Gravimetric mapping of an abandoned underground limestone mine in Clark County, Indiana

Conference · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:381538

Rene, R M ^[1]

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1. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)

An underground limestone mine near the center of Clark Military Grant 48 in Clark County, Indiana, was in operation from 1892 to 1896. This mine, here referred to as the Gheen`s Mill Cementville Mine, was abandoned and became flooded before the slope shaft entrance was back-filled. The roof of the mine is at a depth of about 8.2 m (27 feet). An interval of 4.3 m (14 ft) or less of limestone was mined to make a natural cement. A map of the mine was needed because undermined areas might be unsafe for buildings. The area is presently being developed as a business park. Fifty-six holes were drilled several years ago to map the mine, but their precise locations were unknown. Seventeen holes found cavities, 32 holes penetrated the mined interval but did not encounter cavities, and 7 holes did not find bedrock within a depth of 11 m (33 ft). A gravity survey was made to help locate these holes and to better define the bounds of the mine. One hole was successfully exhumed and identified on the basis of the gravimetry. Gravity was measured at 837 stations in nineteen east-west and north-south profiles with 3.05-m (10-ft) station spacing. Inflection points of a negative 140-{mu}gal Bouguer gravity anomaly located edges of the mine. First and second horizontal derivatives of the gravity profiles helped locate these edges. Gravity profiles around the mine perimeter did not detect any tunnels extending between the boreholes. A large negative residual Bouguer gravity anomaly south of the mine defines a buried valley that limited the area available for mining. The gravity method should be practical in mapping similar underground mines in the region. Approximately 40 percent of one of these mines, the Falls City Mine, has collapsed. The gravity survey of the Gheen`s Mill Cementville Mine probably indicates that a lesser proportion of the limestone was mined within the perimeter of this mine than in the case of the Falls City Mine.

• OSTI ID: 381538
• Report Number(s): CONF-960477--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABANDONED SITES
GRAVITY SURVEYS
INDIANA
MAPPING
MINES
REMEDIAL ACTION