Use of ground-penetrating radar for assessment of potential sinkhole conditions: an example from Ghor al Haditha area,Jordan

. Sinkholes are near-surface indicators of active karst features at depth, such as cavities, conduits and solutionally enlarged fractures. This study tests the usefulness of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to identify and locate buried sinkholes as a means of interpreting the existence of these subsurface hydraulically-active karst features. GPR survey was made at the Ghor al Haditha area west of the Jordan-DSTF in the Jordan Valley Escarpment at the eastern Dead Sea shoreline. GPR profiles (100 MHz) made along the eastern Dead Sea shoreline showed a trough-like pattern of radar reflections outlining a series of possible filled sinkholes. This feature is about 38 m wide and about 12 m deep. Its width is consistent with the width of the feature obtained from the topographic map of the area. The GPR survey suggests that this feature has been filled with relatively dense and resistive materials. This structure lies almost directly above a major water bearing zone.     

基于探地雷达检测的岩溶岸坡内部宏观裂隙响应规律研究

岩体内部宏观裂隙的发育程度对水库区岩溶岸坡稳定性有着重要影响.为了有效地探测和识别岩体内部宏观裂隙的几何形态和分布特征,对三峡库区巫峡典型岩溶岸坡中岩体内部的垂直裂隙进行模型简化.基于无损伤的探地雷达物探技术,通过理论分析、数值模拟,研究了岩体内部垂直裂隙的宽度、长度、倾角等发生变化时,雷达回波剖面中裂隙对应的时距曲线...     

探地雷达在桥塔塔基岩溶勘查中的应用及信号分析

以湖南省张家界—花垣县高速公路岩溶勘查为例,探讨探地雷达在竖直型岩溶勘查中的应用和效果;同时,说明复信号分析方法在探地雷达数据处理中的有效性。竖向岩溶的横向规模小,在雷达图像中相应的异常范围比较窄,异常不易分辨。首先对原始采集信号进行二维空间域滤波,再对信号进行Hilbert变换,提取雷达信号的瞬时振幅、瞬时相位和瞬时频率,然后对这些处理后的信号进行综合分析。研究结果表明,二维空间域滤波可大大消除高频噪声的干扰,提高信号的信噪比,多参数综合分析可提高探地雷达解释的精度,最终的钻探成果也验证了反演解释结果的正确性。     

探地雷达技术对表层岩溶带典型剖面组构刻画与界面识别

表层岩溶带是岩溶研究的重要对象,以往研究以剖面调查半定量为主,文章利用探地雷达属性技术对其发育情况进行定量研究。选取3个表层岩溶带的典型剖面（浅裂隙土、深裂隙土、厚土层覆盖）,并采集探地雷达数据,通过提取相干体属性和均方根振幅属性来挖掘雷达数据中的潜在信息,用于区分介质组构和识别发育深度界面。结果表明,均方根振幅属性较好地区分出了浅裂隙土型和深裂隙土型的岩土介质,厚土层覆盖型的犁耕层与非犁耕层土壤介质;相干体属性能较好地识别出表层岩溶带和下部完整基岩,定量化其发育厚度。      

Subsidence hazards due to evaporite dissolution in the United States

Evaporites, including gypsum (or anhydrite) and salt, are the most soluble of common rocks; they are dissolved readily to form the same type of karst features that typically are found in limestones and dolomites, and their dissolution can locally result in major subsidence structures. The four basic requirements for evaporite dissolution to occur are: (1) a deposit of gypsum or salt; (2) water, unsaturated with CaSO₄ or NaCl; (3) an outlet for escape of dissolving water; and (4) energy to cause water to flow through the system. Evaporites are present in 32 of the 48 contiguous states of the United States, and they underlie about 35–40% of the land area. Karst is known at least locally (and sometimes quite extensively) in almost all areas underlain by evaporites, and some of these karst features involve significant subsidence. The most widespread and pronounced examples of both gypsum and salt karst and subsidence are in the Permian basin of the southwestern United States, but many other areas also are significant. Human activities have caused some evaporite–subsidence development, primarily in salt deposits. Boreholes may enable (either intentionally or inadvertently) unsaturated water to flow through or against salt deposits, thus allowing development of small to large dissolution cavities. If the dissolution cavity is large enough and shallow enough, successive roof failures above the cavity can cause land subsidence or catastrophic collapse.     

山东省泰莱盆地岩溶塌陷发育特征及形成机理

泰莱盆地位于山东省中部,截止2013年底,盆地内共发生有记录岩溶塌陷97处,161点次,严重威胁人民生命财产安全。文章在总结前人研究基础上,结合最新调查、监测成果,研究了泰莱盆地岩溶塌陷的分布特征、地质结构模式及其形成机理。结果表明:盆地内岩溶塌陷点多集中分布于岩溶地下水降落漏斗及其影响范围内;塌陷点分布受构造控制明显;塌陷区第四系厚度一般小于30 m,下伏基岩主要为奥陶纪灰岩;80%以上的塌陷集中发生于汛期。根据岩溶塌陷点土层结构、地下水动力条件的不同,建立了3种岩溶塌陷的基本地质模式:单层、双层和多层结构土层岩溶塌陷,其中单层结构土层岩溶塌陷的形成历经“真空吸蚀-崩解剥落-塌陷”3个阶段;双层土层结构岩溶塌陷形成演化过程可概括为“渗透变形-崩解垮塌-塌陷”或“真空吸蚀-渗透变形-塌陷”3个阶段;多层结构土层岩溶塌陷历经“真空吸蚀-渗透变形-崩解垮塌-塌陷”4个阶段。      

Quantitative sinkhole hazard assessment. A case study from the Ebro Valley evaporite alluvial karst (NE Spain)

Quantitative sinkhole hazard assessments in karst areas allow calculation of the potential sinkhole risk and the performance of cost-benefit analyses. These estimations are of practical interest for planning, engineering, and insurance purposes. The sinkhole hazard assessments should include two components: the probability of occurrence of sinkholes (sinkholes/km² year) and the severity of the sinkholes, which mainly refers to the subsidence mechanisms (progressive passive bending or catastrophic collapse) and the size of the sinkholes at the time of formation; a critical engineering design parameter. This requires the compilation of an exhaustive database on recent sinkholes, including information on the: (1) location, (2) chronology (precise date or age range), (3) size, and (4) subsidence mechanisms and rate. This work presents a hazard assessment from an alluvial evaporite karst area (0.81 km²) located in the periphery of the city of Zaragoza (Ebro River valley, NE Spain). Five sinkholes and four locations with features attributable to karstic subsidence where identified in an initial investigation phase providing a preliminary probability of occurrence of 0.14 sinkholes/km² year (11.34% in annual probability). A trenching program conducted in a subsequent investigation phase allowed us to rule out the four probable sinkholes, reducing the probability of occurrence to 0.079 sinkholes/km² year (6.4% in annual probability). The information on the severity indicates that collapse sinkholes 10–15 m in diameter may occur in the area. A detailed study of the deposits and deformational structures exposed by trenching in one of the sinkholes allowed us to infer a modern collapse sinkhole approximately 12 m in diameter and with a vertical throw of 8 m. This collapse structure is superimposed on a subsidence sinkhole around 80 m across that records at least 1.7 m of synsedimentary subsidence. Trenching, in combination with dating techniques, is proposed as a useful methodology to elucidate the origin of depressions with uncertain diagnosis and to gather practical information with predictive utility about particular sinkholes in alluvial karst settings: precise location, subsidence mechanisms and magnitude, and timing and rate of the subsidence episodes.     

Paleosubsidence and active subsidence due to evaporite dissolution in the Zaragoza area (Huerva River valley, NE Spain): processes, spatial distribution and protection measures for transport routes

The lowest 17-km long reach of the Huerva River valley, down to its confluence with the Ebro River in Zaragoza city, flows across salt-bearing evaporites of the Ebro Tertiary Basin (NE Spain). Upstream, the horizontally lying Miocene evaporites are interfingered with non-soluble distal alluvial fan facies (shales and sandstones). The proportion of soluble facies in the Huerva River valley increases in a downstream direction towards the basin depocenter. On the basis of the type and magnitude of the paleosubsidence features, the valley has been divided into four reaches. Along reach I, undeformed terrace deposits less than 4 m thick rest on insoluble detrital bedrock. In reaches II and III, dissolution at the alluvium–bedrock boundary has generated local thickening, deformation and paleocollapse structures, which only affect the alluvial mantle. In reach IV, terrace deposits thicken to over 60 m resulting from a large-scale synsedimentary subsidence. In this sector, subsidence locally affects to both the alluvium and the underlying bedrock. This indicates that dissolution acts at the rockhead beneath the alluvial cover (alluvial karst) and within the evaporitic substratum (interstratal karst). The development of an intraevaporitic karst in reach IV is attributed to gypsum and salt dissolution. Irregular terrace gravel bodies (gravel pockets) embedded in a fine-grained matrix associated with paleocollapse structures have been interpreted as liquefaction–fluidization structures resulting from ground acceleration and suction induced by catastrophic collapses. Subsidence is currently active in the region affecting areas with a thin alluvial cover in reaches III and IV. The low subsidence activity in most of Zaragoza city is explained by the presence of thickened (around 50 m) and indurated alluvial deposits. In the surrounding area, numerous buildings in Cadrete and Santa Fe villages have been severely damaged by subsidence. Natural and human-induced subsidence favours the development of slope movements in the gypsum scarp overlooking Cadrete village. Several transport routes including the Imperial Canal (irrigation canal) and the recently completed Madrid–Barcelona high-speed railway are affected by human-induced sinkholes. The paleocollapse structures exposed in the trenches of this railway and a ring road under construction point to hazardous locations underlain by cavities and collapse structures where special protection measures should be applied. Rigid structures are recommended beneath the high-speed railway with sufficient strength to span the larger sinkholes with no deformation. Electronic monitoring devices linked to a warning system can detect subtle subsidence-induced deformations in carriageways or railways. This research demonstrates that the study of the paleokarst helps to understand the processes involved in the present-day subsidence phenomena and their general spatial distribution.     

水位波动条件下覆盖型岩溶塌陷试验研究

本文以福建省龙岩市永定区樟坑村岩溶塌陷地质灾害点为研究对象,通过开展室内物理模型试验,研究了水位波动条件下岩溶覆盖层孔隙水压力和沉降的变化规律,结果表明:（1）孔隙水压力响应情况与水位波动呈现良好的一致性,根据孔隙水压力的变化可基本判断岩溶土洞内部土体的塌陷发展情况;（2）土洞内部塌陷同时向上部及水平方向扩展,但向上部扩展速度大于水平方向;（3）塌陷发展不规律,地表形成的近似圆形塌陷坑中心与原始空洞中心不在同一垂线上。同时,在分析覆盖型岩溶土洞发育特征的基础上,总结出覆盖型岩溶土洞在水位循环波动条件下的致塌模式,提出了岩溶土洞塌陷变形发展经历了土洞发育、土洞扩展和地表塌陷3个演化阶段。研究结果对岩溶土洞塌陷的监测预警具有理论及实际意义。     

基于探地雷达单道信号处理的岩溶分析方法

探地雷达（GPR）作为岩溶隧道超前地质预报的主要手段广泛运用于隧道岩溶探测,但GPR自带分析软件所得时间剖面图只能进行岩溶定性分析,无法较准确地确定岩溶的位置、大小和形状。基于此,提出一种基于GPR原始数据的单道信号计算岩溶位置和大小的方法。具体做法主要包括：先用地质雷达自带分析软件确定岩溶位于哪几道信号上,再将这几道信号的数据利用自编程序提取并作Hilbert函数变换,绘出信号的瞬时振幅、相位和频率图（三瞬图）,根据每道三瞬图图像突变的位置确定岩溶的起、终点,最后联合各道计算结果确定岩溶的位置、大小和形状。上述方法在赣龙铁路中复隧道DK189+135、DK189+75断面岩溶探测中得到了成功运用。实践证明,该方法能较准确地确定岩溶的位置、大小和形状,是基于探地雷达探测岩溶分析的可行方法。     

中国西南岩溶关键带结构与物质循环特征

岩溶关键带调查研究的目标是揭示岩溶生态系统的动态平衡和演化机制,旨在为经济社会提供资源环境服务的可持续管理对策,指出在合理的人为活动下增强岩溶关键带韧性的办法及修复受损部位的有效途径。碳酸盐岩作为可溶岩,赋予了岩溶关键带在结构上及物质循环过程中的岩石圈-生物圈相互作用等方面的若干特殊性。该文以中国西南岩溶区为例,总结了诸多学者的研究成果,揭示了从桂林岩溶区到重庆武隆岩溶区,岩溶关键带发育厚度由几米逐渐增厚至1 000 m的区域差异; 岩溶关键带的垂向物质循环过程以土壤-表层岩溶带为中心环节,而在横向上则呈现“岛屿状”镶嵌分布特征,地表生态具脆弱性; 岩溶关键带碳循环过程包括岩溶碳循环和生态碳循环两部分,碳汇则由植物碳汇、土壤碳汇和岩溶碳汇组成,初步估算其碳汇通量为64.36 t/(km²·a)。     

GIS and ANN coupling model: an innovative approach to evaluate vulnerability of karst water inrush in coalmines of north China

Evaporites, including rock salt (halite) and gypsum (or anhydrite), are the most soluble among common rocks; they dissolve readily to form the same types of karst features that commonly are found in limestones and dolomites. Evaporites are present in 32 of the 48 contiguous states in USA, and they underlie about 40% of the land area. Typical evaporite-karst features observed in outcrops include sinkholes, caves, disappearing streams, and springs, whereas other evidence of active evaporite karst includes surface-collapse structures and saline springs or saline plumes that result from salt dissolution. Many evaporites also contain evidence of paleokarst, such as dissolution breccias, breccia pipes, slumped beds, and collapse structures. All these natural karst phenomena can be sources of engineering or environmental problems. Dangerous sinkholes and caves can form rapidly in evaporite rocks, or pre-existing karst features can be reactivated and open up (collapse) under certain hydrologic conditions or when the land is put to new uses. Many karst features also propagate upward through overlying surficial deposits. Human activities also have caused development of evaporite karst, primarily in salt deposits. Boreholes (petroleum tests or solution-mining operations) or underground mines may enable unsaturated water to flow through or against salt deposits, either intentionally or accidentally, thus allowing development of small to large dissolution cavities. If the dissolution cavity is large enough and shallow enough, successive roof failures can cause land subsidence and/or catastrophic collapse. Evaporite karst, natural and human-induced, is far more prevalent than is commonly believed.     

Investigation of karst collapse based on 3-D seismic technique and DDA method at Xieqiao coal mine, China

Karst collapse is a serious geological problem in most of the coal mines in the north of China, but recently it has been found in the south as well. The present study is aimed at investigating subsidence mechanism and deformation field of a karst collapse column at Xieqiao, in the south of China. A method of three-dimensional (3-D) seismic technique has been successful in exploring the spatial morphology of the karst collapse at Xieqiao, and the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) method is used to calculate the deformation field and analyze the subsidence mechanism. The results indicated that DDA could approximately simulate and back analyze the subsidence process and strata deformation fields. The subsidence processes of the collapse column depend on the sizes of the karst caves. With the continuous expansion of the karst caves, a semi-elliptic stress field, local separation strata and fracture zone will be formed around the karst cave. Moreover, they will gradually expand upwards along the vertical direction. The paper also indicates that the subsidence failure stage may trigger a sudden collapse of the karst column because of the sudden energy release. Also, it will make a great impact on the vicinity working face so as to cause a rock burst. The effects of the friction angle of rock strata on the subsidence mechanism were reported firstly based on DDA.     

不同勘探方法在丰水期和枯水期岩溶塌陷探测效果分析研究

岩溶塌陷的发生具有突发性和隐蔽性,采取有效方法准确识别潜在致塌位置对科学合理防治岩溶塌陷具有重要意义。以武汉市典型地区为实例,对比分析了丰水期和枯水期地质雷达、高密度电阻率法、静力触探3种勘探方法对岩溶塌陷的探测效果。结果表明:在该类地质条件下,地质雷达在工作频率≤100 MHz时,对4 m以内的扰动土有明显的响应,40 MHz工作频率的探测深度枯水期大于丰水期,100 MHz工作频率的扰动土响应特征枯水期比丰水期明显。高密度电阻率法在丰水期对地层结构的刻画更为精细准确,适用于浅中层岩土体结构探测。静力触探在丰水期和枯水期无显著差异,适用于10 m以内土体探测,尤其适用于圈定塌陷区边界范围。研究结果可为水动力条件季节性变化大的地区其岩溶塌陷探测方法的选择提供参考,为潜在塌陷点的准确识别提供技术支撑。     

Ultrashallow seismic experiment on a trenched section of the Chelunpu fault zone, Taiwan

Ultrashallow P-wave seismic reflection experiments were conducted at a model test site and in a trenched shallow fault zone along the Chelunpu fault line. The field layout was designed to have the shallowest undistorted reflection from about 1 m depth with 0.5 m vertical resolution. The smallest group interval tested in this study was 0.05 m with a 0.25 ms sample interval, which can avoid spatial aliasing of ground roll if the target is very shallow and the velocities are low. Data processing was designed to be simple but consistent. As the ultrashallow reflections may be contaminated with high-amplitude coherent noise in many aspects, first break muting and surgical muting were performed on each file as detailed as possible, and f–k filtering was applied mainly for the purpose of attenuating the aliasing energy and back-scattered noise. Data acquired in this study show that the low P-wave velocities (< 200 m/s) and high dominant frequencies (120–200 Hz) of near-surface layers may have a potential vertical resolution of 0.4 m or even better.Comparing the test profile with the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) control profile of the same test site and correlating the results obtained from the study site with those of the geologic cross-section of the trench, this experiment demonstrates the possibility of using seismic methods in investigating shallow structures at depths of less than a few meters with vertical resolution comparable to the GPR technique.     

重点水源地岩溶塌陷机理分析及对策研究

以泰安市东羊楼岩溶塌陷为例,分析东羊楼岩溶塌陷区的地形地貌、地质构造、地层岩性等要素;分析东羊楼岩溶塌陷的成因,为岩溶潜蚀和岩溶真空吸蚀综合作用的结果;采用联合剖面、电测深等方法,对塌陷现场进行地球物理勘探分析,物探解释的结果与现场钻探结果基本相符;对泰安岩溶塌陷,提出了建议和对策。     

Passive seismic prospecting in Venice historical center for impedance contrast mapping

Extensive passive seismic prospecting has been conducted in the historical center of Venice (North Italy) aimed to map subsoil impedance contrast. Venice represents an emblematic study site of the challenging characteristics that can be encountered in historical sites, both stratigraphic and logistical, limiting the application of common microzonation techniques. A total of 82 single station passive HVSR acquisitions and passive surface wave arrays analysis have been performed to estimate the main impedance contrasts of the first subsoil, capable of interaction in terms of resonance with the monumental buildings. The results of the geophysical analysis have been integrated with available stratigraphic information derived from published researches and from hundreds of boreholes stored in an institutional database. The results have been then analyzed by means of a geostatistical approach based on cokriging interpolation, which permitted to map the impedance contrast beneath the ancient historical center. The adopted interpolation algorithm permitted to map the impedance contrast with an integrated use of existing information based on HVSR acquisitions and stratigraphic data. The map of impedance contrast is congruent with the literature geo-engineering evidences such as subsidence and geological reconstructions. The achieved results open new perspectives for the use and analysis of passive seismic techniques in challenging environments as historical urban centers characterized by high subsoil heterogeneity. Moreover, an improved knowledge of the shallow stratigraphy would permit to shed light on the complex interactions between anthropic activities and geoenvironmental processes, including climate change that characterized the long history of Venice.     

喀斯特断陷盆地环境地质分区及功能

喀斯特断陷盆地是随着新生代高原隆升产生的断裂活动所引起的断块差异沉陷及溶蚀作用共同形成的山间盆地。由其以局部地块断陷为主导并伴随侵蚀及溶蚀的成因机制所决定,具有地貌分区明显、新构造运动强烈、水资源分布不均、土壤植被分带性强、气候垂向变化明显、人类活动区间差异大等特征。其中,地貌形态—成因类型既是地质环境本质特征的综合反映,又是对生境具有重大影响的自然因素,而且容易认识和识别,是环境地质分区的良好标志。以地貌形态—成因类型为标志,喀斯特断陷盆地可划分为侵溶蚀山区、溶蚀丘峰谷地区、沉积平坝区、侵溶蚀河谷区4个环境地质分区。侵溶蚀山区生态功能突出,溶蚀丘峰谷地区生态与经济功能并重,沉积平坝区经济功能尤显重要,侵蚀河谷区视所处大江大河流域的区位及宏观影响而定。资源开发和环境恢复治理,应与环境地质分区功能相协调,按流域系统评价和全面权衡利弊、科学规划布局,才能取得可持续的成效。      

新疆阿克苏地区震旦系风化壳古岩溶特征及其发育模式

阿克苏露头区多条震旦系地质剖面研究揭示震旦系风化壳古岩溶作用识别标志主要有区域性不整合面、大型洞穴垮塌角砾岩、溶洞、溶孔及高角度溶沟、溶缝等。震旦系风化壳古岩溶垂向分带结构以水平潜流带和深部缓流带为主,垂直渗流带发育较弱或不发育。水平潜流带以发育大型洞穴垮塌堆积体及蜂窝状溶洞群为特征,深部缓流带以发育孤立溶洞为特征。区域古岩溶特征及垂向分带结构对比表明,阿克苏露头区震旦系风化壳古岩溶模式为高潜水面缓坡型古岩溶。