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Simulation of the development of gypsum maze caves

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

The development of gypsum maze caves under artesian conditions has been simulated. The numerical model simulations show that the evolution of maze caves in this type of setting requires structural preferences such as laterally extended fissure networks in a horizon of the gypsum layer. Without any structural preferences vertical shafts rather than maze caves are predicted to develop. The most important stage for the development of horizontal caves under artesian conditions is found to be the initial karstification period. During this period the structure of the mature conduit system is established. The solutional enlargement of conduits is spatially extended, total dissolution rates are higher than the later ones.

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Abbreviations

c :

Concentration of dissolved gypsum (mass of gypsum dissolved in a unit volume of water)

c eq :

Equilibrium concentration of gypsum

cin,:

Inflow concentration of dissolved gypsum

cout,:

Outflow concentration of dissolved gypsum

D,:

Joint diffusion coefficient of calcium and sulphate ions

d,:

Pipe diameter

dc,:

Increase in concentration along pipe axis

dz,:

Distance along pipe axis

F,:

Dissolution rate

g,:

Gravitational acceleration

h,:

Mass transfer coefficient

hc,:

Hydraulic head in the conduit system

hf,:

Hydraulic head in the fissured system

L,:

Length of a pipe

l,:

Length of a pipe segment

n,:

Number of pipes connected to a node

P,:

Pipe perimeter

Q,:

Flow rate

R c ,:

Volumetric rate of recharge to the conduit system

r f ,:

Volumetric rate of recharge to the fissured system per unit area

S,:

Storage coefficient of the fissured system

Sh,:

Sherwood number

t,:

Time

T,:

Transmissivity of the fissured system

u,:

Average flow velocity in a pipe

x,:

Space coordinate

y,:

Space coordinate

z,:

Space coordinate along the pipe axis

Δm,:

Mass loss during a time step

Δt,:

Length of a time step

γ,:

Volumetric rate of fluid transfer between fissured system and conduit system per unit area

Γ,:

Volumetric rate of fluid transfer between fissured system and conduit system

λ,:

Friction factor

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Acknowledgements

This work is part of the ROSES (Risk of Subsidence due to Evaporite Solution) project funded by the European Commission Framework IV Programme (Contract number ENV4-CT97-0603).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Geology, Institute for Geoscience, University of Tübingen, Sigwartstr. 10, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Steffen Birk, Rudolf Liedl & Georg Teutsch

  2. Applied Geology, Geoscience Center Göttingen, Goldschmidtstr. 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Martin Sauter

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  1. Steffen Birk
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  2. Rudolf Liedl
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  4. Georg Teutsch
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Correspondence to Steffen Birk.

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Birk, S., Liedl, R., Sauter, M. et al. Simulation of the development of gypsum maze caves. Environ Geol 48, 296–306 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-1276-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-1276-4

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