Magnetic and seismic refraction survey for site investigation of an urban expansion site in Abha District, Southwest Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Ground magnetic and seismic refraction survey is carried out on an urban extension site in the southwest of Ahud Rufeidah town, southwest Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the survey was to map the surface topography of the bedrock and thickness of the alluvium overburden. The ground magnetic survey based on an assumption that the alluvial sediments is less or non-magnetic relative to the underlying gneiss basement rock. In this context, a total of 3,750 survey stations were measured along 40 east–west survey profiles, striking roughly perpendicular to the extension of the expected structures. In addition, 13 seismic refraction spreads were conducted along four seismic survey profiles across the expected pathways of buried alluvial channels in order to provide additional details about the depth and boundaries of the buried channels. The ground magnetic survey results show the presence of a basin combining two sub-basins filled with alluvium sediments that occupy the middle area of the investigated site. This basin is a closed basin that has no outlet, and there are four small and narrow channels that convey water and sediments from the eastern and southern hills into sub-basins. These channels are represented by narrow and elongated low magnetic anomalies extending towards the basinal area. The thickness of the alluvial sediments is verified using seismic refraction survey that indicates a greater thickness, exceeds 20 m, of low velocity sedimentary overburden inside the interpreted sub-basins and surrounding buried alluvial channels. These soft alluvial sediments can be deceptive and dangerous for urban foundations.