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title: "Explanation: geological cross-section"
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# Explanation: geological cross-section

A **geological section** is a graphical representation of the subsurface along a defined line between several boreholes. It shows the trend and spatial extent of ground strata and enables an interpretation of the geological conditions in cross-section.

Typically, a geological cross-section contains:

- Several borehole locations, the data from which are linked together along a line
- A representation of the stratigraphic trends between the boreholes, including dip and thickness
- Different types of soil and rock, usually indicated by colour or symbols
- Elevation and depth references, e.g. relative to NHN
- Horizontal distances between boreholes to provide a sense of spatial scale

The geological cross-section serves to improve understanding of the subsurface conditions between individual boreholes and forms an important basis for planning, construction and geotechnical assessments.