DUSELs.
MR11B-0936 0800h
Integrated Site Characterization for the Proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) at Kimballton, Virginia
The National Science Foundation has announced a plan to establish a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) for interdisciplinary research in physics, geosciences, biosciences and engineering. The proposed laboratory will extend to a depth of about 2000 meters and will consist of a series of research facilities for long term study. To date, 8 sites in North America have been proposed to host DUSEL. One of these sites, known as Kimballton, is located near Butt Mountain in Giles County in southwestern Virginia. The Kimballton site is in the Valley and Ridge Province of the southern Appalachians and consists of repeated sequences folded and thrusted Paleozoic dolomite, limestone and clastic rocks. The site is located near the active Kimballton mine, which extends to 700 meters depth in the Butt Mountain Synclinorium and produces chemical-grade lime from the Five Oaks Formation. Surface and mine geology at Kimballton have been projected to the DUSEL horizon, and indicate that the facility would be hosted in Ordovician limestone of the Saint Clair thrust sheet that lies beneath the Narrows thrust fault. Two 3 km seismic reflection lines were acquired along the top of Butt Mountain to characterize the subsurface geology in the vicinity of the DUSEL site. Preliminary interpretations of the seismic data are consistent with the structural model derived from surface geology. A 2.2 km borehole from the top of Butt Mountain to the DUSEL horizon will be drilled to further constrain the geology and to construct an integrated 3D subsurface model.
http://www.phys.vt.edu/~kimballton/
MR11B-0937 0800h
Earth Science Research at the Homestake Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory
The Homestake Mine in South Dakota ceased gold production in 2002 and was sealed for entry in 2003. The announcement of mine closure triggered the revival of a national initiative to establish a deep underground facility, currently known as the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL). The National Science Foundation announced that solicitations were to be issued in 2004 and 2005, with the first one (known as S-1) issued in June, 2004. The focus of S-1 is on site non-specific technical requirements to define the scientific program at DUSEL. Earth scientists and physicists participated in an S-1 workshop at Berkeley in August, 2004. This abstract presents the prospects of the Homestake Mine to accommodate the earth science scientific programs defined at the S-1 workshop. The Homestake Mine has hundreds of kilometers of drifts over fifty levels accessible (upon mine reopening) for water evaluation, seepage quantification, seismic monitoring, geophysical imaging, geological mapping, mineral sampling, ecology and geo-microbiology. The extensive network of drifts, ramps, and vertical shafts allows installation of 10-kilometer-scale seismograph and electromagnetic networks. Ramps connecting different levels, typically separated by 150 ft, could be instrumented for flow and transport studies, prior to implementation of coupled thermal-hydro-chemical-mechanical-biological processes testing. Numerous large rooms are available for ecological and introduced-material evaluations. Ideas for installing instruments in cubic kilometers of rock mass can be realized over multiple levels. Environmental assessment, petroleum recovery, carbon sequestration were among the applications discussed in the S-1 workshop. If the Homestake Mine can be expediently reopened, earth scientists are ready to perform important tests with a phased approach. The drifts and ramps directly below the large open pit could be the first area for shallow testing. The 4,850 ft level is the next target area, which has a large lateral extent. Geophysical sensor stations could be installed at this level, together with stations along two main shafts accessing this level, and one winze below. After dewatering, rock mechanics and geotechnical engineering investigators could actively participate in room siting and excavation, at depths up to 8,000 ft. Geochemistry and geo-microbiology scientists would prefer additional drilling in deep zones beyond the mining and flooding perturbations. Additional earth science programs are being developed for the Homestake Mine, utilizing multiple levels and shafts. Many physics experiments require a site "as deep as possible" and special conditions to reduce background and cosmic rays. The Homestake Mine offers a very deep site and a vast amount of data and knowledge associated with its 125 years of mining operation. The cores from exploratory drilling into a mechanical strong unit, the Yates Formation, are available for scientific and engineering evaluations. A team from many institutions is being formed by Kevin Lesko, a neutrino scientist with experience in detecting neutrino oscillations with deep detectors in Canada and Japan. It is time for the United States to establish a DUSEL deep and large enough for next-generation physics and earth science long-term experiments. The Homestake Mine has these necessary attributes. The collaboration welcomes participation and contribution from scientists and engineers in the physics and earth science community for multi-disciplinary research during and after the restoration and conversion of the Homestake Mine.
MR11B-0938 0800h
Experiments in a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) Hosted in Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary-rock environments, particularly those dominated by carbonate rock, provide unique opportunities for geoscientists, geobiologists, and geophysicists, to perform revolutionary experiments aimed at answering fundamental science questions and satisfying our societal demands for resources and environmental stewardship. As part of the National Science Foundation's DUSEL initiative, the selected site should offer structurally and biologically diverse environments. At the same time, the site should offer host rock capable of providing safely engineered hallways and laboratories at depths as great as 2,200 m for numerous deep underground physics, engineering, and earth science experiments. An ideal sedimentary-rock environment offers the prospect of highly folded, thrusted, and fractured rocks that allow opportunities to study the 3-D behavior of thrusts that propagate parallel to bedding as well as those that ramp across bedding. Flow dynamics along and across deeply buried faults is poorly understood. Experiments will be developed at various scales to assess flow and transport processes to better quantify hydrogeological mechanisms influencing flow and possible aquifer compartmentalization. Seismic reflection images, vertical seismic profiles, and tomograms will provide details of the fault properties and geometry, which can be verified in-situ. Repeated overthrusted sequences provide opportunities for geobiologists to investigate how microbes in rocks of similar age are affected by differences in pressure, temperature, and depth. Carbonate rocks provide opportunities to study energy sources and adaptations for nutrient acquisition, reproduction, stability, survival, and repair under extreme conditions. Results from these investigations will permit comparisons with other foreland fold-thrust belts worldwide. Fossil fuels remain the world's main energy resource and the large majority of these are hosted in sedimentary rocks. Improved methods for reservoir characterization are needed. A DUSEL hosted in sedimentary rocks provides opportunities to simulate the formation of hydrocarbon reservoirs in well-characterized rock at the kilometer scale. Such a facility can be used to study the factors that control generation, migration and trapping of aqueous and hydrocarbon fluids, while allowing greater understanding of the role of microbes in terminal electron accepting processes in fractured-rock environments. DUSEL will provide unique opportunities to assess and evaluate seismic reservoir characterization techniques, monitoring methods, and modeling approaches. Carefully monitored subsequent excavation into the reservoir will permit direct assessment of imaging success and evaluation of geochemical mechanisms, pathways and processes. Many of the metals and energy resources used by modern industrialized societies are formed as a result of fluid-rock interactions. An understanding of the physical and chemical factors that determine solubility, transport, and deposition is critical to development of successful exploration strategies for new resources. DUSEL will permit experiments aimed at perturbing the natural system, while allowing for measurements and sample collection under carefully controlled conditions to constrain key parameters that form copper, zinc, lead and other metal deposits. These experiments will provide clues to how host rocks affect fluid chemistries and the role that biological activity plays in the formation of metal sulfide deposits.
http://www.phys.vt.edu/~kimballton/
MR11B-0939 0800h
Geoengineering Research for a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory in Sedimentary Rock
A process to identify world-class research for a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) in the USA has been initiated by NSF. While allowing physicists to study, inter alia, dark matter and dark energy, this laboratory will create unprecedented opportunities for biologists to study deep life, geoscientists to study crustal processes and geoengineers to study the behavior of rock, fluids and underground cavities at depth, on time scales of decades. A substantial portion of the nation's future infrastructure is likely to be sited underground because of energy costs, urban crowding and vulnerability of critical surface facilities. Economic and safe development of subsurface space will require an improved ability to engineer the geologic environment. Because of the prevalence of sedimentary rock in the upper continental crust, much of this subterranean infrastructure will be hosted in sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are fundamentally anisotropic due to lithology and bedding, and to discontinuities ranging from microcracks to faults. Fractures, faults and bedding planes create structural defects and hydraulic pathways over a wide range of scales. Through experimentation, observation and monitoring in a sedimentary rock DUSEL, in conjunction with high performance computational models and visualization tools, we will explore the mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of layered rock. DUSEL will permit long-term experiments on 100 m blocks of rock in situ, accessed via peripheral tunnels. Rock volumes will be loaded to failure and monitored for post-peak behavior. The response of large rock bodies to stress relief-driven, time-dependent strain will be monitored over decades. Large block experiments will be aimed at measurement of fluid flow and particle/colloid transport, in situ mining (incl. mining with microbes), remediation technologies, fracture enhancement for resource extraction and large scale long-term rock mass response to induced stresses - with parallel geophysical imaging of the rock mass (and subsequent verification) flow and transport processes, and time-dependent stress and strain. An experimental advantage of sedimentary rock is the presence of pervasive mechanical interfaces (bedding planes), which suggest a host of experimental designs on large rock blocks and slabs (induced flexure, shear strength of interfaces, etc). Thus DUSEL will enable fundamental research about the behavior of a layered rock mass - the dominant structural architecture in near-surface environments worldwide. A further benefit is the natural suitability of sedimentary rocks for experiments related to oil and gas production, or to CO2 sequestration. For example, fluid-induced fracturing of sedimentary rock has long been used by the hydrocarbon industry to improve oil and coal bed methane recovery. Since some fracturing agents are potential contaminants, a major concern and legal responsibility in the US is ensuring the integrity of nearby aquifers. Hydraulic fracturing from a sedimentary rock DUSEL will be followed by injection of low viscosity grout. The rock mass will then be mined back to expose network characteristics of the induced hydraulic fractures. Key questions related to hydrocarbon extraction, CO2 sequestration, waste isolation, and remediation of subsurface contaminants depend critically on the connectivity and architecture of fractures and on coupled thermal, hydrological, mechanical and chemical processes. Fluid flow, particle transport and reaction transport processes are coupled to the stress across fractures, and to thermal, chemical and hydraulic gradients. All can best be studied via large block tests in a subterranean laboratory, ideally in a sedimentary environment.
MR11B-0940 0800h
Regional Mineral Potential Mapping in the Kangneung, Korea using GIS and Probability Model
The most common approach to mineral potential mapping is data-driven and exploits knowledge about how known deposits spatially relate to their surroundings. The aim of this process is to analyze relationships between metallic mineral deposits and related factors to identify areas that have not been subjected to the same degree of exploration. This empirical approach assumes that all deposits share a common genesis and comprises three main steps such as identification of spatial relationships, quantification of identified spatial relationships and integration of multiple quantified spatial relationships. For this, a spatial database including metallic mineral deposit, topographic, geologic, geophysical and geochemical data were constructed for Kangwondo area in Korea using GIS. The used 391 mineral deposits were Cu, Pb, Zn, W, Mo and Fe and as the related factors, topographic data such as DEM and slope, geological data such as lithology and fault, geochemical data such as Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Si, Sr, V, Zn, Cl-, F-, PO42-, NO2-, NO3- and SO42--, geophysical data such as freeair, Bouguer and magnetic anomaly were used. Using the constructed spatial database, the relationships between minerals deposit areas and related factors were identified and quantified by probabilistic model. Among the factors, distance from Faults, Ca, Fe, Mg, Ph, SO4 and W were used for mapping of regional mineral potential using overlay method in GIS environment because there were close relationship (R2 > 0.5) between mineral deposit and the factors. Then, the mineral potential map was verified using rate curve method. The verification results showed satisfactory agreement between the mineral potential map and the existing mineral deposit area. A GIS was used to efficiently analyze the vast amount of data, and the probability model was turned out be an effective tool to analyze the mineral potential mapping.
MR11B-0941 0800h
Technics and Methodology Used in the Monitoring of Closed Mining Units by Geophysical Application, Albania.
Geophysical Center of Tirana has carried out some experimental site work within the domain of questions related to cavities occurred in the mined and abandoned mines in Albania. Artificial cavities represent an important research target in environmental mining. In our choice of geophysical methodologies, we have applied tomography resistivity and self-potential field method. If we consider the geological environments, each method is rare or less effective but in practice we have to resolve difficult ambiguity problems in the interpretation of geophysical data. Resistivity measurements have shed light on a low or high resistivity structure, of which characteristics coincide with the established geometry of the cavities. These are interesting examples to map cavities within a geological formation bedrock. The aim is to test with 2D electric imaging method, the cavities filled with air or soil. As regards the sources of the SP anomalies in the test sites above a "cavity effect" in some cases is observed the SP potential anomaly distribution. Our test coincide in three areas where are present the problems connected with ex-mining in Albania and the results are presented for each region separately.
MR11B-0942 0800h
An Introduction to Problems Encountered with Well Instrumentation
This is an overview paper intended to provide the reader with insight on basic reliability issues often confronted when designing long-term well monitoring equipment. No single system is looked at, but general examples of reliability issues involving fiber optic sensors, both fiber optic and electric cables and electronic components and sensors are given. This will aid in building systems where a long operating life is required. However, this introduction paper can not cover all reliability issues, so basic testing concepts are also suggested.