Jamstone Services
Jamstone provides engineering geology and geotechnical services for your project
Quarries, Dams, Levees
Residential, Civil, Mining
Road, Rail, Pipeline, Transmission line
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Construction Materials
Whether it is a borrow pit for a dam, local unsealed road or a hard rock quarry Jamstone will use its vast experience in different environments and geological knowledge to find, assess and make best use of the available materials. Hard rock resources can be investigated using various techniques depending on the stage of the project, rock types and complexity of the geological settings. Assessing the durability of the rock requires a detailed understanding of the geological characteristics of the resource.
Materials from borrow pits need to meet project specific requirements, however a borrow pit is only of value if the material can be worked effectively and waste is reduced. Jamstone’s experience in finding, assessing, developing and using construction materials will contribute to the success of any project, especially in a remote location, and will reduce risks associated with bulk earthworks.
Josef is also qualified as a “competent person” in accordance with the JORC Code for extractive resources assessment.
Earthworks
Most civil, water and mining projects require earthworks that will ensure that the structures will achieve their intended design life. Optimising the cut to fill operations can have a huge economic impact on the project and Jamstone assists in planning the works.
Jamstone offers experience in material selection, and if required using material improvement processes with focus on minimising the cost of earthworks. Understanding the materials from the cuts or trenches during the tender stage reduces both cost and risk.
Technical specifications for earthworks often don’t consider the local conditions and are carried over from one project to another. Jamstone provides technical support to revise the specifications that suit the conditions while maintaining the integrity of the earthworks.
Slope Stability
Identifying and quantifying the geotechnical hazards of undisturbed or cut slopes along roads in a quarry or adjacent to commercial and residential properties is a very important step in managing that risk. Jamstone is accredited by NSW Roads and Maritime Services as a slope risk assessor (Ver. 4.0) and participated in the identification and mitigation of geohazards in National Parks, along major highways and on commercial developments.
Experience in preparation of a Ground Control Plan for quarries and training of quarry staff by Jamstone has contributed to the safe operation of quarry and sand pits. Jamstone can prepare a geotechnical report for Development Applications in areas previously identified as potential landslide risk areas by local authorities.
Site Investigations
Geotechnical investigations, whether simple ones comprising a few boreholes and test pits or complex ones using several different methods, are an integral part of a project development. Jamstone is experienced in both the design of investigations, management and hands on execution of programs that are required to inform the designers, project managers and/or authorities.
Jamstone uses information packages available online and personal experience to predict ground conditions well before an investigation can take place. Geological and geomorphological mapping or desk top studies provide valuable information, which interpreted correctly could allow a project to progress well before site access is available to confirm the subsurface conditions. Thus allowing early project planning before intrusive investigation.
Using geological correlation between investigation points, the cost of laboratory testing can be optimised as it is often better for the project to target specific material types or locations for testing than to provide a costly blanket coverage without a proper plan and focus.
Expert Advice
Advice with integrity is needed to progress a project in some circumstances. Jamstone can quickly synthesise the issues at hand and provide advice on a wide range of geotechnical constraints or opportunities. Expert advice can take the shape of a brief Memo, participating in negotiations with local authorities or appearing as an Expert Witness in the Land and Environmental Court. Specialist engineering geology and geotechnical matters require the advice of a specialist for the problem to arrive at the correct decision.
Jamstone specialises in providing tender stage advice to contractors for excavatability, construction method selection, material reuse and earthworks.
Acid Sulphate Soil and Land Resources
Coastal geology including erosion and acid sulphate soil is a specialist geological environment where geomorphology, hydrogeology and geochemistry is used to determine the conditions and the best management practices. Jamstone’s skills in the understanding of processes, time and past conditions ensures that sustainable solutions can be developed in these dynamic conditions.
The assessment of land resources, commonly referred to as “soil assessment,” is an important part of large developments especially in the concept and feasibility stage. Accurate mapping of soil types over the project area not only informs landscape designers and both erosion and sediment control plans, but is also required to demonstrate whether Strategic Cropping Land (SCL) is present on the project. SCL requires that appropriate management practices are implemented.
