Analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south China

Abstract Eighty-six sinkholes occurred in a karst area of 2 km2 from 1990 to 2016, resulting in cracked houses and abandoned farmland. The affected area is adjacent to three underground mines with mining depth up to 600 m below ground. Sinkhole characteristics, hydrogeochemical and isotopic data, an...

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Main Authors: Xiaozhen Jiang, Wangfang Zhou, Zhende Guang, Zongyuan Pan, Xiao Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2023-03-01
Series:Discover Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-023-00030-4
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author Xiaozhen Jiang
Wangfang Zhou
Zhende Guang
Zongyuan Pan
Xiao Ma
author_facet Xiaozhen Jiang
Wangfang Zhou
Zhende Guang
Zongyuan Pan
Xiao Ma
author_sort Xiaozhen Jiang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Eighty-six sinkholes occurred in a karst area of 2 km2 from 1990 to 2016, resulting in cracked houses and abandoned farmland. The affected area is adjacent to three underground mines with mining depth up to 600 m below ground. Sinkhole characteristics, hydrogeochemical and isotopic data, and groundwater-gas pressure measurements were evaluated to understand the dynamic karst system. An aquiclude layer was identified between the Triassic Nanlinghu Formation and Donggangling Formation, leading to recognition of two karst groundwater subsystems—Dongmaanshan subsystem and Nanlinghu subsystem. The sinkholes occurred in the Dongmaanshan subsystem where Xinhua Copper Mine and a water supply wellfield are located, and the influence distance can reach 1.2 km. A larger groundwater cone of depression induced by dewatering in a pyrite mine and gold mine in the Nanlinghu subsystem caused differential settlement. Because the sinkhole occurrence is sensitive to groundwater extraction in the Dongmaanshan subsystem, it is recommended that underground engineering activities should be avoided in this subsystem in future land use planning unless effective measures are taken to prevent groundwater level decline and high-frequency groundwater-gas pressure monitoring is implemented.
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spelling doaj.art-e43b09a2035b423e809826c3939c78d92023-03-22T12:19:34ZengSpringerDiscover Water2730-647X2023-03-013111210.1007/s43832-023-00030-4Analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south ChinaXiaozhen Jiang0Wangfang Zhou1Zhende Guang2Zongyuan Pan3Xiao Ma4Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological SciencesZeo EnvironmentalInstitute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological SciencesInstitute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological SciencesInstitute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological SciencesAbstract Eighty-six sinkholes occurred in a karst area of 2 km2 from 1990 to 2016, resulting in cracked houses and abandoned farmland. The affected area is adjacent to three underground mines with mining depth up to 600 m below ground. Sinkhole characteristics, hydrogeochemical and isotopic data, and groundwater-gas pressure measurements were evaluated to understand the dynamic karst system. An aquiclude layer was identified between the Triassic Nanlinghu Formation and Donggangling Formation, leading to recognition of two karst groundwater subsystems—Dongmaanshan subsystem and Nanlinghu subsystem. The sinkholes occurred in the Dongmaanshan subsystem where Xinhua Copper Mine and a water supply wellfield are located, and the influence distance can reach 1.2 km. A larger groundwater cone of depression induced by dewatering in a pyrite mine and gold mine in the Nanlinghu subsystem caused differential settlement. Because the sinkhole occurrence is sensitive to groundwater extraction in the Dongmaanshan subsystem, it is recommended that underground engineering activities should be avoided in this subsystem in future land use planning unless effective measures are taken to prevent groundwater level decline and high-frequency groundwater-gas pressure monitoring is implemented.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-023-00030-4Karst collapseMine dewateringGroundwater dynamicsImpact source
spellingShingle Xiaozhen Jiang
Wangfang Zhou
Zhende Guang
Zongyuan Pan
Xiao Ma
Analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south China
Discover Water
Karst collapse
Mine dewatering
Groundwater dynamics
Impact source
title Analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south China
title_full Analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south China
title_fullStr Analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south China
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south China
title_short Analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south China
title_sort analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south china
topic Karst collapse
Mine dewatering
Groundwater dynamics
Impact source
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-023-00030-4
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