Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modeling sinkhole expansion using a mathematical function with soil characteristics and GPR control: a case from central Iran

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sinkholes and land cracks are the phenomena that are common in the semi-arid and arid lands. The destructive effects of sinkholes include destruction of infrastructure such as energy transmission lines and buildings including residential areas which lead to dangers to human life. In the study area, water abstraction from groundwater for irrigation intensified the sinkhole and land crack formation. Soil parameters such as clay percentage, cracks, and sinkholes dominated in different lands. This study focused on the Abarkooh plain with an area of about 200 square kilometers. The region consisted of medium to fine particles of an alluvial fan that had led from the southwest to the northeast which terminated to low land of Abarkooh salty playa. In this research, 129 samples were taken at grid points from the top soils, and four soil samples were collected from the profile of the sample sinkhole for detailed chemical, physical, and mechanical analyses. Clay mineralogy was performed from selected soil samples after primary routine chemical, physical, and mechanical analyses. Multiple linear regression (MLR) as mathematical function was used for predicting sinkhole hazards with soil properties data. The results revealed that soil properties such as water-soluble Na+ and Mg2+ and lime percentage in the soils had important role to soil divergence and liquid soil clays for sinkhole occurrence. Clay mineralogy from clay particles demonstrated that the mixed clay minerals with dominance of chlorite in the area and play the role of montmorillonite could cause soil divergence. The MLR could predict sinkhole hazard with high accuracy, and the ground-penetrating radar (GPR) results confirmed it as complementary method test. It is suggested that land conservation be introduced as the best alternative in the hazard zones of the sinkhole.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The manuscript contains data representation itself; additional data will be made available on reasonable request.

Notes

  1. Universal Transverse Mercator

References

  • Arjwech R et al (2021) Protection of electricity transmission infrastructure from sinkhole hazard based on electrical resistivity tomography. Eng Geol 293:106318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayers AD, Campbell RB (1951) Freezing point of water in a soil as related to salt and moisture contents of the soil. J Soil Sci 72(3):201–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker CA (2019) The Widdington sands: high-level kesgrave sands and gravels near the Cam-Stort interfluve, Northwest Essex. UK Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association 130:559–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballard T, Beare S (2013) Particle size analysis for sand control applications. In: SPE European formation damage conference and exhibition, Noordwijk, The Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.2118/165119-MS

  • Bevans R (2023) An introduction to multiple linear regression. Statistics. https://www.scribbr.com/statistics/multiple-linear-regression/

  • Bhandary N, Yatabe R (2007) Ring shear tests on clays of fracture zone landslides and clay mineralogical aspects. Chapter 13: 183–192

  • Biskaye PE (1964) Mineralogy and sedimentology of the deep sea sediment fine fraction in the Atlantic ocean geochemistry. Tech Rep 8:86

    Google Scholar 

  • British Standard (1975) Methods of testing soils for civil engineering purposes. British Standard Institute, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Cesarano M, Bish DL, Cappelletti P, Cavalcante F, Belviso C, Fiore S (2018) Quantitative mineralogy of clay-rich siliciclastic landslide terrain of the Sorrento Peninsula, Italy, using a combined XRPD and XRF approach. Clays Clay Miner 66(4):353–369

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daniels D (2004) Ground penetrating radar. In: Daniels DJ (ed) IEE radar, sonar, navigation and avionics series, 2nd edn. Peter Peregrinus Ltd, London, pp 1–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon JB, Weed SB (1989) Minerals in soil environments. 2nd edn, Soil Science Society of America, Madison WI p 1244

  • Ferraiolo JA, Dwight Dana J (1982) A systematic classification of nonsilicate minerals. American Museum Nat His 172(1):237

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaballah M (2019) GPR measurements with advanced isosurface rendering technique for accurately characterizing subsurface archaeological structure at Al-nadura roman temple in Egypt. Sens Imaging 20(1):40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gee GW, Bauder JW (1986) Particle size analysis. In: Klute A (ed), Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1. American Society of Agronomy 9: 383–411

  • Gelman A, Hill J, Vehtari A (2020) Regression and other stories. Cambridge United Kingdom Cambridge University Press, p 548. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139161879

  • Golden ML (2014) Keys to soil taxonomy. By soil survey staff, United States department of agriculture natural resources conservation service twelfth edition p 372

  • Jeong GC, Kim KS, Choo CO (2011) Characteristics of landslides induced by a debris flow at different geology with emphasis on clay mineralogy in South Korea. Nat Hazards 59:347–365. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-011-9760-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang F (2020) Criteria of sinkhole formation in soils from physical model. Bull Eng Geol Environ 79:3833–3841. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-020-01768-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khabbaznia AR (2005) Geological organization of Iran, geology map of Abarkooh. 1:100000

  • Khan M, Xueqiu H, Asam F, Dazhao S, Li Z, Xianghui T, Mingqi N (2021) A novel geophysical method for fractures mapping and risk zones identification in a coalmine, Northeast, China. Energy Rep 7:3785–3804. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2021.06.071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan M, Xueqiu H, Dazhao S, Xianghui T, Li Z, Yarong X, Shahzad Aslam K (2023) Extracting and predicting rock mechanical behavior based on microseismic spatio-temporal response in an ultra-thick coal seam mine. Rock Mech Rock Eng 56:3725–3754. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-023-03247-w

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan M, Xueqiu H, Jia G, Dazhao S (2024) Accurate prediction of indicators for engineering failures in complex mining environments. Eng Fail Anal 155:107736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2023.107736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitson RE, Mellon MG (1944) Colorimetric determination of phosphorus as molybdivanadophosphoric acid. Ind Eng Chem Anal Ed 16(16):79–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Lago AL, Borges WR, Barros JS, Amaral ES (2022) GPR application for the characterization of sinkholes in Teresina Brazil. Environ Earth Sci 81:132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-022-10265-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li G, Field MS (2014) A mathematical model for simulating spring discharge and estimating sinkhole porosity in a karst watershed. Grundwasser 19:51–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00767-013-0243-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luu LH, Noury G, Benseghier Z, Philippe P (2019) Hydro-mechanical modeling of sinkhole occurrence processes in covered karst terrains during a flood. Eng Geol 260:105249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahmoodi Sivand S (2019) The study of alluvial sinkholes in Abarkooh plain. Yazd Regional Water Joint Stock Company Research Committee, Ministry of Power, Iran, p 250

  • Mehrnahad H (2011) Investigating the role of important and large faults in the Yazd-Ardakan plain and its effect on the amount of underground water in the Yazd-Ardakan plain. Regional water company Research project, Yazd University p 210 (In Persian)

  • Morgan RPC (1995) Soil erosion and conservation. Longman Group UK Limited, London p 198

  • Nam BH, Kim YJ, Youn H (2020) Identification and quantitative analysis of sinkhole contributing factors in Florida’s karst. Eng Geol 271:105610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Othman A, Abotalib AZ (2019) Land subsidence triggered by groundwater withdrawal under hyper-arid conditions: case study from Central Saudi Arabia. Environ Earth Sci 78:243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8254-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds JM (1997) An introduction to applied and environmental geophysics. Wiley, New York, p 796

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronen A, Ezersky M, Beck A, Gatenio B, Simhayov RB (2019) Use of GPR method for prediction of sinkholes formation along the Dead Sea Shores, Israel. Geomor 328:28–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandmeier KJ (2016) ReflexW Version 8.1. Program for processing of seismic, acoustic or electromagnetic reflection, refraction and transmission data. Software Manual Karlsruhe Germany, p 628

  • Sevil J et al (2017) Sinkhole investigation in an urban area by trenching in combination with GPR, ERT and high-precision leveling. Mantled evaporate karst of Zaragoza city. NE Spain Eng Geol 291:9–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.10.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sevil J et al (2020) Characterizing and monitoring a high-risk sinkhole in an urban area underlain by salt through non-invasive methods: detailed mapping, high-precision leveling and GPR. Eng Geol 272:105641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shalabh (2018) Sampling theory, systematic sampling. IIT Kanpur 11:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Soldo B, Siamak Mahmoudi S, Afrasiabian A, Durin B (2020) Effect of sinkholes on groundwater resources in arid and semi-arid karst area in Abarkooh Iran. Environ 7:26. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments7040026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Summa V, Tateo F, Giannossi ML, Bonelli CG (2010) Influence of clay mineralogy on the stability of a landslide inPlio-Pleistocene clay sediments near Grassano Southern Italy. Catena 80:75–85

  • Taplin R (2023) Investigating causes of model instability: properties of the prediction accuracy index. Risks 11(6):110. https://doi.org/10.3390/risks11060110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tokbergenova A, Nyussupova G, Arslan M, Kiyassova SKL (2018) Causes and impacts of land degradation and desertification: case study from Kazakhstan. In: Egamberdieva D, Öztürk M (eds). Vegetation of Central Asia and Environs. Springer, Cham https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99728-5_11

  • USDA – NRCS (2012) Field book for describing and sampling soils. National Soil Survey Center Natural Resources Conservation Service. U.S. Department of Agriculture, p 300

  • USGS (2018) Online resource. https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/sinkholes

  • Waltham T (2016) Control the drainage: the gospel accorded to sinkholes. Quarter J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 49(1):5–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JJ, Harrell DL, Henderson RE, Bell PF (2004) Comparison of soil-test extractants for phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron in Louisiana soils. Commun in Soil Sci and Plant Analysis 35(1–2):145–160. https://doi.org/10.1081/CSS-120027640

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu L, Dai FC, Tham LG, Tu XB, Jin YL (2011) Landslides in the transitional slopes between a loess platform and river terrace, Northwest China. Environ Eng Geosci 17:267–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yemefack M, Rossiter DG, Njomgang R (2005) Multi-scale characterization of soil variability within an agricultural landscape mosaic system in southern Cameroon. Geoder 125:117–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resources & Desert Studies, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

    Peyman Amin & Mohammad Akhavan Ghalibaf

Authors
  1. Peyman Amin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammad Akhavan Ghalibaf
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Peyman Amin and Mohammad Akhavan Ghalibaf. The first draft of the manuscript was written by all authors, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peyman Amin.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Amin, P., Ghalibaf, M.A. Modeling sinkhole expansion using a mathematical function with soil characteristics and GPR control: a case from central Iran. Bull Eng Geol Environ 83, 119 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-024-03635-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-024-03635-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation