The hydrogeologic investigation at the Boarhead Farms Superfund site was done to characterize the framework of the diabase aquifer underlying the site. The primary water-producing fracture system is less than 30 feet below land surface. Water-bearing fractures were not found deeper than 50 feet below land surface. The overburden soil is thin and ranges from 4 to 14 feet thick. The overburden soil acts as a confining unit for the underlying bedrock aquifer. Weathered bedrock consisting of broken diabase ranged from 2 to 15 feet thick, and in some areas, fractures in the weathered bedrock zone were filled with clay. Due to the clay-rich overburden soil and the thick, clay filled weathered bedrock zone, little ground-water storage is available to supply the shallow fracture systems.
The diabase aquifer is low yielding with low transmissivities. Five of 15 boreholes drilled as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's investigation produced no water. Estimates of transmisivity calculated from analyses of open-hole constant-discharge tests in five boreholes ranged from 3.1 to 100 square feet per day. Estimated discharge rates for these exists between boreholes. The fracture system is limited in areal extent. Dewatering of fractures supplying water to boreholes occurred during open-hole constant-discharge tests of three boreholes.
