Mineraloid Definition The term “mineraloid” refers to a natural earth substance that appears to be similar to a genuine mineral, although lacks any form of internal structure and crystal form. Nonetheless, a mineraloid does comprise true minerals within it. For instance, Fire Opal and Blue Opal are not minerals because they are amorphous (do not…

Hardpan (Caliche) “Hardpan” is a highly dense and solid layer of soil near the ground surface, which is usually comprised of clay or silty-clay soils. Hardpan forms by cementation over time, during the process of precipitation of insoluble substances such as calcium carbonates, silica, iron oxides, and other organic matter. “Hardpan” is a term mostly…

Growth Fault Growth Fault: In geology, a growth fault is a strike-slip fault or dip-slip fault that moves contemporaneously with deposition. This causes the throw (amount of vertical displacement) to increase with depth and the strata to be thicker on the downthrown side as compared to the upthrown side.

Mechanical Extraction System Mechanical Extraction System: Per the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) Methane Code, Ordinance Number 175790, a Mechanical Extraction System is one of the Active Methane Mitigation criteria for methane mitigation systems in buffer zones and methane zones.  A mechanical extraction system uses machines that remove methane gas from below…

What is a Concrete Arch Dam? A Concrete Arch Dam is a curved freshwater-retaining structure that is concave in the hydro-geologically down-gradient direction, and uniformly thick from the base to top. With Concrete Arch Dams, a major part of the water load value gets distributed to the abutments of the dam. Thus, Concrete Arch Dams…