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Using Groundwater Chemistry to Identify Soil Cave Development in Karst Terrain: a Case Study in Guangzhou, China

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Abstract

The relationship between soil cave development and the chemical characteristics of groundwater in a karst area was investigated. The purpose of the investigation was to identify potential soil caves and predict their collapse. Field surveys and monitoring were carried out, and statistical analysis, and geological comparison methods were used to analyze the relationships between Ca++, HC\({\text{O}}_{3}^{ - }\), TDS, (Na++K+)/(Na++K++Ca++), Cl–/(Cl– + HC\({\text{O}}_{3}^{ - }\)) and soil cave development. Gibbs charts and Piper diagrams were used. The results show that the development of soil caves can be identified from groundwater chemistry indicators. All hidden and collapsed soil holes were located on a strong development zone that was identified using Gibbs charts. This study provides a new approach for the monitoring of soil cave development and for early-warning of soil cave collapse using macro-scale groundwater chemistry.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Paul Seward, PhD, for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.

Funding

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation (nos. 41877300, 41302255), The Project of the China Geological Survey (nos. 1212011220192, 1212011220194 and DD20190266), The Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Zhuang (No. 2018GXNSFAA294020), and The Basic Scientific Research Project of China (No. 2020002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR & Guangxi, Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS, 541004, Guilin, China

    Yan Meng, Long Jia & Jianling Dai

  2. School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China

    Yan Meng & Long Jia

Authors
  1. Yan Meng
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  2. Long Jia
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  3. Jianling Dai
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Correspondence to Yan Meng.

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Yan Meng, Jia, L. & Dai, J. Using Groundwater Chemistry to Identify Soil Cave Development in Karst Terrain: a Case Study in Guangzhou, China. Geochem. Int. 59, 199–205 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702921020063

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016702921020063

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