Advances in Karst Research: Theory, Fieldwork and Applications
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Karst landscapes and karst aquifers are composed of a variety of soluble rocks, such as salt, gypsum, anhydrite, limestone, dolomite and quartzite. They are fascinating areas of exploration, study and research. As karst rocks are abundant on the Earth’s surface, the fast evolution of karst landscapes and the rapid flow of water through karst aquifers present many challenges from a number of different perspectives. This collection of 25 papers deals with different aspects of these challenges, including karst geology, geomorphology and speleogenesis, karst hydrogeology, karst modelling, and karst hazards and management. Together these papers provide a state-of-the-art review of the current challenges and solutions we face in describing karst from a scientific perspective, while at the same time providing useful data and information for managing karst territories to land planners, developers, and managers of show caves, natural parks and reserves in karst terrains.
Geophysical observations and structural models of two shallow caves in gypsum/anhydrite-bearing rocks in Germany
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Published:January 01, 2018
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CiteCitation
Georg Kaufmann, Douchko Romanov, 2018. "Geophysical observations and structural models of two shallow caves in gypsum/anhydrite-bearing rocks in Germany", Advances in Karst Research: Theory, Fieldwork and Applications, M. Parise, F. Gabrovsek, G. Kaufmann, N. Ravbar
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Abstract
The development of subsurface voids and cavities in soluble rocks is controlled by the hydrological and chemical processes in the host rock. Water (enriched with carbon dioxide) percolates through fractures and bedding partings of the host rock and removes material from the rock surface. As this enlargement is a highly heterogeneous process, only some fractures and bedding partings become significantly enlarged, evolving towards larger voids and caves. The size of the enlarged voids, often reaching the metre scale, can result in mechanically unstable structures, which, when close to the surface, are prone to collapse and thus are a hazard to infrastructure. We explored two caves in the anhydrite host rock of the Permian Zechstein sequences in northern Germany using geophysical measurements: the Kalkberghöhle close to Bad Segeberg (Hamburg region) and the Jettenhöhle close to Osterode (Harz region). Based on the results of gravity and electrical measurements, we were able to identify the cave voids and to characterize the local geological setting. Using these indirect geophysical observations, we deduced a structural model for both cave sites by numerical modelling. Our structural models were successfully calibrated against the Bouguer gravity data.
- anhydrite
- calibration
- carbon dioxide
- carbonate rocks
- carbonates
- caves
- Central Europe
- dolomite
- electrical methods
- Europe
- geologic hazards
- geophysical methods
- Germany
- gravity methods
- gypsum
- Hamburg Germany
- Harz region
- host rocks
- hydrology
- limestone
- models
- natural hazards
- numerical models
- observations
- Paleozoic
- Permian
- sedimentary rocks
- structures
- sulfates