Environmental and legal aspects of karst areas

 Environmental impacts on karst settings are common as they are more sensitive than those of other rock terrains. Regulatory procedures that are effective in other rock terrains are not necessarily applicable to karst settings. Development and exploitation by man that affect the karst hydrology regime can trigger catastrophic events and result in numerous legal actions where the effects of changes go beyond property boundaries. A great variety of regulations and examples of litigation exist for karst areas. Received: 25 October 1994 · Accepted: 17 October 1995     

Assessment of the tsunami hazard on the Russian coast based on a new catalogue of tsunamis in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov

We present the results of work on the compilation of a fuller and more comprehensive historical catalogue of earthquakes and tsunamis in the basin of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, an area of primary importance for the Russian Federation. In the 20th century, there were no significant tsunamis in the Black Sea; therefore, its coast was not considered tsunami-prone. A systematic search for new data sources, a revision of earlier ones, and the use of new approaches to the identification of tsunamigenic events resulted in a more than doubling of the number of known tsunamigenic events in this basin, bringing it up to 50. The total length of the new tsunami catalogue reached 3000 years, which makes it the second longest after the Mediterranean tsunami catalogue (about 4000 years). Taking into account the seismotectonic features of the Black Sea region, we processed data on historical tsunamis and analyzed the geographical and temporal distributions of their sources. For all tsunamigenic events we performed a parameterization of available information about their sources and coastal manifestations, evaluated the tsunami intensity based on the Soloviev-Imamura scale, and proposed a classification of tsunami and tsunami-like water wave disturbances based on their genesis. Tsunami run-up heights, inland penetration, and damage were estimated with regard for the newly found data. Among the identified historical events, there are devastating tsunamis with run-ups of 4-5 m, sometimes up to 6-8 m, which resulted in disastrous consequences for several ancient cities (Dioscuria, Sebastopolis, Bizone, and Panticapaeum) and many coastal settlements. Expert assessments of the most tsunami-prone areas of the coasts are given.     

黑海西北部多瑙河峡谷北侧陆坡沉积特征及其与古气候的关系

【研究目的】在末次冰期，全球气候变化以千年尺度的快速、大幅度温度波动旋回为特征，这种波动变化在两极冰芯、深海沉积、中国黄土和洞穴石笋等诸多地质样品中均有记录。黑海位于北大西洋与东亚季风区过渡带，具有极有代表性的沉积记录。本文旨在通过对黑海沉积序列的研究，建立起其区域环境变化与北大西洋及东亚季风气候域气候变化的联系。【研究方法】研究对取自黑海西北部罗马尼亚陆坡区多瑙河峡谷北侧GAS-CS12钻孔的长22.0 m的岩芯样品，进行了粒度、矿物成分、主量元素、有机碳、总氮及碳氮同位素等分析。【研究结果】揭示出该段岩芯沉积于末次冰期中后期“Neoeuxine”湖相阶段，可划分为5个沉积单元，对应于北大西洋H4、H3、H1气候变化事件、末次冰盛期（LGM）及Bolling-Allerod气候变暖事件。【结论】建立起了其沉积序列及区域环境变化与北大西洋及东亚季风气候域气候变化的联系，印证了末次冰期千年尺度的气候变化事件在北大西洋、东亚季风区及两者过渡带上具有高度的一致性。创新点：建立了黑海西北沉积序列与区域环境变化的关系；补充了北大西洋与东亚季风区两者过渡带上气候波动事件的可靠时标。     

塔河奥陶系油藏断裂对古岩溶的控制作用

通过对塔河地区奥陶系断裂特征的系统统计分析表明,塔河地区的大型溶洞或分布在T₇⁴界面以下较深的溶洞,多数明显受到中-大型断裂的控制作用。分析结果表明,这些断裂主要形成于海西早期,断裂带控制了海西早期溶洞的形成。根据断裂与溶洞发育之间关系,提出了"控洞断裂"、 "洞控断层"的概念,并指出塔河地区中-大断裂主要为"控洞断裂",控制了深部岩溶洞穴分布,而小型不协调"毛毛断裂"多数为"洞控断层"。根据岩溶期次及断裂分布及"控洞断裂"的认识,建立了塔河地区奥陶系古岩溶作用时期深部洞穴形成的"断裂环"岩溶的模式。研究成果为塔河及外围地区奥陶系溶洞型油藏的勘探提供了重要依据。     

Two hundred million years of karst history, Dachstein Limestone, Hungary

Platform carbonates of the Upper Triassic Dachstein Limestone in Naszály Hill have been karstified extensively over the past 200 million years. They provide an excellent example of polyphase karstic diagenesis that is probably typical of many subaerially exposed carbonate sequences. Seven karstic phases are recognized in the area, each of which include polyphase karstic events. The first karst phase was associated with the Löfer cycles. Meteoric waters caused dissolution; enlarged fractures and cavities, were filled by marine and/or vadose silts and cement. The second karst phase was caused by local tectonic movements. Bedding-plane-controlled phreatic caves were formed, and filled by silts. The third karst phase lasted from the end of the Triassic to the Eocene. This was a regional, multiphase karstic event related to younger composite unconformities. Bauxitic fill is the most characteristic product of this phase. The karst terrain reached its mature or senile stage with very little porosity. Narrow veins and floating rafts of white calcite marks karst phase 4, which resulted from hydrothermal activity associated with Palaeogene magmatism. The early Rupelian phase of Alpine uplift caused large-scale rejuvenation of the former karst terrain (karst phase 5). Subsequently Naszály Hill was buried as an area of juvenile karst with significant porosity. A second period of hydrothermal activity in the area (karst phase 6) was induced by Miocene volcanism, which resulted in wide, pale green calcite veins. Finally karst phase 7 was of tectonic origin. Following the most recent, Miocene uplift of the Naszály Hill, the carbonates have again become the site of vadose karst development.     

Submerged caves of Croatia: distribution,classification and origin

Presently, 235 submerged caves and pits have been recorded along the Croatian coast and islands, partly or completely submerged by sea water. Contrary to the inland situation, recorded submerged features are predominantly horizontal (60%), though there are indications that the real situation is similar to that of the continental part where 69% are vertical pits. Completely marine conditions are established in 126 caves and the rest are anchihaline caves and submarine springs. Speleothems are found in more than 140 caves. By their origin, the investigated caves are all continental features formed in Mesozoic and Palaeogene carbonates, subsequently submerged owing to sea transgression. Due to the relatively low wave energy, rapid sea level rise and maturity of the host rock, they do not fit into concepts of a sea cave or a flank margin cave development, but they fulfil several conditions for being the blue holes. Since the term ‘blue hole’ is mainly associated with the Bahamian karst, our attempt is only to show the possible similarities with no intention of ascribing that term to the Croatian caves. Beside karstological issues, Croatian submerged caves are unique environmental, archaeological and tourism assets.     

The Catak landslide disaster, Trabzon Province, Turkey

The Catak landslide (Trabzon Province, Turkey) developed retrogressively upslope through a series of small slips, culminating with the catastrophic rock avalanche of 23rd June, 1988 when at least 66 people were killed. The landslide was caused by prolonged heavy rainfall triggering a failure in a partially supported 25-m high road cutting in colluvium, which progressively removed support for the higher parts of the slope and resulted in the catastrophic slide. Such high-magnitude events are not uncommon in the Black Sea Mountains but the recent disaster highlights the need for systematic landslide hazard assessments in the region.     

Historical tsunamis in the Adriatic Sea

Tsunami activity in the Adriatic Sea from the sixteenth century until the present has been analysed with the ultimate goal to improve the European tsunami catalogue and provide data for a new geo-database of tsunami events in the European-Mediterranean region. The study encompasses twenty-seven events, nine on the western and eighteen on the eastern coast of the Adriatic, with special attention being devoted to contemporary sources and to local journals and newspapers. For all the analysed events, the path of information from coeval sources, through the nineteenth century and up to modern tsunami catalogues, has been constructed. Tsunamis on the western coast have already been studied, but to obtain a coherent picture of tsunamigenic activity in the Adriatic Sea, they have been included in this work. Furthermore, the study was extended to see whether they had propagated to the opposite coast. Most of the events on the eastern coast have now been systematically analysed for the first time. The search of bibliographical sources revealed three new reports on tsunamis on the eastern coast that had not been previously recorded in international publications. The study established that, out of the eighteen eastern Adriatic events, twelve can be considered false, while six were true tsunamis. In the last 600 years, fifteen true tsunami events occurred in the Adriatic. One was very strong, six were strong or rather strong, and eight were light tsunamis. As a final result of this analysis, carried out according to standardised criteria, fifteen Adriatic tsunami events will be inserted in the TRANSFER (Tsunami Risk ANd Strategies For the European Region) database for the European-Mediterranean region.     

新构造运动及气候变化与溶洞及滑坡演化——以金沙江雷波地区为例

新构造运动的间歇性上升和气候的冷暖干湿波动是雷波地区金沙江河谷演化的主要影响因素,且两者间具有明显的耦合性,与河谷区的滑坡、岩溶洞穴发育关系密切相关。暖湿期发育滑坡和岩溶洞穴,干冷期河谷下切,形成陡坎及洞穴内的地下河流相堆积。频繁的间歇性新构造上升运动及气候冷暖波动导致多期滑坡和多层洞穴发育,但制约了洞穴规模的发展。     

承压型隐伏溶洞突水灾变演化过程模型试验

岩溶隧址区强致灾性承压隐伏溶洞较为发育,为研究隧道开挖诱发隔水岩体破裂突水致灾机制,以利川至万州高速公路齐岳山隧道为工程背景,研制了流固耦合相似材料,提出了承压溶洞制备新工艺,自主研发了大型隧道突水灾变演化模拟试验系统。针对隧道开挖方式与溶洞发育尺寸,开展了多种工况下隐伏溶洞突水灾变演化过程模拟试验,研究结果表明：隧道施工过程突水灾害是爆破施工扰动与承压含水溶洞渗透破坏双重作用的结果;受爆破开挖扰动影响,隔水岩体内部裂隙发育密集,重点监测区域累计位移高出人工钻凿开挖27%,应力释放率达23.5%,稳定渗透压力仅为初始压力的36.7%,外加水压加载至40 kPa约15 min后最先突水;相同水压加载条件下,溶洞尺寸越大对隔水岩体渗流场、位移场、应力场的影响越大,位移释放率越大、渗透压力整体水平越低,最终在应力和渗流作用下优势导水通道形成并扩展率先发生突水;承压型隐伏溶洞突水灾变演化过程经历了群裂隙的萌生扩展、优势导水通道的形成、隔水岩体破裂失稳3个阶段。试验结果对隧道突水机制的研究和灾害防治具有一定的指导意义。     

河北省崆山白云洞成因与演化

河北省崆山白云洞发育在以中寒武统张夏组为主的碳酸盐岩地层中,平面形态主要受NNW向、NE向和近EW向断裂控制,垂向上可分为3层,各层洞穴以沿陡倾断裂侵蚀、溶蚀而成的通道相连.第一层厅堂状溶洞(天堂、人间和地府)沿NNW向断裂展布,形成于早更新世中晚期;第二层格网状洞穴(迷宫和龙宫上部)沿NNW.和NE向断裂发育,形成于中更新世中期—晚更新世初;第三层形态曲折的廊道形洞穴(龙宫下部)主要追踪NE和NNW向断裂延伸,形成于晚更新世晚期—早全新世初期.在白云洞形成发育过程中,曾经历了多次构造运动破坏.现今的白云洞,景观损毁、岩石破裂严重,灾害承受力低,因此洞穴结构稳定性保护和洞穴地质环境治理是当前重要而紧迫的任务.     

塔河油田加里东期岩溶储层特征及分布预测

岩溶储层是塔河油田奥陶系碳酸盐岩的主要储层，是海西早期与加里东期岩溶作用的结果。海西期岩溶储层主要发育在石炭系直接覆盖于中下奥陶统之上的地区，上奥陶统覆盖区的岩溶储层主要是加里东期岩溶作用形成的。地震剖面奥陶系反射波组底部上超、顶部削切特征，牙形剌化石带的缺失、志留系层序地层对比均证实奥陶系在加里东中期有过隆升剥蚀，说明塔河油田具备有加里东岩溶作用的地质条件，锶同位素特征证实了加里东期岩溶洞穴的存在。在上奥陶统覆盖区，岩溶储层主要发育于加里东不整合面(T47和T27)下300 m之内，岩溶储层中，岩溶洞穴高度主要为0～30 m之间，最大可达75 m，显然是加里东中期岩溶作用的产物。加里东期断裂控制了加里东岩溶储层的发育，由此预测了加里东期岩溶储层的发育区带。     

碳酸盐岩早成岩岩溶作用及油气地质意义

碳酸盐岩早成岩岩溶作用可发育溶蚀孔洞或具有规模的溶洞,这对于认识我国塔里木盆地、四川盆地碳酸盐岩内幕岩溶区孔洞成因与分布具有重要参考价值。然而碳酸盐岩早成岩岩溶在我国现代岩溶发育较少,研究程度低。文章通过总结国外在碳酸盐岩早成岩岩溶形成机理及孔洞发育特征的研究成果,探讨早成岩岩溶的油气地质意义:（1）成岩早期碳酸盐岩胶结程度差,岩石疏松,孔隙度、渗透率极高,介质空间较均匀;（2）早成岩岩溶作用与海平面升降具有明显的关系,尤其海岛或滨岸地区的淡水-海水交互带,以混合水岩溶为特征的岩溶作用较强烈;（3）早成岩岩溶孔洞发育分布具有一定特点,岛屿岩溶以发育侧面边缘洞穴为特征,而滨海岩溶以发育混合带管道为特征;（4）孔洞的发育主要受淡水中CO2含量、水流通过混合过渡带的水动力及海平面变化速率控制;（5）早成岩岩溶为研究我国地质历史时期碳酸盐岩短期暴露岩溶作用提供借鉴,对其孔洞发育分布特征的认识,将促进碳酸盐岩内幕区孔洞型油气储层形成机理研究,指导内幕区孔洞储层分布预测和油气勘探。      

Karst Collapse Mechanism and Criterion for Its Stability

Karst collapse, caused by natural or artificial abstraction of groundwater, has been a focus of environmentalgeological problems for its ever-increasing hazardousness. The potential erosion theory and vacuum suction erosion theory, which reveal the origin of karst collapse macroscopically, are popularly accepted. However, a mathematic prediction criterion for karst collapse cannot be established only by these two theories. From a new perspective, this paper attempts to explain the microcosmic mechanism of karst collapse on the basis of these two theories. When the shear stress surpasses the shear strength of soil, a certain point or a certain plane in the unconsolidated soil covering karst caves will fail under the mechanical effects of water and air as well as its load-pressure, and with the increase of damaged points, a breaking plane appears and the soil on karst caves is completely damaged; as a result, the karst ground collapses. On the basis of the Mohr-Coulomb failure theory and previous studies,     

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.     

香溪河流域岩溶洞穴发育与分布特征

结合1∶5万水文地质调查,对香溪河岩溶流域溶洞特征进行了探究,统计其溶洞的规模、形态、发育地层、发育方向及分布高程,结果表明:该区洞穴规模中等,受岩性的控制,溶洞的发育表现出对碳酸盐岩岩组类型的选择性,其中寒武-奥陶系地层溶洞发育程度最高;溶洞的发育方向多为北北东和北北西向,与区域构造线一致,同时受本区构造运动间歇性抬升的影响,溶洞集中发育于4个高程区;从溶洞发育的构造部位来看,溶洞主要分布在宽缓向斜的东南翼及向斜核部,平面分布表现出分带性;该区溶洞多发育至早期就停止进一步发育,其规模、类型、分布特征等与鄂西南地区溶洞均存在差异。      

塔河油田碳酸盐岩油藏古岩溶洞穴层状结构与形成机理

随着岩溶型碳酸盐岩油藏开发实践的不断深入,层状洞穴储层结构特征和流体同层连通特点逐渐被学者重视。层控岩溶结构、形成要素和过程等是本类油藏有效开发的关键。通过原始地层组构对比和野外溶洞特点,认为:塔河奥陶系岩溶层具较好的对比标志层和岩性差异,为层状岩溶洞穴发育奠定了物质基础;野外顺水平层理多层溶洞和受控于层理缝的管道型古暗河等地质现象,证实了层控岩溶普遍存在。在岩溶洞穴单井识别、连井测井对比、单井动态及地震波形特征的基础上,以典型溶洞带为例,识别出3个主要洞穴层,建立了全新的3层洞穴储集体地质结构剖面:第1层洞穴以砂砾岩充填为主要特点,第2层洞穴呈现洞穴规模大且泥质充填严重,第3层规模较小,主要发育于岩溶地貌高地。运用现代岩溶理论,探讨了层控岩溶的形成机制:碳酸盐岩原岩组构差异是岩溶作用的物质基础和主控因素之一;潜流带岩溶水(饱含CO₂)控制着岩溶洞穴的横向发育,岩溶古地貌控制同层洞穴的横向差异;平缓地层条件下的潜水面水位垂向带迁移控制洞穴的岩溶期次及层状结构。基于各岩溶要素认识,构建了层状岩溶储层发育模式。     

Evaluation of Karst Hazards for Civil and Industrial Buildings

The European part of Russia exhibits highly developed sulphate and carbonate karst. It mostly occurs within river valleys with relatively thin covering deposits. These conditions may induce karst collapses, which appear to be the main danger for civil and industrial buildings. Evolution of karst rocks includes several epochs of karst development, which causes complicated distribution of karst caves in karst rocks and, as the result, irregular distribution of karst caves on the surface. Karst hazards prediction is mostly reliable within the geotechnical system "Karst-Construction", using probability methods. This approach allows creating 3 types of antikarst protection (alternative design of construction arrangement on a plan, structural protection of a construction and plugging of karst caves beneath construction foundation) and selecting the optimum or the most effective version or their rational combination.     

River–groundwater connectivity in a karst system,Wellington, New South Wales,Australia

The characterization of river–aquifer connectivity in karst environments is difficult due to the presence of conduits and caves. This work demonstrates how geophysical imaging combined with hydrogeological data can improve the conceptualization of surface-water and groundwater interactions in karst terrains. The objective of this study is to understand the association between the Bell River and karst-alluvial aquifer at Wellington, Australia. River and groundwater levels were continuously monitored, and electrical resistivity imaging and water quality surveys conducted. Two-dimensional resistivity imaging mapped the transition between the alluvium and karst. This is important for highlighting the proximity of the saturated alluvial sediments to the water-filled caves and conduits. In the unsaturated zone the resistivity imaging differentiated between air- and sediment-filled karst features, and in the saturated zone it mapped the location of possible water- and sediment-filled caves. Groundwater levels are dynamic and respond quickly to changes in the river stage, implying that there is a strong hydraulic connection, and that the river is losing and recharging the adjacent aquifer. Groundwater extractions (1,370 ML, megalitres, annually) from the alluvial aquifer can cause the groundwater level to fall by as much as 1.5 m in a year. However, when the Bell River flows after significant rainfall in the upper catchment, river-leakage rapidly recharges the alluvial and karst aquifers. This work demonstrates that in complex hydrogeological settings, the combined use of geophysical imaging, hydrograph analysis and geochemical measurements provide insights on the local karst hydrology and groundwater processes, which will enable better water-resource and karst management.     

地面岩溶塌陷的高分辨地震勘查

地面岩溶塌陷是地质灾害主要灾种,由于其突发性,对人类的生产和生活造成威胁。浅层高分辨地震技术可以查明形成塌陷的基岩地质条件,特别是横波反射法可以查明覆盖层中地下水作用形成的潜蚀带或土洞等覆盖层地质条件。勘查洞穴是岩溶塌陷地震勘查方法面临的特殊问题,为了解土洞、溶洞形成的地震反射信号特征,专门进行二维固体超声波模型试验。唐山市岩溶塌陷勘查实例表明,高分辨地震技术可探明基岩埋深、断层、破碎带及覆盖层潜蚀扰动区,为防冶工程设计提供地质背景资料。