ALMA-J Site Testing
ALMA-J Site Testing Archive
Last update 2005-02-04


Boring

    Geotechnical study of six locations in the Chajnantor science preserve area was carried out in 2000 February as a joint work of NRO and NRAO. Location of the boreholes was carefully selected so that the study is useful both for selection of the ASTE/ALMA/LMSA sites and also for the design of their antenna foundation. The examined sites include a possible ASTE site, three potential ALMA compact configuration locations -- Pampa la Bola, Chajnantor South, and Chajnantor North -- and two locations along a possible locus of the ALMA 10 km configuration -- Chascon-Chajnantor saddle point and northeastern foot of Chascon. Each borehole was 15 m deep. But for the Chascon-Chajnantor saddle point, where we could easily dig a 160 cm deep hole, the subsurface conditions were found to be very promissing for the design of the antenna basement.

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