Natural and human-induced dissolution and subsidence processes in the salt outcrop of the Cardona Diapir (NE Spain)

Lucha, Pedro; Cardona, Fidel; Gutiérrez, Francisco; Guerrero, Jesús

doi:10.1007/s00254-007-0729-3

Cited by 56 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…(1) Earthquakes (Michetti et al 2005), explosive volcanic eruptions (2) Artificial vibrations (blasting, explosions) Thinning of the sediments over voids Reduces the mechanical strength of cavity roofs May concentrate runoff and create a local base level for groundwater flows (1) Erosion processes (2) Excavations Underground excavations (Lucha et al 2008) Disturb groundwater flows May weaken sediments over voids (1) Biogenic pipes (2) Mining, tunneling …”

Section: Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification, prediction, and mitigation of sinkhole hazards in evaporite karst areas

2007

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Sinkholes usually have a higher probability of occurrence and a greater genetic diversity in evaporite terrains than in carbonate karst areas. This is because evaporites have a higher solubility, and commonly a lower mechanical strength.Subsidence damage resulting from evaporite dissolution generates substantial losses throughout the world, but the causes are only well-understood in a few areas. To deal with these hazards, a phased approach is needed for sinkhole identification, investigation, prediction, and mitigation. Identification techniques include field surveys, and geomorphological mapping combined with accounts from local people and historical sources. Detailed sinkhole maps can be constructed from sequential historical maps, recent topographical maps and digital elevation models (DEMs) complemented with building-damage surveying, remote sensing, and high-resolution geodetic surveys.On a more detailed level, information from exposed paleosubsidence features (paleokarst), speleological explorations, geophysical investigations, trenching, dating techniques, and boreholes, may help to recognize dissolution and subsidence features.Information on the hydrogeological pathways including caves, springs and swallow holes, are particularly important especially when corroborated by tracer tests. These diverse data sources make a valuable database -the karst inventory. From this dataset, sinkhole susceptibility zonations (relative probability) may be produced based on the spatial and temporal distribution of the features and good knowledge of the local geology. Sinkhole distribution can be investigated by spatial distribution analysis techniques including studies of preferential elongation, alignment and nearest neighbor analysis. More objective susceptibility models may be obtained by analyzing the statistical relationships between the known sinkholes and the conditioning factors, such as weather conditions. Chronological information on sinkhole formation is required to estimate the probability of occurrence of sinkholes (number of sinkholes/km² year).Such spatial and temporal predictions, derived from limited records and based on the assumption that past sinkhole activity may be extrapolated to the future, are noncorroborated hypotheses. Validation methods allow us to assess the predictive capability of the susceptibility maps and to transform them into probability maps. Avoiding the most hazardous areas by preventive planning is the safest strategy for development in sinkhole-prone areas. Corrective measures could be to reduce the dissolution activity and subsidence processes, but these are difficult. A more practical solution for safe development is to reduce the vulnerability of the structures by using subsidence-proof designs.

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Section: Mitigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification, prediction, and mitigation of sinkhole hazards in evaporite karst areas

2007

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“…Geomorphic changes, including sinkhole development, can be extremely rapid particularly in areas where human activities alter groundwater circulation (Lucha et al, 2008). Gutiérrez et al (2008) propose a phased approach for the identification, investigation, prediction, and mitigation of sinkholes in evaporite terrains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of the geophysical studies in the Dead Sea coastal area related to evaporite karst and recent sinkhole development

Ezersky¹,

Legchenko²,

Eppelbaum³

et al. 2017

IJS

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Abstract:Since the early 80s, a progressively increasing number of sinkholes appeared along the Dead Sea coastal line. It has been found that their appearance is strongly correlating with the lowering of the Dead Sea level taking place with the rate of approximately 1 m/yr. Location of areas affected by sinkhole development corresponds to location of the salt formation deposited during the latest Pleistocene, when the Lake Lisan receded to later become the Dead Sea. Water flowing to the Dead Sea from adjacent and underlying aquifers dissolves salt and creates caverns that cause ground subsidence and consequent formation of sinkholes. Before subsidence, these caverns are not visible on the surface but can be investigated with surface geophysical methods. For that, we applied Surface Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SNMR), Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) Seismic refraction and reflection, Multichannel Analysis of Surface waves (MASW), microgravity and magnetic surveys and their combinations. Our geophysical results allowed us to locate the salt formation and to detect caverns in salt thus contributing to better understanding sinkhole development mechanisms. Comparison of sinkhole appearance along the western DS shore derived from the recent database (2017) shows that predictions made on the base of geophysical data (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) are now confirmed thus demonstrating efficiency of our study. In this paper, we briefly present a summary of up to date knowledge of the geology and hydrogeology of Dead Sea basin, of the physical properties of the salt rock and the most popular models explaining mechanisms of sinkhole development. We also share our experience gained during geophysical studies carried out in the framework of national and international research projects in this area for the last 20 years.Dead Sea, evaporate karst, geophysics, sinkholes Ezersky M.G., Legchenko A., Eppelbaum L. and Al-Zoubi A., 2017. Overview of the geophysical studies in the Dead Sea coastal area related to evaporite karst and recent sinkhole development.

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“…1 (Talbot and Alavi 1996). Salt diapirs are also reported in the United States (The Gulf Coast region and southeast Utah), the Dead Sea coasts, the north German Plain, northeast Spain, Albania, southwest of the former Soviet Union, west central Africa, and Tunisia (Frumkin 1994;Bosák 1993;Johnson 1997;Mace et al 2006;Lucha et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Karst development and hydrogeology of Konarsiah salt diapir, south of Iran

Zareị

Raeisi

2010

Carbonates Evaporites

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The Konarsiah salt diapir is located in the Simply Folded Zone of the Zagros Mountain in the south of Iran. The salt rocks in Konarsiah diapir belong to the Hormuz Formation (Upper Precambrian-Middle Cambrian). Salt extruding from two nearby vents along the same fault have merged into a single body. The grey salt is covered by brown residual cap soils (4-32 m) and blocks (up to tens of meters) of the low-solubility components of the Hormuz Formation. The visible karst features are extensive sinkholes, a few shafts, and inlet caves. Sinkholes are mainly due to soil-cover and caprock collapse and do not show any preferential spatial pattern. Several maps, including salt outcrops, thickness of the mantling soils, salt table (the contact elevation between salt layer and cap soil), and sinkhole distribution are presented. The diapir has been divided into four zones based on the surface slope, cap soil thickness, sinkhole area ratio, and the size and density of sinkholes. Surface slope and cap soil thickness are the main parameters that differentiate the sinkholes. The general direction of groundwater flow is downslope towards the adjacent Konarsiah Plain in the south with diversions towards brine springs, and adjacent alluvium and karst aquifers. The type of groundwater flow is dominantly diffuse. Cave and conduit development is inhibited due to rapid saturation of recharge water with respect to halite. The numerous discharging zones and the constant flow rate of brine springs confirm a diffuse flow model proposed for the hydrology of the Konarsiah salt diapir.

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Natural and human-induced dissolution and subsidence processes in the salt outcrop of the Cardona Diapir (NE Spain)

Cited by 56 publications

References 23 publications

Identification, prediction, and mitigation of sinkhole hazards in evaporite karst areas

Identification, prediction, and mitigation of sinkhole hazards in evaporite karst areas

Overview of the geophysical studies in the Dead Sea coastal area related to evaporite karst and recent sinkhole development

Karst development and hydrogeology of Konarsiah salt diapir, south of Iran

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