Investigating the geophysical characteristics of gypsum through GPR

Abstract

Gypsum crops out widely in the areas where the urbanization is intense in Sivas city center. In this study, in an appropriate selected area, geophysical characteristics and structure of gypsum have been investigated by applying geophysical methods of GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar). GPR measurements have been taken as 11 profiles with a Ramac GPR device by using 250 MHz shield-antenna. The distance between each profile has been taken as 2m and the length of each profile has been taken as 50m. All the area has been surveyed and ground radar sections have been obtained by GPR method. Gathering all the data, it has been found out that the areas with strong reflections (for the first 5m. depth) revealed in ground radar sections are not homogeneous massive gypsum bodies as presented in geological studies and contain different size and position fill material (clastic material). In addition, investigating such areas through GPR method has enabled to reveal the geophysical characteristics of the region as gypsum contains fractures-cracks, fillings and dissolution spaces.