The Western Michigan University Asylum Lake Geophysical Test Site

William A. Sauck, William A. Sauck, Department of GeosciencesDepartment of GeosciencesWestern Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University

Acknowledgements Dr. Estella AtekwanaDr. Estella Atekwana To the many students who have helped with To the many students who have helped with

installations.installations. Richie LatonRichie Laton Darren MeyerDarren Meyer Carrie LovetereCarrie Lovetere Kay SpreitzerKay Spreitzer Brian BirdBrian Bird Andrew KozlowskiAndrew Kozlowski Adrian EzeaguAdrian Ezeagu Hidetsugu KosakaHidetsugu Kosaka

To our WMU administrators for their tolerance.To our WMU administrators for their tolerance.

Outline

IntroductionIntroduction Site Location, Morphology, & GeologySite Location, Morphology, & Geology Subsurface TargetsSubsurface Targets Usage of the SiteUsage of the Site Responses of various geophysical Responses of various geophysical

instrumentsinstruments Conclusions / Future DirectionsConclusions / Future Directions

Introduction

Site HistorySite History State of Michigan - State Hospital GroundsState of Michigan - State Hospital Grounds Ceded to WMU Ceded to WMU Cropland rented to various farmers until 1997.Cropland rented to various farmers until 1997. Long term preservation as a natural area under Long term preservation as a natural area under

auspices of 1999 Kalamazoo Foundation - WMU auspices of 1999 Kalamazoo Foundation - WMU agreement.agreement.

Reasons for developing a test siteReasons for developing a test site Teaching geophysics and archaeology classes Teaching geophysics and archaeology classes

where the subsurface features are known.where the subsurface features are known. Calibrating and testing WMU geophysical equip.Calibrating and testing WMU geophysical equip. AttractAttract manufacturers of new equipment. manufacturers of new equipment.

Site Location / Morphology / Geology

SW side of Kalamazoo, on one of three SW side of Kalamazoo, on one of three contiguous University Farms properties.contiguous University Farms properties.

Nearly flat, 50 m x 200 m area. (1 hectare).Nearly flat, 50 m x 200 m area. (1 hectare). Water table at 20 m.Water table at 20 m. Conductive clayey till at surface, 0.6 to 0.8 Conductive clayey till at surface, 0.6 to 0.8

meters thick.meters thick. This is underlain by more than 30 m of This is underlain by more than 30 m of

glacial outwash sands and gravels.glacial outwash sands and gravels.

TestSite

WMUCampus

AsylumLakeArea

Location of 50 m x 200 m WMU Geophysical Test Site

Subsurface Targets

Row 1: 55 gal steel drums (empty).Row 1: 55 gal steel drums (empty). Singles at 0.5 m and 1 m depthSingles at 0.5 m and 1 m depth Pairs in various orientationsPairs in various orientations Trios in various orientationsTrios in various orientations

Row 2: 30 gal Plastic drums; 6 gal pailsRow 2: 30 gal Plastic drums; 6 gal pails Empty, half-filled or filled with tap water, salt water.Empty, half-filled or filled with tap water, salt water.

Row 3: 3.05 m x 5 cm steel pipe (2” x 10’)Row 3: 3.05 m x 5 cm steel pipe (2” x 10’) Singles at various orientations, pairsSingles at various orientations, pairs

Row 4: [ half is reserved for archaeology]Row 4: [ half is reserved for archaeology] Steel and Aluminum flushmount well coversSteel and Aluminum flushmount well covers

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 M eters East

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W .A.S . - 06/29 /00

W M U Asylum Lake G eophysical Test S ite - A rchaeology Targets

M agnetic

2" P ipe-->

P lastic D rum s

Steel D rum s

<-- F lush-m ount well pro tectors

Archaeology

.

Steel drums are buried singly at various orientations and depths, then in pairs and trios along row 10N. 30 Gal plastic drums with water or partially filled with water are along row 20N. Steel pipes (10 ft x 2 inches) in various orientations and depths, and pairs are along row 30N. The archaeology 10m x 10m squares, as well as flush-mount well covers at 3 depths, are in row 40N, and contain numerous small objects.

&

Excavating for plastic drums; WMU Test Site

One of WMU field trucks with water trailer

Two freshly painted steel drums ready to be covered.

Usage of the site ( WMU )

Geophysics Courses: GL560, 561, 562, 563, 564.Geophysics Courses: GL560, 561, 562, 563, 564. Hydrogeology Field Course (geophys. module): GL525Hydrogeology Field Course (geophys. module): GL525 Master’s Thesis: Justin M. Bailey - “Comparison of Master’s Thesis: Justin M. Bailey - “Comparison of

Target Detectability and Resolution by 3 Different Target Detectability and Resolution by 3 Different Horizontal Loop EM Systems at the Asylum L. Horizontal Loop EM Systems at the Asylum L. Geophysical Test Site” (in progress).Geophysical Test Site” (in progress).

Funded Research: W.A. Sauck - “Evaluation of Funded Research: W.A. Sauck - “Evaluation of Geophysical Techniques for Locating Abandoned Water Geophysical Techniques for Locating Abandoned Water Supply and Monitor Wells in Michigan”; MDEQ Supply and Monitor Wells in Michigan”; MDEQ Abandoned Well Management Program, $42,000.Abandoned Well Management Program, $42,000.

GeonicsEM-61

AsylumLake

2” x 42’BlackSteel

G-858Mag.

2” x 21’BlackSteel

Usage of the site ( non-WMU )

Schlumberger, Inc. (well logging); logged a deep well Schlumberger, Inc. (well logging); logged a deep well with the intent of adapting petroleum well logging tools with the intent of adapting petroleum well logging tools to the smaller-scale water supply and monitor wells.to the smaller-scale water supply and monitor wells.

Sensors & Software(Toronto); Pulse Ekko radar (GPR).Sensors & Software(Toronto); Pulse Ekko radar (GPR). Zonge Engineering & Research Organization (Tucson); Zonge Engineering & Research Organization (Tucson);

nanoTEM, a new time-domain EM system for nanoTEM, a new time-domain EM system for investigations of the shallow subsurface.investigations of the shallow subsurface.

DUALEM, Inc. (Milton, Ontario); tested DUALEM-4, a DUALEM, Inc. (Milton, Ontario); tested DUALEM-4, a new dual-coil electromagnetic system.new dual-coil electromagnetic system.

Geophysical instruments tested on site.

Magnetometers ; magnetic gradiometers.Magnetometers ; magnetic gradiometers. Geometrics G-816, G-858, Schonstedt GA-72CV; Fisher FX-3Geometrics G-816, G-858, Schonstedt GA-72CV; Fisher FX-3

Electromagnetic Induction systems (EM)Electromagnetic Induction systems (EM) Geonics EM-16, EM-17, EM-31, EM-34, EM-38, EM-61; DUALEM 4Geonics EM-16, EM-17, EM-31, EM-34, EM-38, EM-61; DUALEM 4

Seismic systemsSeismic systems Bison 12-ch; Geometrics Strataview 24-channelBison 12-ch; Geometrics Strataview 24-channel

Electrical Resistivity systems (ER)Electrical Resistivity systems (ER) Bison 2390; Syscal R2Bison 2390; Syscal R2

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) GSSI SIR-10A+, Sensors & Software Pulse EkkoGSSI SIR-10A+, Sensors & Software Pulse Ekko

Well-logging systemsWell-logging systems Keck SR-3000 natural gamma rayKeck SR-3000 natural gamma ray

GeonicsEM-31

AsylumLake

EM-31 mSiemens/m

West half of test site - shallow conductivity.

Geonics EM-61 HH (Hand Held)

Map of EM-61HH results, which show shallow objects best.

GSSI -GeoPhexGEM-300EMSystem

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40G E M -300 Q uadrature D ata (2610 H z)

G E M -300 Inphase D ata (2610 H z)

Asylum Lake Geophysical Test Site

C ontour Interval = 100 ppm

C ontour In terval = 250 ppm.

.GEM-300 @ 2610 Hz

Conclusions

The conductive surficial till layer makes GPR and The conductive surficial till layer makes GPR and EM surveying very challenging.EM surveying very challenging.

Only two of the plastic drums have been detected Only two of the plastic drums have been detected by geophysical means.by geophysical means.

The polarity of the EM-31 response over steel The polarity of the EM-31 response over steel drums reverses when burial depth exceeds about drums reverses when burial depth exceeds about half the coil separation => null point exists?half the coil separation => null point exists?

The multi-frequency GEM 300 / GEM-2 have the The multi-frequency GEM 300 / GEM-2 have the potential to discriminate between target types potential to discriminate between target types based on spectral response.based on spectral response.

Pipes & drums have strong perm. magnetization.Pipes & drums have strong perm. magnetization.

Conclusions / Future Directions

This site has attracted international interest by This site has attracted international interest by equipment manufacturers and has given WMU equipment manufacturers and has given WMU faculty and students valuable previews of a number faculty and students valuable previews of a number of new geophysical systems.of new geophysical systems.

Hundreds of students have learned the responses of Hundreds of students have learned the responses of objects typical of sites which must be characterized objects typical of sites which must be characterized by environmental / engineering companies.by environmental / engineering companies.

Targets of the type found at colonial archaeology Targets of the type found at colonial archaeology sites were emplaced in 2000.sites were emplaced in 2000.

This is a low-impact use, conformable with the This is a low-impact use, conformable with the nature preserve envisioned for the entire property.nature preserve envisioned for the entire property.

Typical View of WMU Geophysical Test Site

Thank You