Site Characterization in Karst and Pseudokarst Terraines (eBook)

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.

Table of Contents Part I – A Brief Overview of Karst and Pseudokarst 1.  Some Common Terms1.1  Karst1.2  Paleokarst1.3  Pseudokarst 2.  The Development of Karst Conditions2.1  Carbonates and Other Soluble Rock2.2  Post Deposition Processes2.3  Some Properties of Karst Rock 3. Types of Karst Features3.1 Sinkholes3.2 Sinking Streams and Springs3.3 The Epikarst Zone3.4 Caves 4. Karst Maturity and Development4.1 Karst Maturity4.2 Karst Development Time Scale 5. Areas Affected by Karst and Pseudokarst5.1 United States5.2 Worldwide 6. Karst and Its Many Benefits6.1 Springs6.2 Caves6.3 Sinkholes6.4 Karst Aquifers and Groundwater Resources6.5 Mineral Resources 7. Karst and Its Damaging Impact7.1 Structural Impacts7.2 Ground Water Contamination7.3 Pseudokarst Impacts (Natural and Man-Made)                        8. Triggering Mechanisms for Sinkholes8.1 Statistics8.2 Water-Related Triggering Mechanisms8.3 A Guideline to Minimize Sinkholes Triggered by Water8.4 Other Triggering Mechanisms8.5 Size and Rate of Sinkhole Collapse                        9. Cave and Cavern Collapse9.1 Breakdown Domes9.2 Mechanics of Cavern Breakdown9.3 Thickness of Rock Needed to Prevent Surface Subsidence or Collapse9.4 Experience from Mine Failures9.5 Propagation of Subsidence and Collapse from Great Depths 10. Insight into the Nature of Cover Collapse Sinkholes10.1 Introduction10.2 Insight from Scale Model Sinkhole Tests10.3 Insight from Mine Backfill Stabilization10.4 Conceptual Models of Cover Collapse Sinkholes Part II The Strategy and Methods for Site Characterization 11. What is Site Characterization11.1 Introduction11.2 Uncertainties in Site Characterization11.3 The Technical Literature11.4 Concepts and Strategies for Site Characterization by Others11.5 The Site Characterization Team11.6 Some Pitfalls of Site Characterization                        12. The Strategy                    12.1 The Detection Dilemma12.2 Appropriate, Adequate and Accurate Data12.3 Key Steps in the Site Characterization Process12.4 Summary 13. The Desk Study13.1 What We Know and Don’t Know13.2 Sources of Existing Information and Data13.3 Type of Data Available13.4 Data Mining and Review13.5 The Preliminary Conceptual Model14. Aerial Photography and Remote Sensing Data14.1 Availability14.2 Scale14.3 Coverage14.4 Aerial Photos14.5 Beyond Black and White Aerial Photos (Other Formats and Methods)                        15. Site Walkover15.1 The Initial Site Walkover15.2 Importance of Observations15.3 Some Tools for the Field15.4 On-Site Walkovers and Off-Site Drives15.5 Site Coverage15.6 Observations and Mapping15.7 Fly Over15.8 Updating the Conceptual Model15.9 Updating the Work Plan 16. Surface Geophysical Methods16.1 Introduction16.2 A Brief History of the Surface Geophysical Methods16.3 An Overview of Surface Geophysics16.4 Guidelines for the Selection of the Surface Geophysical Methods16.5 Application of Surface Geophysical Methods 17. Invasive Methods17.1 Introduction17.2 Direct Push Methods17.3 Borings17.4 Excavations and Trenches 18. Geophysical Logging18.1 Introduction18.2 Geophysical Logging Measurements18.3 Various Applications for Geophysical Logs18.4 Downhole, Crosshole and Tomographic Measurements                      19. Assessment of Larger Open Voids and Structures19.1 A Variety of Methods19.2 Visual Inspection19.3 Photographic and Video Documentation19.4 Cave Mapping Systems19.5 Laser and Sonar System19.6 Remotely Operated and Autonomous Vehicles for Inspections            20. Engineering Measurements and Monitoring20.1 In-situ Geotechnical Measurements and Monitoring20.2 Monitoring Subsidence                 21. Hydrologic Characterization and Measurements21.1 A Complex System21.2 Karst is a Multiple Porosity System21.3 Lets Revisit the Issue of Scale21.4 Temporal Aspects21.5 Hydrologic Measurements21.6 Surface Water21.7 The Unsaturated Zone21.8 The Saturated Zone21.9 Groundwater Contaminants21.10 Aquitards and Barriers       22. Dye Tracing22.1 Introduction22.2 Considerations for Dye Tracing22.3 Results and Analysis of Dye Trace Studies22.4 Limitations of Dye Traces 23. The Conversion of Data to Useful Information23.1 Managing Data23.2 An Assessment of All Data23.3 Assembly of Data23.4 Processing of Data23.5 Integration of Data23.6 The Final Interpretation and Conceptual Model23.7 Visualization and Presentation of Data23.8 Documentation – A Final Report 24. Risk Assessment24.1 Definition of Risk24.2 Objective and Subjective Methods for Risk Assessment24.3 Regional Risk Assessments24.4 Site-Specific Risk Assessment                         Part III Case Histories 25. The Development Of A Landfill Over An Abandoned Limestone Mine25.1 Background25.2 An Assessment of the CCA and the Surface Fissures25.3 An Assessment of the Mine Conditions 25.4 A Ground Water Monitoring Plan25.5 Subsidence Risk Assessment25.6 The Mine Backfilling Program    25.7 Conclusions 26. Site Characterization along Bridge Alignment26.1 Background26.2 An Initial Site Assessment26.3 The Approach26.4 Phase I Reconnaissance Investigation26.5 Phase II Confirmation Phase26.6 Phase III Detailed Investigation26.7 Risk Assessment26.8 Conclusions 27. EPA Superfund Site27.1 Background27.2 Objectives of the Overall Investigation27.3 Technical Approach27.4 Site Preparation27.5 The Desk Study27.6 The Preliminary Conceptual Model27.7 Shallow Geohydrologic Conditions27.8 Deeper Geohydrologic Conditions27.9 The Conceptual Model for the Site27.10 Sinkhole Risk Assessment27.11 The Ability of Geology to Support Proposed Remedy27.12 About the Site Characterization Strategy