USING SEISMIC REFRACTION AS AN ECONOMICAL INVESTIGATION METHOD FOR GROUNDWATER RESOURCES

For decades, seismic refraction methods have proven effective and economical to model subsurface features. This study aims to determine the efficacy and economic value of the seismic refraction method to locate underground sources of water. Little lithologic data is available for the area within Moraine State Park, but the general geology is believed to be Pennsylvanian Age sandstones, shales, and limestones overlain by periglacial outwash sediments. A new well is to be installed to provide a local water source for the park. In order to determine a suitable location to drill a new water well Edinboro University students conducted a seismic refraction survey within the park. The study area was a field in the northwestern area of the park near Route 79. The refraction data was processed to create a three-layered velocity profile using the time-term inversion method. The results correlate depth to bedrock and the thickness of materials suitable for an aquifer. The refraction data shows three clear layers; a thin soil layer that extends down approximately 2 meters, sand and gravel type sediment with velocities suggesting saturated conditions that extends between 3 and 14 meters below the surface, and sandstone and shale bedrock consistent with the Allegheny formation. Due to the limited amount of data and small study area, additional studies are required to gather a more representative profile of the area.