Site Characterization in Karst and Pseudokarst Terraines

Table of Contents

Part I - A Brief Overview of Karst and Pseudokarst

1. Some Common Terms

1.1 Karst

1.2 Paleokarst

1.3 Pseudokarst

2. The Development of Karst Conditions

2.1 Carbonates and Other Soluble Rock

2.2 Post Deposition Processes

2.3 Some Properties of Karst Rock

3. Types of Karst Features

3.1 Sinkholes

3.2 Sinking Streams and Springs

3.3 The Epikarst Zone

3.4 Caves

4. Karst Maturity and Development

4.1 Karst Maturity

4.2 Karst Development Time Scale

5. Areas Affected by Karst and Pseudokarst

5.1 United States

5.2 Worldwide

6. Karst and Its Many Benefits

6.1 Springs

6.2 Caves

6.3 Sinkholes

6.4 Karst Aquifers and Groundwater

6.5 Mineral Resources

7. Karst and Its Damaging Impact

7.1 Structural Impacts

7.2 Ground Water Contamination

7.3 Pseudokarst Impacts (Natural and Man-Made)

8. Triggering Mechanisms for Sinkholes

8.1 Statistics

8.2 Water-Related Triggering Mechanisms

8.3 A Guideline to Minimize Sinkholes Triggered by Water

8.4 Other Triggering Mechanisms

8.5 Size and Rate of Sinkhole Collapse

9. Cave and Cavern Collapse

9.1 Breakdown Domes

9.2 Mechanics of Cavern Breakdown

9.3 Thickness of Rock Needed to Prevent Surface Subsidence or Collapse

9.4 Experience from Mine Failures

9.5 Propagation of Subsidence and Collapse from Great Depths

10. Insight into the Nature of Cover Collapse Sinkholes

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Insight from Scale Model Sinkhole Tests

10.3 Insight from Mine Backfill Stabilization

10.4 Conceptual Models of Cover Collapse Sinkholes

Part II The Strategy and Methods for Site Characterization

11. What is Site Characterization

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Uncertainties in Site Characterization

11.3 The Technical Literature

11.4 Concepts and Strategies for Site Characterization by Others

11.5 The Site Characterization

11.6 Some Pitfalls of Site Characterization

12. The Strategy

12.1 The Detection Dilemma

12.2 Appropriate, Adequate and Accurate Data

12.3 Key Steps in the Site Characterization Process

12.4 Summary

13. The Desk Study

13.1 What We Know and Don't Know

13.2 Sources of Existing Information and Data

13.3 Type of Data Available

13.4 Data Mining and Review

13.5 The Preliminary Conceptual Model

14. Aerial Photography and Remote Sensing Data

14.1 Availability

14.2 Scale

14.3 Coverage

14.4 Aerial Photos

14.5 Beyond Black and White Aerial Photos (Other Formats and Methods)

15. Site Walkover

15.1 The Initial Site Walkover

15.2 Importance of Observations

15.3 Some Tools for the Field

15.4 On-Site Walkovers and Off-Site Drives

15.5 Site Coverage

15.6 Observations and Mapping

15.7 Fly Over

15.8 Updating the Conceptual Model

15.9 Updating the Work Plan

16. Surface Geophysical Methods

16.1 Introduction

16.2 A Brief History of the Surface Geophysical Methods

16.4 Guidelines for the Selection of the Surface Geophysical Methods

16.5 Application of Surface Geophysical Methods

17. Invasive Methods

17.1 Introduction

17.2 Direct Push Methods

17.3 Borings

17.4 Excavations and Trenches

18. Geophysical Logging

18.1 Introduction

18.2 Geophysical Logging Measurements

18.3 Various Applications for
About the Author:

This book is, for the most part, based upon the authors combined experience of more than 80 years as consulting geologists. The authors are a father and daughter team, who have worked together since 1978 providing consulting services through their company Technos, Inc. Their hands-on experience in site characterization, with both karst and pseudokarst, is represented by the many technical examples included in the book.