BOSTONPUBLICLIBRARY

ffr. , /- 704

Ubrary

SOBSUEFACE DATA

OF

EOSTOH TEEICmAL

CC»IPAI3Y PROPEBTY

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

ENGINEERING DIVISION

BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS

AUGUST 1963

BOSTONPUBLICLIBRARY

idi.1

Foreward

This Subsurface Data Report is for the Soston Terminal Corporation

Property known as the South Station Area, hounded hy Atlantic Avenue, Summer

Street, and Dorchester Avenue.

The purpose of this report is to gather and obtain all available

subsoil data and boring information within the area for use by the Boston

Redevelopment Authority in planning for the future redevelopment of the area.

Existing Borings

Available information and data regarding suTssurface explorations

previously made v/ithin and along the boundaries have been afsseiabled and are

presented in descriptive and graphic form hereafter. The soil descriptions

used are not entirely consistent since the "borings are from many sources and

seme of the "borings were taken over kO years ago. However, it is "believed

that the terminology used is not misleading as it is in reasona"ble agreement

with that used "by Boring Contractors in the Boston Area. Tlie ground water

elevations and "blow counts of the sampling spoons are not shown on the

descriptive form logs "because this information was not available.

Q

Subsurface Conditions

The existing top of ground elevation in this area varies from approximately

+15 to +25 (Boston City Base).

The soil borings generally indicate a condition which is quite typical

for many sections of the Boston Area. The entire area has a varying depth of

fill cover. This fill is underlain "by a layer of organic sanely silt. Below

this silt is hard to soft clay and below the clay, a layer of granular material

which could be classified as a glacial till. The borings which were taken to

bedrock indicate that the bedrock below the glacial till is a soft shale.

The fill cover over this area varies from 8 feet to 20 feet in depth.

.It is a mixture of sand, gravel, silt, cinders, bricks, and wood. Excavations

in this fill at some locations in this area have revealed the presence of old

piers, wharfs, and piling.

The depth of the sandy silt varies frcm approximately 10 feet to 30 feet.

At some locations the borings indicate shells and soft peat in this sandy silt

fonaation.

The clay layer varies from 30 feet to 100 feet in depth. The top few

feet of this formation is a medium to hard yellow clay. The remainder is blue

clay generally growing softer \r±th increasing depth.

The anticipated construction problems to be encountered in this area are

excessive settlements of any proposed buildings. Although -uhe fill cover is

quite deep in some locations and the fill material is granular, major structures

are not generally built in fills of unknown origin underlain by two strata of

highly compressible soil (silt and clay). The reasons for this are: the behavior

c

of this fill under building loads is practically impossible to predict with any

degree of accuracy, and the highly compressible silt and clay formations would

consolidate tinder building loads even after the predicated settlement was complete.

Both the silt and clay strata are so widespread throughout the Boston Area

and their soil properties so well knoira, that it is justifiable to predict that

deep foimdations will be required in this area in order to avoid excessive

settlements. The foundations could be either piles or caissons driven to or

just above bedrock approximately 100 feet down from the ground surface. Another

possibility, after extensive investigation, could be the use of so called

"floating foundations" where a weight of earth equal to the area load of the

building is excavated, thereby eliminating additional loading on the compressible

strata.

The South Postal Annex building on Dorchester Avenue in this area was

built on concrete caissons down to approximately bedrock. The addition to the

above mentioned building is being designed to rest on piles driven to bedrock.

Therefore, it can be concluded that in much of the subject area extensive

foundation work will have to be provided for proposed major structures.

(

The following soil torings (nuinbered 1 to 33) vere taken from

a publication of the Boston Society of Civil Engineers.

The location of the "borings is shown on the acconrpanying plan.

The elevations shown on the boring logs refer to Boston City Base,

G

Frcsn

- 7-10-12

-15-18-20

From

- 9-li-12

From

+ 5-10-20

-27-33

From

+16+ 9- 8-11-19

BORING NO. 1

Elevations

To

-10-12-15-18-20

'k2

BORIKG KO. 2

Elevations

Oto

-11-12

-39

BORING NO. 3

Elevations

Tc

-10-20

-27

-33-39

BORING NO. k

Elevations

To

+ 9- 8-11-19

-39

Description of Ifcterial

Soft black siltFi'^o clay- sandHard blue clay, sand

Hard yellow clay

Clay, sandHard yellow clay

Description of i'laterial

SiltSandHard blue clay

Description of l>Iaterial

MudHard blue clay

Soft sand and clay

Soft gravelHard clay and gravel

Description of Material

FillMudSoiTC clayHard blue clay

Mud, gravel, soft clay

c

From

+20+ 2- If

- 8-13-20

-38-57

From

+20- 1

- h

-56

Fran

+20+12+ k- 1-11-27-3^

BORING KO. 5

i

From

+ 6-51

Froai

+19+ 9+ k+- 7-11

Prom

+17+ 9

+

-17

BORING NO. 8

Elevations

To

-51-58

BCRH^'G NO. 9

Elevations

To

Oto

+ 9+ 6

+

-17-29

Description of I>Iaterial

Blue clayClay, sand, stones

Description of Liaterial

+ 9

i

From

+18

+ 7+ k- 1- 5»"'

"

-28

From

+18+

-16-18

.2k

From

+17+11+-12

-29

From

+17+-16-18.2k

BORIMG NO. 11

Elevations

To

+ 7+ k- 1- 5

-IT-28

-35

BORING KO. 12

Flevations

To

+-16-18-24

-53

BOREIG NO. 13

Elevations

To

+11+-12-29

BORING KO. Ik

Elevations

To

+-16-18-24

-53

Description of Ifeterial

FillFine sand, mud

Hard yellow clay, little sand

little clay, sand coarse gravel

Hard "blue clay and sand

Hard hlne clay

Hard clay, sand and gravel

Description of Material

FillSilt, little sand

PeatStiff "blue clay

Medium stiff "blue clay

Description of l-Iaterial

FillSand; gravel, silt

Silt, shells

Silty sand

Hard blue clay

Description of Material

Sand fill, miscellaneous

Silt, very little sand

PeatStiff "blue clay

Medium stiff blue clay

+19+ h- 2- 9-14-20-42

Frc«n

+16.6

-4.0-5.4-15.5-24.0-34.0-98.8

From

+18- 2

-U-25-34-108

BOBIHG JJO.

From

+n.k-1.3-9.0-21.0-27.9-107.3

From

+20+- 6-16

-23-38-115

From

+19.5- 1- 12- 26- 36

From

+19.6+-7.0-19.8-25.0-108.5

BOEIUG HO. 18

From

+19-5+k.O+

' 5-18-28-102

From

+20+ h- 2- 8-14-20-1+1

Frcsn

+21- 6-20-30-119

BORING NO. 22

Elevations

To

+k.O+- 5-18-28-102

-103

BOSE^IG NO. 23

Elevations

To

+ K- 2- 8-14-20

-kl-62

BQRIKG NO. 24

Elevations

To

- 6-20

-30-119-124

Description of Lfeterial

Sand and gravel fill

Soft black silt

Fine silty sand, shells.

Fine blue sand

Stiff blue clay, little sand

Soft blue clayClay, gravel, sand; struck

rock

Description of Material

FillSand, gravel, very little clay

Silty sand, shells

Hard silty sandFirm sand and clay, very fine

Stiff blue clay

Ifedium stiff blue clay

Description of Material

FillSilty sand, shells

Hard blue clay

Soft blue clayClay, sand, gravel; hard

From

+15+13- 2-15

-31

-52

From

+17- 1-15

-30

-51

Frcm

-8.7-12.5-28.3

From

- 7-15-29-117

BORIKG NO.

From

+15-10-22

-51

From

- 8-18-20-28

BORIKG m. 32

Elevations

To

-10-22

-51-61

BORBJG KO. 33

Elevations

To

-18-20-28-61

Inscription of Jfciterial

FillMudSoft clayHard clay

Description of Ifeterial

Soft black siltFine silty sandHard blue clayHard yellow clay

The follovring soil 'borings were received froai the I-iassachusetts

Turnpike Authority and vere taken in the ^ring of I962.

The location of the borings is shoT^ra. on the accouipanying plan.

The elevations shown on the horing logs refer to Boston City Ease,

The follOTrLng soil "borings were received from Pedersen and Tilney

Architects, and were talcen in I960.

The location of the iDorings is sho^m on the acconrpanying plan.

The elevations shown on the horing logs refer to Boston City Ease.

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EORIMG REPOST Co

;OL.DBERG &

SOSTOM -AST FP.CVIDENCE

Le Messuri.er & Associates 3psT9.Nj..M^.§.sACHU3ETTg

BOrjrv!G R2P0IIT

TO

SITE LOCATION SouXH.PosTA!^. Annex.A^^^ ;BC3T0Na..MA3SAcj:tuSE-xs .

SCALE 1"= S. FT.

BORING NO ??..

REFERENCE DATUM.. INFORMATION ON DRAWiNGS,

BOKING NO., .ZZ.A. CORING NO.. BORING NO..24

rO

0.0'

2.5'

Eurv. 24.0' = Slev. 24,0'±

V*v-.' FILL

0.0'

WATER5Lrr3."F- !4.0'

FINE TO MEDIUMSAND,

1_ITT!_E Sll-T.

SO.VIE

FINE TO MEDIUMGRAVEL. AND

L.ITTI.E C1_AY

FIUI.

« -'f>.i >:< >i< FJU ...

SAMPLES.

WATER

i 15.0'

20.0'

>0

15. u'

^<**f OiL-V SAND, SJLT AND

COARSE GRAVEL.

*>',<*••;< COMPACT FINE TO

COARSE SAND, SIUT,

LITTLE FINE TO COArSe23«0'

GRAVEL Sc LITTLE BRICK

FINE TO COARSESAND, CLAY,LITTLE ERiCX &LiTTLE MSOiUMGRAVEL — FILL

SANDY CLAY

_ >;<iii)(<*>X p-lNE TO MEDIUM SAND— SILT, LITTLE BRICK &" LITTLE MEDIUM GRAVEL

28.0

fUL.

REFUSAL AT 15.o'

BENT SPOON & nODi

JOaV

42.0'

. SANDY

BLUE CLAY

SANDY

BLUE CLAY

STiFF

ELUE CLAY

_9'SL

10

BOTTOM OF BORING

42.0'

>. {

:;lev. 240'=i

0,0'I SAND, CINDERS,

EKICK, CLAY Sc

LITTLE

MEDIUM GRAVEL

20,0'

£;AiSDY

ORGANIC SILT

AND

SHELLS

'*'•*-'i SANDYOF8GANIC SILT

^ AND3KAL2

{FRAGMENTS

26,0

1

SANDYIYELLGVy CLAY

28.0' VERY STIFF

J2.0'

40.0'

YELLOW CLAY

STIFF

BLUE CLAY

12

24

BORiNG REPORT

GouoDCRs & Le McosunisR & Associates

/^^C. L GUIW CC

BOSTON

TO DN, MaooAcmijcetts

SITE LOCATION ^°}^J^...?!9.^J..*^}::..^f:f>*!~.>:}...^B.iJ.f.9.^. .';'). ^.!r'.r?.*(C6?^«..M;^.?.5.'f^S.':!.V!.S5.T.I.S..,

SCALE I'rz....?. FT. REFERENCE DATUM KROM INJ^ORMATtON ONDRAyviNGS __ _ _____

t

BOSiNC NO 2.4.A.. BORING :40. 24 3 DOSiNO NO. 23 CORING KO?.?...^..

.2S_

--20

io

-10

:0K1N!G REPORT

2 SC. L Guim cc

SOSTOM

CO., mC BOPJrv:© repopj

HAST PROV:

TO

SITE LOCATION

SCALE r= .8 FT.

GoL.DsEi5G Le MeccijRiEH a Associates;

's-.ci-;oGC .rs

South Postai.' Annex Addition"

''

'- ...ssachucetts

REFERENCE DATUM !f.39.^..^J^.?'.93.?^.*LJi.}.9.^...9.V...9~^}^.)!i'9S..

SORING NO.25 B

BORING NO..26

CORING NO..27 BORING NO..

0.0'

5.0'

El-EV., ?..8'

NO SAMv>i-ES

0.0

sr, c\, 07 01

• IciNDERS a GflVL '

1.0'f

"yiNC TO COAi-^SE

CAN3 Sc SONCZ

S'lNE TO COA.-^SEf

t GRAVEl. - Fll-l.

IWATER

I

17,3'"

EANOV

ORGANIC SH-"',

QRiCK,

33.0

33.0'

36.5

41.5'

WOOD, Cl-AY,

AND

OHC1.I.8

X1L.U

OKGANIC C.I-~AND CHE1.1_5

SO

6

7

IS

6

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WATEFi

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HAt^O. CANOYj Ijg

YCL.I.CVV CL.Ay I

1 24

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1.1TTI.S

jts-lNE TO MSOIUM

I

GRAVEL,

i^-.LL.

3A'.>!0, CaiCK,

WOOD AND

COAROZ GRAVEL.,

20.0';

BOTTO^v; O?' BORIWG

4L5>

4 — 15 — MWATZR READING VaKEN

ON 4""I6~60 AT i. i". »^.

BOTTO.Y. Oi' EOS INC

60.5'

43.0'

_.%MCY

ORGANIC £S11.V,

SHCL.US

AN3

TRACE Of

12

13

12

i£L.Ev, 24^2'_

t niCODERS C-GRVl-V

S'lNE TO MEDIUMSAND ANDSOME

fINE TO COABSEa RAVEL.

F1L.L.

4

VE.^Y STIF?

YEl-l_OW a OL.U!

Ci-AY

13.0'

I6a0'

24.0'

23.0'

SAND, BRICK.I-l-l., tSll-T Be

DiJ.'.d GKAVEL.

CUAY, SANO.

Glt-T

AND I.ITTL.S

MEDIUM COARSEGKAVEL.

43»0'

44.0'

SO.CSTIKP'

YELLOW CLAY

54. 0-

1

2S

I

I

SAND, OIL.T£

BRICK ti. eOMECOARSE GRAVEL'

{"•ILL

SANDY

ORGANIC StLT

AND

T.=5ACE Of

SHELL

A ^

20'

24

Q

I^ILL

12

SILTY PEAT

SILTY CLAYAND

LITTLE PEAT49.0'-

112! 53.0'r

60.5'

MEDIUM

31-OE CUAY

YELLOW/ ae BLUECLAY

MEDIUM BLUE

CLAY

„L^ SScB'l

16

8

4 — 1 U — 60i

WATER READING TAKEN ON

4 - 20 — 60 AT 10 A, M,

...{.5L§:..* INDICATES .V^UO LOST IN THIS LAYER 0.= SOIL fOOT^GE OF BG;...^;G THIS SHEE

WATER READING INDICATES SURFACE Or WATER AT COMPLETION O? BORING UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE. FIGURES IN LOG COLUM^^ INDICATE

.,,,.„.. OF BLOWS TO DriVE2" SPLIT SAMPLER }.2,..,NCHES WITH.H.Q..,LB. WEIGHT FALLING.*.Q....INCKES UNLESS OTHERWIS^E K>ECIFlEa

' """^^RH/lUN E« CLASSIFICATION DY C.H..&..JKH JOS NO. 5^.^4.4.0 S!

arc uac

i.< \t.wt.. ti^ *J %

:V-G" X 3'-0"

i''

fi 9 7 3 3

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 9999 06316 015 2