ASTM D5079-02(2006)
(Practice)Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Rock Core Samples
Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Rock Core Samples
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The geologic characteristics and the intended use of the rock core samples determine the extent and type of preservation required. If engineering properties are to be determined for the core, it must be handled and preserved in such a way that the measured properties are not significantly influenced by mechanical damage, changes in chemistry, and environmental conditions of moisture and temperature, from the time that the core is recovered from the core drill until testing is performed. Drill core is also the sample record for the subsurface geology at the borehole location, and as such must be preserved for some period of time, in some cases indefinitely, for future geologic study.
These practices present a selection of curatorial requirements which apply to the majority of projects. The requirements are given for a variety of rock types and project types ranging from small to large and from noncritical to critical. Noncritical projects are those in which failure of an element or the structure would result in negligible risk of injury and property loss, while there is great risk to property and life after failure of critical structures and projects. Guidance is given for the selection of those specific requirements which should be followed for a given project.
SCOPE
1.1 These practices cover the preservation, transportation, storage, cataloging, retrieval, and post-test disposition of rock core samples obtained for testing purposes and geologic study.
1.2 These practices apply to both hard and soft rock, but exclude ice and permafrost.
1.3 These practices do not apply to those situations in which changes in volatile gas components, contamination of the pore fluids, or mechanical stress relaxation affect the intended use for the core.
1.4 This practice offers a set of instruction for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgement. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word "Standard" in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
This standard does not purport to address the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: D 5079 – 02 (Reapproved 2006)
Standard Practices for
Preserving and Transporting Rock Core Samples
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5079; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* D 4220 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil
Samples
1.1 These practices cover the preservation, transportation,
2.2 API Standard:
storage, cataloging, retrieval, and post-test disposition of rock
API RP-40 Recommended Practice for Core Analysis Pro-
core samples obtained for testing purposes and geologic study.
cedure
1.2 These practices apply to both hard and soft rock, but
exclude ice and permafrost.
3. Terminology
1.3 Thesepracticesdonotapplytothosesituationsinwhich
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: See
changes in volatile gas components, contamination of the pore
Terminology D 653 for general definitions.
fluids, or mechanical stress relaxation affect the intended use
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
for the core.
3.2.1 critical care—samples which are fragile or fluid or
1.4 This practice offers a set of instruction for performing
temperature sensitive. This protection level includes the re-
one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace
quirements prescribed for routine and special care.
education or experience and should be used in conjunction
3.2.2 routine care—non-sensitive, non-fragile samples for
with professional judgement. Not all aspects of this practice
which only general visual identification is necessary, and
may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is
samples which will not change or deteriorate before laboratory
not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by
testing.
which the adequacy of a given professional service must be
3.2.3 soil-like care—materials which are so poorly consoli-
judged, nor should this document be applied without consid-
dated that soil sampling procedures must be employed to
eration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Stan-
obtain intact pieces of core.
dard” in the title of this document means only that the
3.2.4 special care—fluid sensitive samples and those which
document has been approved through the ASTM consensus
must later be subjected to testing. Requirements for this level
process.
of protection include those prescribed for routine care.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address the safety
problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the
4. Significance and Use
user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
4.1 The geologic characteristics and the intended use of the
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
rock core samples determine the extent and type of preserva-
tions prior to use.
tionrequired.Ifengineeringpropertiesaretobedeterminedfor
the core, it must be handled and preserved in such a way that
2. Referenced Documents
2 the measured properties are not significantly influenced by
2.1 ASTM Standards:
mechanical damage, changes in chemistry, and environmental
D 420 Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering De-
conditions of moisture and temperature, from the time that the
sign and Construction Purposes
core is recovered from the core drill until testing is performed.
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Drill core is also the sample record for the subsurface geology
Fluids
at the borehole location, and as such must be preserved for
D2113 Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of
some period of time, in some cases indefinitely, for future
Rock for Site Investigation
geologic study.
4.2 These practices present a selection of curatorial require-
ments which apply to the majority of projects. The require-
ThesepracticesareunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoiland
ments are given for a variety of rock types and project types
RockandarethedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD18.12onRockMechanics.
ranging from small to large and from noncritical to critical.
Current edition approved May 1, 2006. Published June 2006. Originally
approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 5079–02.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American Petroleum Institute, 1220 L Street, Washington, DC
the ASTM website. 20005.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D 5079 – 02 (2006)
Noncritical projects are those in which failure of an element or and testing may be required at some later time for additional
the structure would result in negligible risk of injury and geologic study or re-evaluation of property data. Some states
property loss, while there is great risk to property and life after have regulations governing the disposition and storage of core
failure of critical structures and projects. Guidance is given for obtained within the state.
the selection of those specific requirements which should be 5.4 Fig. 1 is a flow chart that shows the various core
followed for a given project. handling, use, and storage activities and the corresponding
section numbers in these practices. Note that four care or
5. Guide for Implementation
protection levels are defined in Section 3 to account for the
5.1 A qualified person shall be assigned to have curatorial
great variety of rock sensitivities and core uses encountered in
management responsibility for a given project. This person
practice.
shall be technically competent in the management of rock core
5.5 Thepersonassignedcuratorialmanagementresponsibil-
samplesandshallhaveaknowledgeofthevariousendusesfor
ity should study the flow chart in Fig. 1 as it relates to the
the cores and their associated preservation requirements. This
designated Sections 6-11 in these practices. Note in particular,
responsible person shall have the authority to implement the
that a selection of the required protection must be made in 7.5,
requirements selected from these practices. In some cases, he
where four levels of protection are specified, namely routine
or she may also have to decide between competing uses for the
care, special care, critical care, and soil-like care.
same core.
5.6 Specialattentionisalsodirectedtorecordsrequirements
5.2 The responsible person shall select from Sections 6-11
in Section 12, that document the history of the core handling,
those requirements and procedures that should be applied for
preservation, and storage.
the core from a particular project. The curatorial manager shall
6. Apparatus
then see that these procedures are implemented, and also see
that the records specified in Section 12 are kept.
6.1 Camera, for taking photographs of cores for logging.
5.3 Thefollowingfactorsshouldbeconsideredwhenselect-
6.2 Controlled Humidity Room.
ing the curatorial requirements from Sections 6-11:
6.3 Core Boxes—See 7.6.1.
5.3.1 Project requirements for use of the core range from
6.4 Vinylidene Chloride Plastic Film, Aluminum Foil, Plas-
simpleones,inwhichtheonlyneedistoidentifyandlocatethe
tic Microcrystalline Wax, for sealing in moisture content of
various lithologic units, to complex and critical ones in which
cores.
detailed property testing of the core is required for engineering
6.5 Polyethylene Layflat Plastic Tubing.
design. Priorities for multiple uses or different types of tests
must sometimes be established when available core lengths are
limited and when one use or test precludes another. For
example, splitting a core for detailed geologic study prevents
later strength testing, which requires an intact core.
5.3.2 Mechanical property tests for structural design pur-
poses should be performed on a core in its natural moisture
state, particularly if the rocks are argillaceous. Irreversible
changes occur when such rocks are allowed to dry out, often
resulting in invalid design data. The initial moisture content of
such a core should therefore be preserved.
5.3.3 Freezing of pore water in the core may reduce the
strength of the rock. The high temperature associated with
unventilated storage sheds in summer, and temperatures alter-
nating between hot and cold, may cause moisture migration
from the core and weakening of the rock due to differential
thermal expansion and contraction between grains. Such tem-
perature extremes should therefore be avoided, particularly for
weak sedimentary rock types.
5.3.4 Aweak rock core may be broken or further weakened
by careless handling, such as dropping a core box, or by
mechanical vibration and shock during transportation. Break-
ing of the core reduces sample lengths available for testing.
Weakening caused by such mechanical stressing may lower
measured strength parameters and may affect other properties.
5.3.5 Therequiredpreservationtimemayvaryfromasshort
as three months to several years, and sometimes core may need
to be stored indefinitely. A core taken simply to identify the
bedrock lithology beneath a small structure may be needed for
a few months only. For large and critical structures, it may be
NOTE 1—Numbers refer to corresponding sections of this practice.
necessary to retain the core for many years as re-examination FIG. 1 Flow Chart for Core Handling, Use, and Storage Activities
D 5079 – 02 (2006)
6.6 Poly(vinyl chloride) Tubing. surface dry condition and one with the core in a wet condition
to bring out optical properties that would not otherwise be
6.7 Sawdust, Rubber, Polystyrene, or material of similar
apparent.
resiliency to cushion the core.
7.3.7 This procedure may require photography both in the
6.8 Miscellaneous Equipment, such as adhesive tape and
field and then later in the storage facility, but it must be
waterproof felt-tip markers.
completed before any test core removal and before damage
from mishandling has a chance to occur.
7. Requirements and Procedures at the Drilling Site
7.3.8 Where it is impossible for a photo to show identifica-
7.1 Sample Recovery:
tion data marked directly on the sample or its container, then
7.1.1 Accomplishsample recovery in accordancewithPrac-
mount appropriately marked placards so as to be included in
ticeD2113 or API RP-40.
the frame.
7.1.2 Whichever approved drilling method is used, remove
7.3.9 Organize the photographs and mount in a folder for
the samples from the core barrel with a minimum of distur-
easy access and preservation.
bance.
7.4 Initial Logging:
7.2 Handling:
7.4.1 The boring inspector must complete at least a prelimi-
nary field log of the core before it is packed away to be
7.2.1 Each borehole shall be given full-time attention by a
qualified inspector constantly available for observing, direct- transported. Suggested procedures for logging are given in the
, , ,
4 5 6 7
literature. The preliminary log must include all identi-
ing, photographing, and field logging. The inspector shall not
perform simultaneously the same duties for more than one fication data for the borehole and personnel and equipment
boringunlesstheboringsarecloseenoughtoeachothersothat involved, notations of coring run depths, recovery percentages,
the entire inspection process can be done for each boring. lithologic contact depths, types and locations of protection
applied to samples, and any facts that would otherwise be
7.2.2 For relatively solid pieces of core that will not be
unknown to whomever may complete a more detailed log at a
adversely affected, the inspector shall use a marker, such as a
later time. It is desirable that detailed logs be completed by the
felt-tip, to orient each piece so that later users will always be
same inspector who does the field logging. It is advisable for
able to distinguish top from bottom. Acceptable formats are a
the inspector immediately to make notations on the depths at
continuous line with arrows or parallel solid and dashed lines
which, in his judgment, any core losses occurred. Sometimes it
with the dashed line always on the same side of the solid line.
is possible later to fill in gaps in the initial log by interpreta-
The direction convention shall be recorded in the log book.
tions from wireline logs.
Locations of known depths should be marked directly on the
7.4.2 The inspector is to complete a detailed log on the drill
core when the orientation marks are drawn.
, , ,
4 5 6 7
site (see the literature ) in cases where the core is likely
7.3 Core Photography:
to deteriorate or otherwise change before being examined
7.3.1 Perform core photography on all core samples with a
again.
camera of 35 mm (minimum) format using color film to record
7.4.3 For fragile core that must be immediately protected by
permanently the unaltered appearance of the rock. The film
wrapping and sealing, preliminary logging should take place in
selected should be color balanced for the available lighting
the field, but application of protective measures are to take
(daylight, flash, incandescent, or florescent), or an appropriate
precedence over time-consuming detailed logging.
filter should be placed on the camera to compensate for the
difference. The core should be cleaned prior to any photogra-
NOTE 1—It is permissible later to make changes in detailed logs when
phy. laboratory analysis indicates original misidentification of rock type or
other geologic features.
7.3.2 A commercially available color strip chart should be
included in the photo frame to serve as a reference to check the
7.5 Sample Protection—Four levels of sample protection
accuracy of the photographic reproduction of the rock core
are covered (see Section 3): routine care, special care, critical
colors.
care, and soil-like care. The level of protection chosen will
7.3.3 For rock placed in core boxes, take one photo of each depend on the geologic character of the rock and the intended
boxonceitisfilledtocapacity.Includetheinsideoftheboxlid use for the core.
7.5.1 Routine care (see Fig. 2):
with appropriate identification data and a clearly visible length
scale laid along one edge of the box so that it also shows in the
photo.
7.3.4 Where very long, intact cores are being preserved in
Association of Engineering Geologist, Core Logging Committee, SouthAfrica
single plastic tubes, make detail-revealing close-ups of each
Section, “A Guide to Core Logging for Rock Engineering,” Bulletin of
...
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