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Evaluating karst geotechnical risk in the urbanized area of Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Evaluation du risque karstique géotechnique dans la zone urbanisée de Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brésil

Evaluación de riesgo geotécnico de un karst en un área urbanizada de Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brasil

巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州Sete Lagoas城市化区岩溶岩土风险评估

Avaliação de risco geotécnico cárstico na área urbanizada do município de Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brasil

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Abstract

An increase in groundwater consumption in the municipality of Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais, Brazil) has induced subsidence and collapse in the last three decades. The area is associated with natural karst conditions. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate and identify the potential subsidence or collapse risk zones. Aerial photographs, lithologic well profiles, optical well logs, and geologic mapping were utilized to categorize risk factors influencing karst subsidence and collapse, which were then applied to an index system. The study showed that the majority of the urbanized area overlies mantled limestone from the Sete Lagoas Formation covered with unconsolidated sediments, contained within a graben, resulting in barrier boundaries for groundwater flow. This structure, together with natural karst processes, explains the location of solutionally enlarged bedding-plane conduits and high hydraulic conductivity in the limestone. Five risks zones in the municipality were identified (negligible, low, moderate, considerable, and high risks) related to geologic and hydrologic risk factors. The urbanized area is located largely in the high risk zone where the majority of the collapse features are located. Additional intensive groundwater extraction in that area will likely generate additional events.

Résumé

La consommation croissante d’eau souterraine de la ville de Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais, Brésil) a provoqué une subsidence et un affaissement au cours des trois dernières décennies. La région présente des caractéristiques naturelles karstiques. Le premier objectif de cette recherche était d’évaluer et d’identifier les zones de subsidence potentielle ou d’affaissement. Des photographies aériennes, des profils lithologiques et des logs optiques en puits ainsi que la cartographie géologique ont été utilisés pour caractériser les facteurs de risque de subsidence karstique et d’affaissement, qui sont ensuite appliqués dans un système d’indices. L’étude a montré que la plus grande partie de la région urbanisée est située sur un niveau calcaire de la formation de Sete Lagoas recouvert de sédiments meubles, dans un graben faisant barrage à l’écoulement des eaux souterraines. Cette disposition, ainsi que les processus naturels de karstification, expliquent la localisation de conduits suivant les joints de stratification élargis par la dissolution et la grande conductivité hydraulique de ces calcaires. Cinq zones à risques ont été identifiées dans la ville (risque négligeable, faible, modéré, important et très important) en relation avec les facteurs de risques géologiques et hydrogéologiques. La région urbanisée est largement localisée dans la zone à risque très important où se trouve la majorité des structures d’affaissement. Des pompages additionnels intensifs des eaux souterraines dans cette région généreront vraisemblablement de nouveaux mouvements de sol.

Resumen

Un aumento en el consumo de agua subterránea en la municipalidad de Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais, Brasil) ha inducido a la subsidencia y el colapso en las últimas tres décadas. El área está asociada con condiciones kársticas naturales. El objetivo principal de esta investigación fue evaluar e identificar las posibles zonas de riesgo de subsidencia ó de colapso. Se utilizaron fotografías aéreas, perfiles litológicos de pozos, perfilajes ópticos de pozos, y mapeos geológicos para categorizar los factores de riesgos influyentes en la subsidencia y colapso kárstico, los cuales fueron luego aplicados a un sistema de índices. El estudio mostró que la mayoría de las áreas urbanizadas recubren el manto de calizas de la Formación Sete Lagoas cubierto por sedimentos no consolidados, contenidos dentro de un graben, lo que resulta en límites de barreras para el flujo de agua subterránea. Esta estructura, junto con los procesos kársticos naturales, explican la ubicación de conductos de planos de estratificación agrandados por disolución y la alta conductividad hidráulica en la caliza. Se identificaron cinco zonas de riesgo en la municipalidad (riesgos insignificante, bajo, moderado, considerable y alto) relacionado a factores de riesgo geológico e hidrológico. El área urbanizada se ubica en gran parte en zonas de alto riesgo donde se localiza la mayoría de los rasgos de colapsos. La extracción de agua subterránea intensiva adicional en esa área probablemente generará eventos adicionales.

摘要

最近三十年(巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州)Sete Lagoas市地下水消耗量的增加引起了地面沉降和塌陷。这一地区具有天然岩溶条件。本研究的主要目标就是评价和确定潜在的沉降或塌陷风险带。利用航拍照片、岩井剖面、光学测井和地质填图对影响岩溶沉降和塌陷的风险因素进行了分类,然后把这些风险因素应用到一个指数系统中。研究结果显示,大部分城市化地区位于Sete Lagoas组石灰岩之上,上面覆盖着松散沉积物,处于一个地堑之内,构成了地下水流的屏障边界。这种构造,连同天然岩溶进程,产生了溶解作用扩大的层理面通道并使石灰岩中的水力导水率很高。确定了该市与地质和水力风险因素相关的五个风险带(可忽略的风险带、低风险带、中风险带、相当大风险带和高风险带)。城市化区主要位于高风险带,此高风险带也是多数塌陷出现的地带。这个地区额外的强烈抽取地下水还可能产生其他问题。

Resumo

O aumento no consumo de água subterrânea no município de Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais, Brasil) tem induzido a subsidência e o colapso nas últimas três décadas. A área é associada a condições cársticas naturais. O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi avaliar e identificar zonas com potencial risco de subsidência e colapso. Fotografias aéreas, perfis litológicos, perfilagem ótica e mapeamento geológico foram utilizados para categorizar os fatores de risco que influenciam na subsidência e no colapso cárstico, e então foram aplicados a um sistema de indexação. O estudo mostrou que a maior parte da área urbanizada está sobre o manto calcário da Formação Sete Lagoas (coberta por sedimentos inconsolidados), contido em um graben, resultando em barreiras limítrofes para o fluxo de águas subterrâneas. Esta estrutura, juntamente com os processos naturais cársticos, explica a localização de condutos de dissolução alargados no plano de estratificação e a alta condutividade hidráulica no calcário. Foram identificadas cinco zonas de risco no município (insignificante, baixo, moderado, considerável e alto) relacionadas a fatores de riscos geológicos e hidrológicos. A área urbanizada está amplamente localizada em zona de alto risco, onde se encontra a maioria das feições de colapso. A extração intensiva da água subterrânea neste local provavelmente irá gerar eventos adicionais.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by Servmar Environmental & Engineering and by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [ Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)] (process 2012/12846-9). Special thanks go to Kaitlyn Beard and Kyle Spears for their discussion and editing assistance. We would also like to thank three anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful and thorough reviews of the original manuscript.

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  1. Institute of Geosciences, University of São Paulo, Rua do Lago 562, São Paulo, SP, 05508-080, Brazil

    Paulo Galvão & Ricardo Hirata

  2. School of Geology, Oklahoma State University, 105 Noble Research Center, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Todd Halihan

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  1. Paulo Galvão
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Correspondence to Paulo Galvão.

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Galvão, P., Halihan, T. & Hirata, R. Evaluating karst geotechnical risk in the urbanized area of Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Hydrogeol J 23, 1499–1513 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-015-1266-x

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