Student Research Involving Shallow Geophysics In And Around Colorado Springs

Four students taking an introductory geophysics course at Colorado College in October 2003<br>were responsible for running small research projects. Using the college’s geophysical equipment we (1)<br>investigated the stability of a dam at the Catamount Institute using resistivity and found low apparent<br>resistivities near the pond and a low-resistivity lens on the Eastern side of the dam; (2) surveyed a<br>magnetic profile across the college’s soccer field and modeled two anomalies, at 5 and 2 m depth,<br>respectively; (3) ran a gravity survey across a postulated fault on the West side of the Upper Arkansas<br>graben and obtained a gravity signature consistent with an East-dipping normal fault having ~180 m<br>vertical offset; (4) attempted to obtain seismic velocities across a known fault juxtaposing sediments<br>against crystalline rock on the East side of the Upper Arkansas graben but found only a shallow,<br>low–velocity overburden and no high velocities typical of crystalline rock; and (5) tested the feasibility<br>of using a resistivity survey to monitor septic systems and imaged a plume with low apparent resistivity<br>extending downhill from a septic leach field. Although the short amount of time allowed only for basic<br>data processing, centering the course on real problems was a rewarding experience for all involved.