A Technique for Evaluating the Hydraulic Conductivity of Saprolite

摘要

Increased emphasis on stringent controls of solid/hazardous wastes burial sites and the need in North Carolina for a rapid cost-effective evaluation of potential sites for such purpose required a quick, reasonably accurate method for determining hydraulic conductivity (HC) of saprolite developed on the crystalline rocks of the Piedmont Province. Development of such a method is reported using adapted commercially-available flow meter as a field instrument, tested with artificial standards composed of Portland cement and sand mixtures in various ratios. The standards related instrument-measured air permeability to HC of standard/field samples encased in heat-shrinkable plastic. Saprolites were studied (250 cores) from various rock types.