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Engineering Geology for the Snowy Mountains Scheme

Granitic Soil :
Definition.—Surface soil derived from granitic rocks, which does not possess any recognizable granitic fabric; the surface layer often contains humus and roots of plants.
Engineering Properties.—Generally unsuitable for foundations of structures or roads, or for use as fill; it is very important for soil conservation for spreading over the surface of embankments and cuttings to establish plant growth to prevent erosion; in the absence of vegetation, it is highly unstable and liable to slump when saturated.
Completely Weathered Granite:
Definition.—Granite completely decomposed by weathering in place, but still possessing a recognizable granitic fabric; the original felspars are completely decomposed to clay minerals which remain as grains of clay; biotite mica may be decomposed to varying degrees; it will disintegate into a mass of sandy clay when immersed in water and cannot often be recovered as cores by ordinary diamond drilling methods; often stained brown with limonite.
Engineering Properties.—Can be excavated by hand, and by ripping, without the use of explosives. Unsuitable as foundations for concrete dams or large concrete structures; may be suitable for foundations of earth dams (permeability of 5 to 100 feet per year); unstable in high cuttings at angles steeper than 1 : 1; may be suitable for rolled earth fill for earth dam construction (permeability 0.1 to 5 feet per year); readily eroded by water and frost and requires protection against erosion.
Highly Weathered Granite :
Definition.—Intensely weathered granite, weakened to the extent that pieces the size of NX drill core (2⅛ inches in diameter) can be broken and crumbled in the hands; does not disintegrate when soaked in water and can often be recovered as cores by careful diamond drilling, but is often lost; often stained reddish brown due to limonite.
Engineering Properties.—Very similar to those of completely weathered granite.
Moderately Weathered Granite:
Definition.—Granite considerably weathered throughout, but possessing strength such that pieces the size of NX drill core cannot be broken by the unaided hands ; often stained reddish brown with limonite.
Engineering Properties.—Can be excavated with difficulty without the use of explosives ; may be suitable for foundations of small concrete structures; its stability in rock cuttings depends on the structure of the rock mass, especially the jointing, the moderately weathered granite itself being capable of standing vertically; mostly crumbles under 'dozer tracks; may be suitable for semi-pervious fill for dam construction; although the rock itself is practically impervious, the rock mass is often highly permeable due to the presence of open joints.
Slightly Weathered Granite:
Definition.—Granite distinctly weathered throughout the fabric of the rock, as shown by slight limonite staining, and some decomposition of the felspars; but its strength approaches that of fresh granite.

Details for this article:

Engineering Geology for the Snowy Mountains Scheme

X

Author: Moye, D. G (1955)

Article Title: Engineering Geology for the Snowy Mountains Scheme

From: J.I.E.Aust., Vol. 27 No.10 pp287-298

Other Available Articles

Engineering geology for the Snowy Mountains Scheme

Moye, D.G. (1955)

Engineering geology for the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

J.I.E.Aust., Vol. 27 No.10 pp287–298

Rock Mechanics in the Investigation and Construction of T.1 Underground Power Station, Snowy Mountains, Australia

Moye, D.G. (1958)

Rock Mechanics in the Investigation and Construction of T.1 Underground Power Station, Snowy Mountains, Australia

In Engineering Geology Case Histories No.3 123–54 Geological Society of America 69 (12) p.1617

Existence of high horizontal rock stresses in rock masses.

Moye, D.G. (1962)

Existence of high horizontal rock stresses in rock masses.

Proc. Third Australia-New Zealand Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. pp 19–22

Seismic Activity in the Snowy Mountains Region and its Relationship to Geological Structures

J. R. Cleary, H. A. Doyle, D. G. Moye (1964)

SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS REGION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURES

Journal of the Geological Society of Australia

Unstable rock and its treatment in the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

Moye, D.G. (1965)

Unstable rock and its treatment in the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

Proc. 8th Commonwealth Mining and Metallurgical Congress, Australia & New Zealand. Vol. 6, p. 423–441.

Diamond drilling for foundation exploration

Moye, D.G. (1967)

Diamond drilling for foundation exploration.

Paper 2150 presented at I.E.Aust. Site Investigation Symposium, September 1966. In Civil Engineering Transactions, with Discussion, April 1967.

Geology in Practice

Moye, D.G. (1970)

Geology in Practice. Presidential Address Section 3, Geology, ANZAAS Meeting.

Australian Journal of Science, 32 (12) June, p454–461.

* This paper was presented when Dan had been Director of Exploration of BHP for 3 years.

Field and Laboratory Tests in Rock Mechanics

Alexander, L. G (1960)

Field and Laboratory Tests in Rock Mechanics

Proceedings, 3rd Australian-New Zealand Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Sydney Australia, 1960, pp. 161–168.

Discussion at Technical Session No. 9—Rock Mechanics

Alexander, L. G. Moye, D. G. (1960)

Discussion at Technical Session No. 9—Rock Mechanics

Proceedings, 3rd Australian-New Zealand Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Sydney Australia, 1960, pp. 254–250