Weston Geophysical Corporation, AEIC, and New England research, Inc., have formed a consortium to test the effects of explosions in frozen rock. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that frozen rock is significantly stronger that unfrozen rock, and it has been hypothesized that this increased strengh can significantly alter seismically estimated yeld. This consortium is planning a series of explosive tests to determine the seismic variations between detonating explosives in frozen and unfrozen rock. The information derived from the proposed reseach will provid a thorough test of the hypothesis. It will als provide important results for application in regions where explosions can be detonated in permafrost conditions.

First explosions were conducted in central Alaska in August 2006. Please visit us later for updates on results of this experiment.