Resumen de Remediation of karst concerns in the valleys of the Northeastern United States
Joseph A. Fischer, James G. McWhorter
The valleys within the Appalachian Mountains are often floored by carbonates. When remediating or preventing sinkhole activity in any karst, consideration should be given to a number of geologic, geotechnical and environmental concerns. Primarily, one must recognize that Appalachian karst is most likely variably faulted and folded and cannot be evaluated in the same manner as the flat-lying carbonates of the mid-continental US or the lightly cemented, recent karst of Florida. Also, in the tectonically abused rocks of the northeastern US, with their resultant solutioned discontinuities, one must also recognize the possible effects that glaciation may have had in the more northerly portions of the region. Investigative tools that can aid in deciphering these considerations include aerial imagery, review of sinkhole maps, geologic reconnaissance, test pits, test borings and percussion probes. In the authors' experience geophysics, unless combined with hard data, rarely provides useful geotechnical information even when costly programs are performed by competent individuals. Depending upon the nature of the sinkhole/doline and its effects upon man-made and natural environments, a number of effective remedial measures are available. This paper briefly addresses these various types of remediation including high and low mobility grouting, drainage maintenance, dynamic compaction (destruction) and structural solutions in relation to the encountered conditions, with consideration for economics, and will present case histories illustrating a number of problems and solutions in discussion.
