ASTM D6431-99
(Guide)Standard Guide for Using the Direct Current Resistivity Method for Subsurface Investigation
Standard Guide for Using the Direct Current Resistivity Method for Subsurface Investigation
SCOPE
1.1 Purpose and Application:
1.1.1 This guide summarizes the equipment, field procedures, and interpretation methods for the assessment of the electrical properties of subsurface materials and their pore fluids, using the direct current (DC) resistivity method. Measurements of the electrical properties of subsurface materials are made from the land surface and yield an apparent resistivity. These data can then be interpreted to yield an estimate of the depth, thickness, and resistivity of subsurface layer(s).
1.1.2 Resistivity measurements as described in this guide are applied in geological, geotechnical, environmental, and hydrologic investigations. The resistivity method is used to map geologic features such as lithology, structure, fractures, and statigraphy; hydrologic features such as depth to water table, depth to aquitard, and ground water salinity; and to delineate ground water contaminants. General references are, Keller and Frischknecht (1), Zohdy et al (2), Koefoed (3), EPA (4), Ward (5), Griffiths and King (6), and Telford et al(7).
1.2 Limitations:
1.2.1 This guide provides an overview of the Direct Current Resistivity Method. It does not address in detail the theory, field procedures, or interpretation of the data. Numerous references are included for that purpose and are considered an essential part of this guide. It is recommended that the user of the resistivity method be familiar with the references cited in the text and with the Guide D 420, Practice D 5088, Practice D 5608, Guide D 5730, Test Method G 57, D 6429, and D 6235.
1.2.2 This guide is limited to the commonly used approach for resistivity measurements using sounding and profiling techniques with the Schlumberger, Wenner, or dipole-dipole arrays and modifications to those arrays. It does not cover the use of a wide range of specialized arrays. It also does not include the use of spontaneous potential (SP) measurements, induced polarization (IP) measurements, or complex resistivity methods.
1.2.3 The resistivity method has been adapted for a number of special uses: on land, in a borehole, or on water. Discussions of these adaptations of resistivity measurements are not included in this guide.
1.2.4 The approaches suggested in this guide for the resistivity method are the most commonly used, widely accepted, and proven. However, other approaches or modifications to the resistivity method that are technically sound may be substituted if technically justified and documented.
1.2.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education, experience, and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM document 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.
1.3 Precautions:
1.3.1 It is the responsibility of the user of this guide to follow any precautions in the equipment manufacturer's recommendations and to consider the safety implications when high voltages and currents are used.
1.3.2 If this guide is used at sites with hazardous materials, operations, or equipment, it is the responsibility of the user of this guide to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of any regulations prior to use.
1.3.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations p...
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Designation: D 6431 – 99
Standard Guide for
Using the Direct Current Resistivity Method for Subsurface
1
Investigation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6431; 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 1.2.3 The resistivity method has been adapted for a number
of special uses, on land, within a borehole, or on water.
1.1 Purpose and Application:
Discussions of these adaptations of resistivity measurements
1.1.1 This guide summarizes the equipment, field proce-
are not included in this guide.
dures, and interpretation methods for the assessment of the
1.2.4 The approaches suggested in this guide for the resis-
electrical properties of subsurface materials and their pore
tivity method are the most commonly used, widely accepted
fluids, using the direct current (DC) resistivity method. Mea-
and proven; however, other approaches or modifications to the
surements of the electrical properties of subsurface materials
resistivitymethodthataretechnicallysoundmaybesubstituted
are made from the land surface and yield an apparent resistiv-
if technically justified and documented.
ity. These data can then be interpreted to yield an estimate of
1.2.5 This guide offers an organized collection of informa-
the depth, thickness, and resistivity of subsurface layer(s).
tion or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
1.1.2 Resistivity measurements as described in this guide
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
are applied in geological, geotechnical, environmental, and
experienceandshouldbeusedinconjunctionwithprofessional
hydrologic investigations. The resistivity method is used to
judgements. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in
map geologic features such as lithology, structure, fractures,
all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to
and stratigraphy; hydrologic features such as depth to water
represent or replace the standard of care by which the
table, depth to aquitard, and ground water salinity; and to
adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor
delineate ground water contaminants. General references are,
2
should this document be applied without consideration of a
Keller and Frischknecht (1), Zohdy et al (2), Koefoed (3),
project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
EPA(4), Ward (5), Griffiths and King (6), and Telford et al (7).
title of this document means only that the document has been
1.2 Limitations:
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
1.2.1 This guide provides an overview of the Direct Current
1.3 Precautions:
Resistivity Method. It does not address in detail the theory,
1.3.1 It is the responsibility of the user of this guide to
field procedures, or interpretation of the data. Numerous
follow any precautions in the equipment manufacturer’s rec-
references are included for that purpose and are considered an
ommendations and to consider the safety implications when
essential part of this guide. It is recommended that the user of
high voltages and currents are used.
the resistivity method be familiar with the references cited in
1.3.2 If this guide is used at sites with hazardous materials,
the text and with the Guide D 420, Practice D 5088, Practice
operations, or equipment, it is the responsibility of the user of
D 5608, Guide D 5730, Test Method G 57, D 6429, and
this guide to establish appropriate safety and health practices
D 6235.
and to determine the applicability of regulations prior to use.
1.2.2 This guide is limited to the commonly used approach
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
for resistivity measurements using sounding and profiling
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
techniques with the Schlumberger, Wenner, or dipole-dipole
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
arrays and modifications to those arrays. It does not cover the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
use of a wide range of specialized arrays. It also does not
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
include the use of spontaneous potential (SP) measurements,
induced polarization (IP) measurements, or complex resistivity
2. Referenced Documents
methods.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 420 Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering, De-
1
3
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
sign, and Construction Purposes
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.01 on Surface and
Subsurface Characterization.
Current edition approved June 10, 1999. Published Septemer 1999.
...
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