Downloaded from http://qjegh.lyellcollection.

org/ by guest on August 25, 2018

Geological Society Engineering Group

Working Party Report on
The logging of rock cores for
engineering purposes
ComEms
Introduction
1.1 General
1.2 Purpose .
1.3 Application
1.4 Quality .
1.5 Organization
1.6 Acknowledgements
General requirements of a borehole log
2.1 Definition .
2.2 Types of log . .
2.3 Information to be recorded
2.3.1 Basic information .
2.3.2 Drilling
2.3.3 Description
2.3.4 Symbolism .
2.4 Factors determining logging metho(ls
2.4.1 Overburden .
2.4.2 Log format
2.4.3 Cost
2.4.4 Cost benefit .
2.4.5 Simplified logs
2.4.6 Daily record
2.5 Information storage
2.6 S t y l e •
The handling, labelling and preservation o f rock cores .
3.1 Core recovery
3.2 Core extraction
3.3 Core boxes
3.4 Core box labelling
3.5 Transportation
3.6 Storage . .
3.7 Sample preservation
Information to be recorded on the borehole log 8
4.1 General information . 8
4.1.1 Borehole number 8
4.1.2 Location . 8
4.1.3 Drilling technique . 9
4.1.4 Contract details 9
4.1.5 Miscellaneous 9
4.2 Drilling progress . . 9
4.2.1 Daily record information 9
4.2.2 Training . . . 9
4.2.3 Non-recoverable information . 9
4.2.4 Water . 10

Q. J1 Engng Geol. V o l . 3 , 1970, pp. 1-24, 5 figs, pl. 1. Printed in Great Britain.

zj~G
Downloaded from http://qjegh.lyellcollection.org/ by guest on August 25, 2018

Working party report

4.3 State of recovery of core 10
4.3.1 Core fracturing . 10
4.3.2 Core recovery 10
4.3.3 Fracture state 11
4.3.4 R.Q.D. and Stability Index 11
4.4 Descriptive geology . 11
4.4.1 Geological information . II
4.4.2 Systematic rock description 11
4.4.3 Weathering classification 12
4.4.4 Discontinuities 12
4.4.5 Discontinuity spacing 13
4.4.6 Strength 14
4.4.7 Ancillary geological'information 14
4.5 Rock grade classification 14
4.5.1 Objective 14
4.5.2 Types of grade scale . 14
4.5.3 Limitations 15
5. Proposed borehole log . 15
5.1 Arrangement 15
5.2 Data plotting 15
5.3 Layout of log 15
5.3.1 General 15
5.3.2 Borehole number . 20
5.3.3 Location 2O
5.3.4 Drilling technique . 2O
5.3.5 Contract details 2O
5.3.6 Miscellaneous information 20
5.4 Drilling information 20
5.4.1 Arrangement. 20
5.4.2 Progress and rate of drilling 2O
5.4.3 Core diameter 21
5.4.4 Casing. 21
5.4.5 Flush returns" 21
5.4.6 Water levels . 21
5.4.7 State of recovery of'core " 21
5.5 Geological description . 21
5.5.1 Presentation 21
5.5.2 Dimensions . 21
5.5.3 Grade scales . 21
5.6 Continuation sheets 21
5.7 Simplified logs 23
6. Specified requirements 23
6.1 Essential data 23
6.2 Optional data 23
7. References 23

1. Introduction
1.1. GENERAL
M a n y engineering geologists devote a significant p r o p o r t i o n o f their time to the logging
o f boreholes and, specifically, to the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f rock cores in engineering terms.
A variety o f techniques have been devised for logging such cores b u t in the U n i t e d
K i n g d o m the systems w h i c h have been a d o p t e d are often i n a d e q u a t e in relation to
m o d e r n requirements. The C o d e o f Practice for Site Investigations (c.v. 2001 1957, 94)
provides a m i n i m a l statement on the m e t h o d s o f p r e p a r i n g logs f r o m b o r i n g s ; no specific
advice is given on rock core description. It is apparent, also, that the m a x i m u m potential
yield o f d a t a f r o m m a n y boreholes is not attained and, in consequence, the benefit f r o m
drilling not fully realized.
Downloaded from http://qjegh.lyellcollection.org/ by guest on August 25, 2018

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

Vol. 3, no. I I~ December x97o

Contents

Geological Society Engineering Group Working Party Report:

The logging of rock cores for engineering purposes .

G, WEST & M, J', DUMBLETON: The mineralogy of tropical weathering illustrated

by some west Malaysian soils . . . . . . . . 2~

Technical Notes
P. M. lAMES: The behaviour of a soft recent sediment under embankment loadings 4x

P.R. RANKILOR : All approach to the simulation of mining subsidence phenomena

in an elastic, layered model . . . . . . . . 55

R . J. C H A N D L E R : Solifluction on low-angled slopes in Northamptonshire 65"

Obituary Notice
Jack Ineson (i917-I97o) . 7I

THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON

Burlington House, Piccadilly, London w x

Printed by
J. w. ARROWSMITH LIMITED
Winterstoke Road, Bristol 3