Collapse dolines in miocene gypsum: An example from SW Sivas (Turkey)

Abstract

This study investigated the formation mechanism of dolines. Dolines are caused by dissolution of gypsum in the study area, 50-220 m in diameter. Two systems were applied to determine the support necessary for natural underground opening of given span in a given rock mass. From the characteristics of the rock mass, a 5 m-wide unsupported span in the gypsum can be expected to stand up for over 9 years. The designed span of an artificial opening would normally be considerably less than the span of a collapsed natural opening in the same rock. Dolines in the study area play an important role in the groundwater flow system.