Earth Sciences

The soils and geology experience of the Carr Research Laboratory, Inc. (CRL) includes diversified projects involving site inspections, field sampling, permeability testing, erosion control implementation, geological mapping, resource evaluation for energy and metals, and fundamental research on tectonic processes. Both Dr. Wang and Mr. Goddard are certified soil evaluators in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Dr. Carr taught Geology at Purdue University, Environmental Geology courses at Boston College, and Soils Identification Workshops run by Carr Research Laboratory, Inc. CRL has a soils laboratory with an array of testing equipment.

Soil Evaluation and Field Experience. CRL has evaluated soils in test pits throughout New England. We have also conducted numerous analyses of soil and bedrock sampled by CRL and team engineers. Our work typically includes sieve analysis, texture identification, and composition determination related to on-site sewage treatment, groundwater recharge, stormwater treatment design, and sand and gravel operations. CRL has performed complete hydrogeologic studies by integrating our skills in soils, geology, and hydrology.

Permeability Testing. CRL staff members regularly perform in situ constant head and Title V percolation tests for determination of soil permeability and infiltration rate. This data is utilized to identify prime locations of stormwater recharge and leaching fields, to design infiltration systems which meet stormwater Best Management Practice (BMP) standards, and to design septic systems. Computer programs developed in-house allow for accurate permeability determinations and detailed infiltration and groundwater mounding designs.

Erosion Control. CRL has been implementing erosion and sediment control measures for over a decade. Typical services include non-structural erosion and sediment BMP planning, creating plans for construction projects, designing the application of erosion control measures, and creating maintenance plans to prevent mobilization of sediments. Conventional methods of bank stabilization are frequently designed and CRL now offers bioengineering techniques for protecting ecologically sensitive areas.

Soil and Bedrock Interpretation. The Jet Spray Corporation and the Sharon Shire Estates sites are two projects where geological interpretation of soils and bedrock were required. CRL demonstrated that bedrock controlled certain aspects of water flow and that surface geologic deposits acted as local controls of groundwater flows. In the latter project, phosphorous adsorption potential in soils was also addressed.

Beach Sand Analysis. Our in-house research project on beach sand is directed toward establishing standards for sands that are to be used below water on public recreational beaches. Many sands are precluded from use below water because turbidity derived from the sand means that swimming areas cannot meet the state standard of 4 feet of visibility at public recreational beaches.

Glacial Tills. CRL has done extensive field observations and sieve analyses of tills, sands, and gravels. We have seen tills containing pebbles misidentified as gravel, and tills lacking stones erroneously identified as sands or clays. CRL has developed a technique for recognition of flow tills, which are tills that have flowed under gravity on moderate slopes. Proper identification of glacial tills is essential to gaining a complete understanding of site hydrology.

Geology of Peat and Wetlands. The process of peat formation has a large impact on wetland hydrology. Peat formation rates and decay processes reveal the history of a wetland and have a strong influence on site hydrology. The CRL staff has conducted extensive research on peat formation processes including mapping peat thickness in many wetlands.

Coal and Oil Shale. Summary environmental impact studies on coal and oil shale development were done by CRL as part of the Project Independence Blueprint. Geologic information was evaluated to identify acid mine drainage, coal beds within aquifers, heavy metals in the raw materials, and environmental problems caused by mining.