Subsurface Soil Evaluation using Seismic Refraction Tomography and Standard Penetration Test at Bukit Bunuh Impact Crater Area

Year 2019, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 1 - 10, 31.01.2019

Mustapha Adejo Mohammed Rosli Saad Nur Azwin Ismail Sabiu Bala Muhammad Amsir Taib Mokhtar Saidin

https://doi.org/10.28978/nesciences.522158

Abstract

Subsurface soil varies from place to place due to the rock type, its mineral constituents, the climate
of the area, time and other geological activities such as meteorite impact. The process that leads to
the formation of impact crater can cause great variation in the subsurface soil characteristics, which
may have an effect on civil engineering structures. Hence, the need to evaluate the subsurface soil
of the impacted area. In this study, Seismic refraction and borehole data were used to achieve the
aim. The result revealed that the overburden layer inside the crater is dominated by low-velocity
values (< 750 m/s) which correspond with low N-values. Moderate seismic velocity values (750 –
1400 m/s) with moderate to high N-values were predominant for overburden soil within the crater
rim and outside the crater. Slightly, moderately and highly weathered granite was observed at all
survey lines with velocity values ranging from 1200 - 3450 m/s. The low N-values with lowvelocity values obtained inside the crater are indications that the subsurface soil inside the impact
crater area has been deformed and weakened as evident by the presence of brecciation which
occurred during the impact process.

Keywords

Impact Crater, Subsurface Soil, Seismic Refraction, N-value

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