GEOLOGIC INDICATORS OF CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE IN KARST TERRAIN IN MISSOURI

Although the records of 97 catastrophic collapses in Missouri karst terrain have emphasized such man-made causes as dewatering, vibration, or water saturation, there is an underlying commonality of geologic features that offers insight into ways to avoid collapse problems in highways and other construction. Collapse events are more likely to occur in areas overlain by moderately thick residual soil, in losing valleys, and in wet seasons. Significant collapses have occurred where there was no indication of sinkholes or other typical karst landforms. Of the numerous collapses related to highway construction, most have involved upward stopping of residuum from underlying cavernous channels in carbonate bedrock, and have been triggered by constructional or operational activities that altered drainage conditions. Exploration for incipient collpases is costly and more effective in limited areas. Analysis of geologic indicators such as losing streams, relict karst landforms, and residuum type and thickness, as well as speleological data offer more cost-effective techniques to define target locales for subsequent detailed exploration. Initial exploration with a backhoe generally gives more useful near-surface data than drilling. Drilling is necessary, however, to validate evidence inferred by surface geologic indicators and geophysical methods such as fixed-depth resistivity and high-precision gravity surveys. /Author/

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/612/612-005.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=GEOLOGIC+INDICATORS+OF+CATASTROPHIC+COLLAPSE+IN+KARST+TERRAIN+IN+MISSOURI&author=J.+Williams&author=J.+Vineyard&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309025885
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This article appeared in TRB Research Record No. 612, Subsidence Over Mines and Caverns, Moisture and Frost Actions, and Classification. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Williams, James H
  • Vineyard, Jerry D
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References;
• Pagination: pp 31-37
• Monograph Title: Subsidence over mines and caverns, moisture and frost actions, and classification
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 612
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Collapse; Costs; Dewatering; Ditches; General surface features of the earth; Geological surveying; Geology; Limestone soils; Percent saturation; Residual soils; Road construction; Sinkholes; Vibration; Water
• Uncontrolled Terms: Landforms
• Geographic Terms: Missouri
• Old TRIS Terms: Subsurface explorations
• Subject Areas: Finance; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158161
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025885
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 28 1977 12:00AM