Exploration

Sand and gravel have always belonged to the most important raw materials in the world. This is why knowledge of the subsoil is so important for the efficient extraction of a deposit. Incomplete knowledge about a deposit can often lead to problems later on; sub-optimal extraction machinery may be employed, or the exploitation value or extraction timeframe may be estimated too optimistically.

Using geotechnical methods we can deliver precise information regarding local deposit conditions. These include bore samples, ramming core sounding, cone penetration tests, ground studies or geophysical studies involving seismology or geoelectricity. SPE GmbH & CO. KG takes charge of the planning and supervision of exploratory work and the evaluation and can then come to reliable conclusions regarding the condition, the density and the spatial location of individual layers.

The main goal of geoelectrical exploration is to be able to draw conclusions about the stratification of the ground, and to learn more about the continuity of the individual soil layers and their structural content. Our approach: a geoelectrical exploration of an area up to 200 meters in length with a penetration depth of up to 40 meters. The results are then displayed in the form of a 2D resistance tomography as a section of the subsurface.

To explore underwater deposits we also apply shallow seismic methods, with which we can reach exploration depths of up to 15 meters below the water bed. The combination of seismic and geoelectric measurements and geotechnical procedures such as ramming core sounding or shell and auger drilling can significantly improve the accuracy of deposit exploration and more produce more accurately calibrated geoelectric and seismic results. In the context of gravel and sand exploration, this forms the basis for an interpretation of deposit research.

Since SPE GmbH & Co. KG’s MARPO systems from are primarily installed on floating dredgers, it is essential to know the topographical features of the water or lake floor. Bathymetry, or hydrographic surveying, provides information on the depth profile of a body of water making it possible to determine the exact depth. The depth is determined on the basis of sound propagation, which is measured using different hydropgraphic sounding methods. These include, for example, echo sounders, which can provide information on water morphology based on the transit time of sound signals. Even more detailed information can be obtained using a multibeam, which, due to its higher density of measuring points, allows extensive mapping of the water bed. The third acoustic method we use to measure water bodies is the side scan sonar, which does not record the soil structure like a fan the same way an echo sounder does, but provides an three-dimensional accurate image.