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Recent Projects |
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Matheson Mining Consultants, Inc. (MMC) in Golden, CO, USA has recently been asked to study and comment on the potential effects of blasting on biological resources in the San Joaquin Valley of California. This work was performed in the interest of client permit acceptance by regulatory authorities, including; the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the managers of several wildlife preserves. Regulatory authorities are often reluctant to authorize permits for petroleum exploration or mining activities without specific engineering information in support of their application.
Categories of concern include vernal pools (shallow seasonal pools underlain by claypan or hardpan with endangered species of shrimp and surrounded by rings of endangered plant species), tunnels, burrows, and dens of sensitive species, and hearing of sensitive species. Research was performed and qualified wildlife biologists were consulted to obtain information of the depth and dimensions of tunnels, burrows, and dens, as well as information on hearing of sensitive species which include kit foxes, burrowing owls, blunt-nosed leopard lizards, and various small mammals.
The first crucial step is the collection of ground motion and air overpressure data using Blastmate® III and Minimate Plus™ seismographs. The ground motion data is analyzed to statistically predict ground motion intensities at given distances for differing charge weights. These results, used in conjunction with conservative engineering data regarding the zones of rupture around the charge, as well as input from qualified wildlife biologists, were then used to suggest safe offsets while enabling the client's operations to proceed with a minimum of disturbance.
Air overpressure data taken in the field was equated to pressure in psi and was then used to prove offsets from sensitive species (burrows) would be adequate to protect hearing.
MMC is currently pursuing work using Instantel seismographs with hydrophones to study and protect marine life from offshore air gun seismic exploration, as well as aquatic wildlife in inland waterways. |
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Geophysicist Mark L. Burgus monitors Vibroseis ground vibrations. |
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Effects of Blasting on Biological Resources in the San Joaquin Valley of California |
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Seismograph Rental & Sales |
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Matheson Mining Consultants, Inc. |
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The blunt-nosed leopard lizard |