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Monitoring ground subsidence induced by salt mining in the city of Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Salt mining induced ground subsidence is a major hazard in the city of Tuzla (Northeastern sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina) and its surroundings since 1950, when solution mining of salt deposits by boreholes began. An analysis of the large (and never before processed) amount of topographical data collected during two periods: from 1956 to the Balkan War, and from 1992 to 2003 has been made. The analysis reveals a cumulative subsidence as high as 12 m during the whole period, causing damage to buildings and infrastructures within an area that includes a large portion of the historical town. Human-induced subsidence, (with rates up to 40 cm/year in the most developed area), has been investigated to recognize the areas affected by the sinking phenomenon and to produce a subsidence hazard. The time series of topographical observations have been enlarged by conducting new surveys in the urban area by modern space-geodesy methodologies, such as static relative GPS (Global Positioning System) and high resolution satellite imageries. The GPS monitoring started in 2004 and detected a decrease in the subsidence rates to 20 cm/year related to the reduction of salt exploitation. There is close correlation between the average subsidence rate and the annual amount of salt extracted.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to authorities of Regione Emilia Romagna and Province of Ravenna for financially supporting the project “Realizzazione a Tuzla (Bosnia and Erzegovina) di un programma di assistenza tecnica per la gestione di un sistema territoriale finalizzato al controllo e monitoraggio dei problemi di subsidenza legati allo sfruttamento dei sottostanti depositi di salgemma (Resp.: Prof. Giovanni Gabbianelli)”. Municipality of Tuzla (D.O.O. Mining Institute of Tuzla) provided the historical series of data. Particular thanks to Amer Dzindo, Rusmir Salihovic, Toni Nikolic and Mauro Altizio for the valuable support during the GPS surveys. Reviews were extremely helpful and significantly improved the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Architettura e Urbanistica, Politecnico di Bari, Via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy

    F. Mancini

  2. Università di Bologna, Via S. Alberto 163, 48100, Ravenna, Italy

    F. Stecchi & G. Gabbianelli

  3. Università di Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, Italy

    M. Zanni

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  1. F. Mancini
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Correspondence to F. Mancini.

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Mancini, F., Stecchi, F., Zanni, M. et al. Monitoring ground subsidence induced by salt mining in the city of Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Environ Geol 58, 381–389 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1597-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1597-1

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