SME Annual Meeting

Feb. 28-Mar. 03, 2010, Phoenix, AZ

Preprint 10-051

ROCK SCRATCH USING A TURNTABLE DIAMOND STYLUS

E. A. Córdova, Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

M. G. Nelson, Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

ABSTRACT for testing can easily be replaced for a minimal cost of around $US10
to 15.
Current methods for scratching a piece of rock to obtain or check
the characteristics of its component material can sometimes be The turntable uses an integrated, dual magnet, stereo cartridge
expensive and time consuming. Scratching a rock core requires an that works by converting the mechanical vibration energy from the
object with a point that it is capable of sliding along the surface of the stylus riding through the surface of the core into an electrical signal.
rock while recording the response from the rock due to the sliding. With The components of a dual magnet cartridge are presented in Figure 1.
the idea of providing a cost efficient solution for a scratch device, a
new generation turntable arm, composed of a cartridge with a diamond
stylus and a USB output connection to the computer, was used to
record the vibrations from the sliding of the stylus along a rock core
surface. The output sound from the stylus was captured with the
computer as an audio input signal. The raw sound data was recorded
in a standard waveform audio format (wav) file, and post-processed
using sound spectrum analyzer software (Spectra-Lab) to capture
numerical data such as frequency, amplitude, and noise from the file.
The results for frequency, amplitude, and noise were compared and
plotted against the scanned surface of the rock core in the search for
correlations that might represent specific characteristics of the surface
being scratched.
INTRODUCTION
The use of core scratch tests for estimation of rock properties was
developed by Dr. Emmanuel Detournay and his students at the
University of Minnesota has been described by Schei et al. (2000)
Suárez-Rivera et al. (2003). These tests are performed commercially
by TerraTek, and Itasca.
The commercially available devices for scratching core represent
sometimes an expensive solution that it is either only available as a Figure 1. Audio-Technica Turntable Cartridge Components.
rental option or just as an in-house service provided by the company
The arm with the stylus is connected to a motherboard that
that has the equipment.
provides the Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection for reading the
The available scratching solutions create a groove along the core data from the stylus to the computer. The motherboard is also powered
surface of around 5 mm width and 1.5 mm deep. The forces applied to by a power cable connector.
create the groove are used to develop a core surface profile or to
The arm was attached to a metallic plate that then was fixed to
establish material properties.
the machine that slides the core through the stylus needle (Figure 2).
The prices charged for the service provide a non economical
solution for most mines where the scratch test cost could be as high as
three times the cost of drilling in some places.
With the purpose of trying a different approach to available core
scratching techniques, a turntable stylus was used to record the
vibrations of the stylus when it slides through the surface of the tested
rock cores.
The recorded vibrations from the stylus were recorded as sound
files and the noise, frequency and amplitude values were extracted.
The extracted information from the test was overlaid with scanned core
images to establish correlation of the data.
EQUIPMENT
A USB turntable was disassembled to recover and use the
turntable arm with the cartridge and diamond needle. The main board
from the turntable was also used to provide the power and the USB
connection to the computer so it cold be used it as a recorder device.
The turntable selected was an Audio-Technica USB model AT-
LP2D-USB. The advantage of the turntable is that the cartridgees used Figure 2. Turntable arm attached to the equipment.
1 Copyright © 2010 by SME
 SME Annual Meeting
Feb. 28-Mar. 03, 2010, Phoenix, AZ

RECORDED DATA The core was also scanned visually (Figure 5), at a resolution of
at least 600 dots per inch, for comparison with the processed raw data
The data from the sliding of the needle through the rock surface from scratching the core.
was captured to the computer with the USB cable in a wave audio file
format (WAV) for post processing. The wav file provides a sound
profile of the rock surface.
The captured audio data was displayed in real time, as recorded
in the laptop computer (Figure 4).

Figure 5. Scanned core sample.

Post Processing
To analyze the recorded file, the software Spectrum Lab is used,
Spectrum Lab runs under Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP (home and
professional), Linux/WINE. The main use of the
Software is to read the input wave file and generate a report of
the data the file has. The main parameters being reported for the file
are:
• Time Stamp: Time stamped on the wav file of the measurement
recorded.
• Noise: Signal noise of the wav file.
• Amplitude: Amplitude recorded.
• Frequency: Frequency recorded.
The post processed file is a text file separated by spaces (Figure
6).

Figure 3. Equipment set-up.

Figure 6. Output file from Spectrum Lab.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS
The following results are presented for two scanned cores and a
blank test performed over a smooth aluminum cylinder used to test the
initial measurements of the equipment.
• Aluminum Blank Test
The aluminum test was used to establish the base for the
measurements that will be used to plot the data and to set as the base
for excluding irrelevant data from the rock cores. The moving average
used for the correlation is 50 samples of data. As expected the blank
test shows there is a good continuity in the measurements.
Using the aluminum test, the cutoff range was defined for a mean
± 2 σ , and a mean ± 3 σ . Treating the base background values
(from the aluminum test) as a range, the idea was to exclude the
values inside of each range, and plot everything that is outside of the
ranges: mean ± 2 σ and mean ± 3 σ .
Figure 4. Data display from scratching.
2 Copyright © 2010 by SME
 SME Annual Meeting
Feb. 28-Mar. 03, 2010, Phoenix, AZ

To analyze the samples, Core-2469, Core-2483 and a Limestone Count 1420.00 1420.00 1420.00
Core, the statistics of the raw data for the aluminum core were Confidence Level(95.0%) 0.68 0.30 10.71
calculated and the values of the ranges were plotted and graphed Mean+2SD -78.55 -67.16 955.43
using a Moving Average of 50 samples. Mean-2SD -104.85 -78.73 544.13
Following the Moving Average Curve, the curve was plotted
against the image of the core, to search for correspondent correlations Table 4. Limestone core statistics for noise, amplitude, and frequency.
between the surface of the core and the plotted data. Limestone Core
Descriptive Statistics Noise Amplitude Frequency
DATA STATISTICS Mean -88.86 -73.74 631.96
Standard Error 0.28 0.13 6.03
The basic descriptive statistics were calculated for the aluminum
Median -89.17 -74.35 522.85
core and the three rock samples: core 2469, core 2483, and the Mode -87.93 -74.19 499.97
limestone. Standard Deviation 9.09 4.21 193.56
The statistical results for the data sets are presented in Tables 1, Sample Variance 82.61 17.76 37464.28
2, 3, and 4. Kurtosis -0.75 0.30 4.65
Skewness 0.06 0.55 1.70
Table 1. Aluminum core statistics for noise, amplitude, and frequency. Range 50.75 33.31 1767.52
Aluminum Core Minimum -117.08 -86.18 499.97
Descriptive Statistics Noise Amplitude Frequency Maximum -66.33 -52.87 2267.49
Mean -114.84 -81.55 962.40 Sum -91522.58 -75951.54 650913.72
Standard Error 0.45 0.22 9.01 Count 1030.00 1030.00 1030.00
Median -115.89 -81.88 955.71 Confidence Level(95.0%) 0.56 0.26 11.83
Mode -115.80 -81.90 955.62 Mean+2SD -79.77 -69.52 825.51
Standard Deviation 4.88 2.42 97.91 Mean-2SD -97.95 -77.95 438.40
Sample Variance 23.78 5.85 9585.87
Kurtosis 23.01 27.22 110.43 PLOTTED DATA
Skewness 4.74 4.54 10.33
Range 33.24 20.11 1097.17 The core data presented were processed and the raw data for the
Minimum -118.83 -85.30 902.86 aluminum core is shown in Figure 7. The data were plotted using an
Maximum -85.59 -65.19 2000.03 average for the measurements to represent for the smooth surface of
Sum -13551.70 -9623.29 113563.62 the aluminum core, the noise, amplitude, and frequency stay constant
Count 118.00 118.00 118.00 along most of the scanned surface of the aluminum sample.
Confidence Level(95.0%) 0.89 0.44 17.85
For the three rock core samples, the data were averaged with a
Mean+2SD -109.97 -79.14 1060.31 50 sample moving average to show the changes in the data (Figure 8).
Mean-2SD -119.72 -83.97 864.50
The plotted data and the correspondent scanned core are shown
Table 2. Core 2469 statistics for noise, amplitude, and frequency. in Figure 9 for the TTE core #2469, Figure 10 for the TTE core #2483,
Core 2469 and Figure 11 for the limestone core.
Descriptive Statistics Noise Amplitude Frequency
Aluminum Core - Raw Data
Mean -86.54 -70.87 633.05
-60 2100
Standard Error 0.34 0.18 5.08 0 20 40 60 80 100
Median -84.27 -71.09 538.33 -70

Mode -76.88 -76.83 499.97 1900

-80
Standard Deviation 11.90 6.18 177.01
Sample Variance 141.72 38.19 31334.30 -90 1700
Noise, Amplitude (db)

Kurtosis -0.88 -0.60 -0.41

Frequency (hz)
Skewness -0.46 0.16 1.17 -100
1500
Range 52.94 36.31 500.07 -110
Minimum -118.28 -85.80 499.97
Maximum -65.34 -49.49 1000.04 -120 1300

Sum -104970.19 -85960.80 767895.23 -130

Count 1213.00 1213.00 1213.00 1100
Confidence Level(95.0%) 0.67 0.35 9.97 -140

Mean+2SD -74.63 -64.69 810.07 -150 900

Mean-2SD -98.44 -77.05 456.04 Scanned Core Time Stamp Noise Amplitude Frequency

Figure 7. Aluminum core raw output.

Table 3. Core 2483 statistics for noise, amplitude ,and frequency.
Core 2483 DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Descriptive Statistics Noise Amplitude Frequency
Mean -91.70 -72.95 749.78 Values of noise, amplitude, and frequency were exported
Standard Error 0.35 0.15 5.46 successfully from the wav files recorded by running the stylus on the
Median -92.01 -74.29 676.30 surface of the tested cores.
Mode -118.70 -78.31 499.97 The flat curves generated for the blank test with aluminum core
Standard Deviation 13.15 5.78 205.65 showed that for a smooth surface, there were no major changes in the
Sample Variance 172.90 33.44 42290.99 measurements.
Kurtosis -1.12 -0.21 -1.89
Skewness -0.04 0.54 -0.01 The statistics for the aluminum test were calculated, to define a
Range 56.03 32.02 601.24 possible background range of values that can be excluded while
Minimum -119.32 -86.06 499.97 scratching the core, to look for the peaks in noise, amplitude and
Maximum -63.29 -54.04 1101.21 frequency for the recorded data.
Sum -130212.46 -103583.63 1064688.71

3 Copyright © 2010 by SME

 SME Annual Meeting
Feb. 28-Mar. 03, 2010, Phoenix, AZ

Aluminum Core - Averaged Lab Data Limestone Core

0 900
-60 990
0 200 400 600 800 1000
0 20 40 60 80 100
-10
850
-70
980
-20
-80 800
-30
970

Noise, Amplitude (db)

-90 750

Frequency (hz)
-40
Noise, Amplitude (db)

Frequency (hz)
960 -50 700
-100

-60
-110 650
950
-70
-120 600
940 -80

-130 550
-90
930
-140 -100 500

Scanned Core Time Stamp Noise Amplitude Frequency

-150 920
Scanned Core Time Stamp Noise Amplitude Frequency Figure 11. Limestone Core noise, amplitude, and frequency, moving
Figure 8. Aluminum core at 50 averaged samples. average of 50 readings.
The collected data for the rock cores shows that there is a change
DDH2469 Core
in the three variables being exported from the correspondent wav files:
0 900
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 noise, amplitude, frequency.
-10
850
Comparing the data collected from previous scratch tests using
-20 available commercial equipment, it showed that for core 2483, in the
800
-30
start where there is a chalcopyrite zone; the curve (related to strength)
related to frequency decreased. The same effect was represented in
Noise, Amplitude (db)

750
Graph 4 at the beginning of the scan while looking at the first portion of
Frequency (hz)

-40

-50 700
the frequency recorded.

-60 CONCLUSIONS
650

-70 The first tests of the rock scratch analysis with the turntable stylus
600
show that there is a potential interesting technology that could be
-80
developed, but it needs better definition on the parameters the system
550
-90 uses to calculate the curves.
-100 500 The development and study of an equation based in the values of
Scanned Core Time Stamp Noise Amplitude Frequency
noise, amplitude and frequency will be a future step to better define
and represent the changes in the surface of the scratched surface.
Figure 9. Core 2469 noise, amplitude, and frequency, moving
average of 50 readings. When the test was performed at very low speeds (1.78
cm/minute), the sound file showed continuous spikes through the wave
DDH2483 Core file. This phenomena needs to be studied to check if the behavior
0 1000 could be related to particle size in the sample, using the speed at
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
which the core is being moved and the time between each sound
-10 950
spike.
-20 900
The speed at which the measurements are being performed
-30 850
needs to be changed and synchronized in order to get a measurement
Noise, Amplitude (db)

at a good and interesting speed. The stylus scratching tests were

Frequency (hz)

-40 800
performed at a speed of 1.78 cm/min, while a real like working speed,
-50 750
in the commercial solutions, for a scratch system is around 2-5 cm/sec.
-60 700 Increasing the speed could reduce the definition of the sound data
from the stylus, so it is important to find a common denominator
-70 650
between sound resolution and speed of the moving core.
-80 600
Using the noise from the aluminum core and trying to clean the
-90 550 data from the core scratch tests at first did not provide clean or
-100 500 smothered information. More analyses are required to define if the
Scanned Core Time Stamp Noise Amplitude Frequency
aluminum ranges for noise, amplitude, and, frequency should be
considered as noise or dispersion canceling ranges for the tested core.
Figure 10. Core 2483 noise, amplitude, and frequency, moving
average of 50 readings. The future steps are to continue with the scratch tests for different
samples with known properties; to prepare a small scale machine to
With the mean and the standard deviation of the aluminum test, scan core pieces of around 30 cm to allow study of the relationships of
the ranges defined to compare will be: rock surfaces and lithologies with the results from the sound files and
• Full data with moving average 50 samples. the noise, amplitude, and frequencies.
• Data outside range: mean ± 2 σ , moving average 50 samples. REFERENCES
• Data outside range: mean ± 3σ , moving average 50 samples. 1. Schei, G., E. Fjær, E. Detournay, C. J. Kenter, G.F. Fuh, and F.
Zausa, 2000. The Scratch Test: An Attractive Technique for

4 Copyright © 2010 by SME

 SME Annual Meeting
Feb. 28-Mar. 03, 2010, Phoenix, AZ

Determining Strength and Elastic Properties of Sedimentary

Rocks. SPE 63255.
2. Suárez-Rivera, R., G, Ostroff, K. S. Tan, W. Begnaud, W. Martin,
and T. Bermudez, 2003. Continuous Rock Strength
Measurements On Core And Neural Network Modeling Result In
Significant Improvements In Log-Based Rock Strength
Predictions Used To Optimize Completion Design and Improve
Prediction of Sanding Potential and Wellbore Stability. Presented
at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver,
Colorado, October 5-8.

5 Copyright © 2010 by SME