The Ground We Live On - It's Alive - Part 1

I felt compelled to write this post after reading several recent blogs and blog comments that touched on the subject.

The subject is, the ground, the soil, the earth, whatever you wish to call it, which is under your home.

Most people take it for granted, don't ever give it a second thought.

Well you should. There is lots of things that you, your neighbors or outside environment issues that can affect it.

Although I have worked in industries that have dealt with these concerns, I am not in anyway suggesting that I am an expert on the subject. Far from it.

The ground under your home is variable, it may vary from the ground next door or across the road. It may vary from the ground across town. Without testing it you will not know or The ground under you home may extend as it is for a considerable depth, it may not. Without refering to a Geological Map of the area or testing it you will not know.

I am not suggesting that everbody should go out and have their little piece of this planet tested, that is not necessary.

But, big BUT, if you are considering doing anything that may effect the ground around your home or something else around your home is going to change then it may be worth finding or taking Professional advise.

Geological Maps

Geologic maps show the distribution of different rock types and other geological features such as faults and folds.  A geologic map is a projection of the earth's surface onto a horizontal plane.  Geologic maps show either areas where various rocks crop out, that is, where they are exposed at the surface, or where they would be exposed if they were not obscured by other surficial material such as river sediment, soil or buildings.  Many geologic maps also show the topography of the land surface by the use of contour lines.  Contour lines are imaginary lines of constant elevation that follow the surface of the earth.  A contour interval is the vertical distance between the elevations of two adjacent contour lines.

Geologic maps are useful because they show the location of faults, mineral deposits, bedrock of different types, and likelihood of different soil types, etc.   A geologic map of an area is necessary before building any structure (e.g.  building, tunnel, dam, highway, etc.) to determine the stability of the ground surface (potential for settling, faulting, slumping) and the type of construction needed.