Karst collapse in cities and mining areas, China

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02574824· OSTI ID:5923878

Chen, Jian ^[1]

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1. Inst. of Karst Geology, Guangxi (China)

Karst collapse is a dynamic geological phenomenon, in which the rock mass or deposits overlying the karstified zone subsides down along the karst cavity, resulting in a collapse pit or sinkhole. After discussing the typical examples of collapse emerging in the karst cities and mines in provinces and regions of South China, such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Zhejiang, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Jiangxi, it is considered that human activities of economy and production have become a major effect in causing karst collapse. Man-made collapses make 66.4 percent of the total, whereas natural ones 33.6 percent. Most of the collapses occurred to the area with soil overburden (96.7 percent), only a few in areas of bedrock overburden (3.3 percent). The karst collapses have a close relationship with the extent of karst development, the character and the thickness of overburden, and the dynamic condition of underground water. Collapse usually occurs in those parts of an area that are more intensely karstified, with soil thickness less than 5 m and a high amplitude of water table fluctuation. Many kinds of mechanical effects are caused by pumping or draining on the over-burden and destroying its equilibrium, leading to the collapse. These effects included the support loss and load-added effect, penetrating suffusion, gas explosion, water-hammer, suction pressure erosion, and liquefaction effects. The collapses are the result of varied comprehensive effects, particularly the support loss and load-added, and penetrating suffusion.

• OSTI ID: 5923878
• Journal Information: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Geology and Water Sciences; (United States) Vol. 12:1; ISSN EGWSE; ISSN 0177-5146
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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AQUIFERS
ASIA
CAVES
CAVITIES
CHINA
DAMAGE
DRAWDOWN
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
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SOIL-STRUCTURE INTERACTIONS
UNDERGROUND MINING
URBAN AREAS
WATER
WATER REMOVAL