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The finite difference (FD) method of monopole source is used to simulate the response of full-wave acoustic-logging in cave formations. The effect of the cave in the formation of borehole full-waves was studied. The results show that the radius of cave is not only linearly related to the first arrival of the compressional wave (P-wave), but also to the energy of the shear wave (S-wave). The converted S (S&ndash, S wave) and P-waves (S&ndash, P wave) are formed when the S-wave encounters the cave. If the source distance is small, the S&ndash, S and S&ndash, P waves are not separated, and the attenuation of the S-wave is not large, due to superposition of the converted waves. The S&ndash, P wave has been separated from the S-wave when the source distance is large, so the attenuation of the S-wave increases. The amplitude of the P and S&ndash, waves changes most when the distance of the cave to the borehole wall reaches a certain value, this value is related to the excitation frequency. The amplitude of the Stoneley wave (ST wave) varies directly with the radius of cave. If the radius of the cave is large, the energy of ST wave is weak. The scattered wave is determined by the radius and position of the cave. The investigation depth of a monopole source is limited. When the distance of the cave to the borehole wall exceeds the maximum investigation depth, the borehole acoustic wave is little affected by the cave. In actual logging, the development of the cave can be evaluated by using the first arrival of the P-wave and the energy of the S and ST waves.

Universal existence of the filled vug or cave in carbonate reservoir complicates the fluid flow as the coexistence of free flow and porous flow. The fills in vug increase the flow resistance and affect the water invasion for a natural bottom-water reservoir. This influence was explored through experimental tests on a conceptual discrete fractured-vuggy model. This model was abstracted from Tahe Oilfield in China, in the form of isolated vugs connected by fractures network. A new scaling method was proposed for this discrete media according to the similarity of the displacement front of water drive. It was found that vug filling displays a negative role during the natural bottom-water drive. This impact depends on the geological feature of fractured-vuggy reservoir. A stronger sensitivity occurred to the fracture well-developed stratum that the vug filling made the pre-existing or new preferential corridors more significant. As a result, the systems with multiple flow paths became more “heterogeneous”. In this condition, a lower water intensity and oil viscosity can ease these adverse effects.

Earth fissures are a geologic phenomenon that mainly affects the medium with shallow surface soil and mainly developed in the Quaternary sediment cover. In the Yellow River-Qinghe River - Zhanghe River shallow buried paleochannel Band (HQZ-Qh2-II Band) on the North China Plain, 93 earth fissures are developed. Among them, 29 fissures are evolved in the Daming zone in the upper reaches of the paleochannel band. Thus, the zone belongs to a densely grouped fissure area. This study, through a series of field trenching and surveying, revealed that these earth fissures have unique plane distribution rules and profile structure features of short length (several meters to several hundred meters), shallow depth (smaller than 10 m) and good correspondence to Daming paleochannels. These basic characteristics reveal that unlike other tectonic earth fissures, Daming earth fissures are a new and unknown type of fissures, i.e., paleochannel-controlled earth fissures. Theoretical analysis of their features showed that they were formed due to the actions of gravity, primary joint factors and groundwater pumping activities and controlled by ancient river factors including paleochannels, sediments and groundwater. Among them, the process of Mode I can be summed up as “self-gravity action - tensile cracks - surface water scouring - earth fissures”. The process of Mode II is “primary join - surface water infiltration - piping - cave in - earth fissures”. The process of Mode III is “groundwater extraction - aquifer compression - inhomogeneous ground subsidence - earth fissures”. These formation mechanisms of paleochannel-induced earth fissures can be used to predict the fine distribution of shallow buried paleochannels and the overall migration process of the rivers. Thus, this kind of earth fissures is of great significance for understanding the underground paleogeomorphology (buried paleochannel) of the North China Plain and other alluvial plains of the world.

The fluid identification of carbonate reservoir is a key factor to hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir development. In order to simulate the seismic response characteristics of the cave in the carbonate reservoir, three sets of models were designed, including the caves varied in width, the caves filled with different solids, and the oil-gas-water model. The numerical simulation technique was used to carry out the forward modeling and the AVO (Amplitude varies with offset) response characteristics of the three groups of models were analyzed. The results show that the AVO characteristics can be observed when the cave reaches a certain extent in the horizontal direction. When the surrounding rock is constant, the absolute value of the intercept of the AVO curve increases with the Vp/Vs decrease. The AVO technology can effectively identify the gas cave. The effect is not obvious to water or oil cave.

Water inrush in karst tunnels usually results in casualties, equipment damage, project delays and other serious consequences. An important measure to ensure the safety of tunnel construction is to provide accurate prediction of water inrush during tunnel excavation. To study the stability of the surrounding rock under effect of a water-bearing cave in front of the tunnel face, a true triaxial geomechanical model test was carried out based on the engineering background of the Xiema Tunnel in Chongqing Province. The response regularities of multivariate physical information of the surrounding rock during rock failure and water inrush were obtained by monitoring the displacement, stress and seepage pressure of different monitoring sections. The results show that some internal connections exist among the kinds of physical information. When the tunnel face was adjacent to the disaster source, the change of displacement and stress was in a decreasing trend, and the seepage pressure increased first and then decreased during the tunnel excavation. In addition, by fusion analysis, the sensitivity priority of precursor information for a rock failure and water inrush disaster in karst tunnels was summarized as stress, displacement and seepage pressure. Finally, the theoretical basis of the prediction of water inrush in karst tunnels had been established, which proved the feasibility of predicting disasters according to the precursor information.

The Cyrilka Cave is the second longest pseudokarst cave and the longest crevice-type cave in Czechia. Developed within the headscarp area of a deep-seated landslide, the cave became a focus of scientific research in recent years when new passages were discovered. Structural analysis provided a general tectonic plan of the cave, as well as more detailed data on geometry and kinematics of the relaxed rock massif. The primary structure of NNE- to ENE-striking bedding is broken by a system of NNE-striking fissures interconnected by two continuous ENE-striking dextral fracture zones. Abundant signs of recent sinistral strike-slips within the rock massif represent a bold structural feature of the cave. Along with DEM imaging and a detailed survey of the cave, 2-D and 3-D ERT measurements completed an image of the main predispositions and revealed the internal structure of the slope deformation. These measures also detected unknown crevices above the existing headscarp, which indicate the retrograde evolution of the landslide. Methodologically, we used the 3-D electrical resistivity tomography in the incoherent sedimentary flysch rocks for the first time. Based on radiocarbon dating of the stalactite core, the minimum age of the cave is up to 19,900 +/- 280 cal BP, which is the oldest age detected in the area of the Outer Flysch Carpathians so far; we thoroughly discuss further indirect evidence indicating a probable Late Pleistocene age of the cave. Web of Science 47 3 392 379

The design and construction of wine caves can be difficult due to low ground cover, weak rock or soil, presence of sand and complicated by the elaborate curves and labyrinth-style floor plans. This paper will focus on southern California’s first wine cave in the Temecula wine region that was constructed by mining techniques. An excavation procedure was needed to reinstate tunneling excavation at the Oak Mountain Winery in Temecula, CA USA after a fallout with an estimated 6.1 meter diameter and 6.71 meters overburden. Sandy soils with low cohesive properties and low saturation have created difficult tunneling and safety conditions. The proposed excavation sequence was divided into four stages using spilling if needed until less sandy or stronger material was encountered The following analyses were performed to provide supporting calculations and information to provide safe tunnel excavation conditions as required by mining regulatory oversight. Analyses using cellular concrete for fallout conditions were also modeled. Results, recommendations and conclusions are presented.

A road cave-in accident caused by tunneling is described, and the possible mechanism of failure is analyzed. The cave-in measured about 30 m × 27 m in plane, and about 15 m in depth. At about 19 m below the ground surface at the site, a tunnel construction was underway. Immediately above the tunnel, there was a weathered shale layer approximately t 2.66 m thick; above this layer, there were sand and gravel layers. The groundwater level was estimated to be about 5 m below the ground surface. By arch analysis, it is shown that the most likely cause of the accident was the low strength of the weathered shale layer and the high water pressure above the tunnel, which resulted in tensile failure of the weathered shale layer. The All Ground Fasten (AGF) pre-support measure was adopted, but it might make very limited contribution to the increase in the tensile strength of the shale layer in the cross-sectional direction of the tunnel. Keywords: Tunneling, Road cave-in, Arch analysis, Tensile failure

Collapse activation is an ongoing process in the evolution of karstic networks related to the weakening of cave vaults. Because collapses are infrequent, few have been directly observed, making it challenging to evaluate the role of external processes in their initiation and triggering. Here, we study the two most recent collapses in the Dome chamber of the Han-sur-Lesse Cave (Belgian Ardenne) that occurred on or shortly after 3rd December 1828 and between the 13th and 14th of March 1984. Because of the low probability that the two earthquakes that generated the strongest ground motions in Han-sur-Lesse since 1800, on 23rd February 1828 (Mw = 5.1 in Central Belgium) and 8th November 1983 (Mw = 4.8 in Liege) occurred by coincidence less than one year before these collapses, we suggest that the collapses are related to these earthquakes. We argue that the earthquakes accelerated the cave vault instability, leading to the collapses by the action of other factors weakening the host rock. In particular, the 1828 collapse was likely triggered by a smaller Mw = 4.2 nearby earthquake. The 1984 collapse followed two months of heavy rainfall that would have increased water infiltration and pressure in the rock mass favoring destabilization of the cave ceiling. Lamina counting of a stalagmite growing on the 1828 debris dates the collapse at 1826 ± 9 CE, demonstrating the possibility of dating previous collapses with a few years of uncertainty. Furthermore, our study opens new perspectives for studying collapses and their chronology both in the Han-sur-Lesse Cave and in other karstic networks. We suggest that earthquake activity could play a stronger role than previously thought in initiating cave collapses.

DOI: 10.17014/ijog.5.2.161-177Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) was employed to conduct a geoelectrical survey near the Al-Badia lava tunnel located close to the Al-Bishyrria Village in Jordan. The technique enabled the mapping of the subsurface tunnel extension and description of its inner structure. To assess the quality of data and resistivity models, Schlumberger and Reciprocal Schlumberger electrode configurations were used to produce eight ERT profiles. As revealed by the examination of received potential, the implemented configurations exhibited a strong signal, producing an approximated reciprocal error of up to 6%. The findings of ERT models showed that the lava tunnel had a clearly outlined structure with an elliptical to rectangular shape. The modelled resistivity of the lava tunnel was obtained in proximity to 1000 Ω-m, with a better characterization being possible at resistivity exceeding 8000 Ω-m in 200 Ω-m of Fahda Vesicular Basalt medium. An exploration depth of 50 m revealed that the lava tunnel was 10 m deep and 5 m in diameter on the average. Furthermore, potential means of groundwater recharging were reported by the simultaneous detection of a number of resistivity anomalies of less than 50 Ω-m and lava tunnel. In addition, the lava tunnel was observed to extend and ramify beyond the area under investigation, indicating at the potential existence of multiple lava tunnel extensions in both the investigation area and in the basaltic flows, which could have adverse implications for future urban projects.

Leporid fossils from the Lower Pleistocene deposits of the Taurida karstic cave discovered in 2018 in central Crimea (Zuya village, Belogorsk district) are referred to Hypolagus brachygnathus (Kormos, 1930). This species is characteristic of the interval from the early Pleistocene (late Villanyian, MN17) to the middle Pleistocene (latest Biharian, Q2) of Europe. It has not been previously observed in Crimea.

In fractured-caved carbonate oil reservoirs with well-developed dissolved caves, most of the caves are generally connected by large fractures to form separate and independent fractured-caved systems. The oil well basically intersects some fractures, and fractures connect one or two large-scale dissolved caves in series or parallel model to form an independent fractured-caved unit. Moreover, due to the large size of the dissolved cave in the fractured-caved unit, it no longer follows Darcy's law, but shows features belongs to pipe flow, free flow or a seepage-pipe flow. In this case, the conventional equivalent multiple porous media seepage mathematical model is inaccurate to characterize this kind of fractured-caved reservoir units. This study simplifies the structure of the large bead-shaped fractured-caved reservoir and shows how the well-cave and cave-cave units are connected through fractures. Results show that the connected fracture flow exsits in the periphery of the large cave dissolved caves in the area far from wells. Thus either a linear series or a parallel mathematical model is applied to simulate the connection of the two dissolved caves. The fluid flow in fractures is still considered as seepage flow, while in large dissolved caves it is considered as free flow. Therefore, the dual-cave dual-fracture series mathematical model and dual-cave single-fracture parallel mathematical model considering seepage-free flow coupling are established. Laplace transform is then used to mathematically solve the model, and Stehfest numerical inversion is conducted to draw the typical rate transient analysis curves. Finally, sensitivity analysis is applied to discuss the relationship between controling factors of the flow and actual reservoirs. Based on the rate transient analysis type curves, geometric parameters such as radius of cave, permeability and length of the large-scale fracture and dynamic reserves can be obtained. Finally, a field case in a bead-string fractured-caved reservoir unit of Tarim basin is implemented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed models and methods. The parameters obtained by type curve match support exploitation of fractured-caved reservoirs.

This data set gives more than 11 years of temperature and displacements recorded on and in a limestone cliff. An extensive presentation of the monitoring devices and interpretation of data is proposed in Gasc-Barbier et al. (2021) [1]. The hazard-monitored zone is a perched cave in a limestone cliff where a part of its roof had collapsed. On its roof, an unstable beam reminds. A horizontal interlayer thinning from East to West, hanging to the roof of the cave at the west and east-clamped in the rock mass, delimits this remaining beam. Opened fractures can be observed all around the beam. In order to assess the remaining hazard, four fissurometers (F1 to F4) and a thermal probe were installed on the roof of the cave and two borehole extensometers (D1 and D2) were drilled perpendicular to the face of the cliff, above the cave, to understand the global behaviour of the rock mass. Measurements have been made between sockets embedded in the rock mass by means of INVAR wire measurements. Four bases made of two sockets each have been installed inside the cavity and five were put on the face of the cliff outside and above the cavity. Measurements last between January 2011 and June 2021. A 1.5-year gap is observed in the measurements because they were temporally stopped when reinforcement works were preceded carried out in the cave in order to secure the village. Thus, datasets provide more than 11 years of temperature and displacements recorded on and in the cliff, providing insight on the relation between climate and the deformation inside the rock mass. This dataset is novel because this type of data is not readily available in the literature, on the one hand, because of its length (nearly 11 years) and, on the other hand, because it is not only surface evolution of temperature and aperture but because the evolution of temperature and deformation inside the rock mass was monitored. Researchers could use these data for a better understanding of the thermomechanical coupling in rock. They could test their own modelling, constitutive laws specifically on crack propagation or thermal fatigue.

In order to prevent the multi-dynamic disasters induced by rock burst and roof water inrush in strong rock burst coal seams under multi-aquifers, such as is the case with the 207 working face in the Tingnan coal mine considered in this study, the exhibited characteristics of two types of dynamic disasters, namely rock burst and water inrush, were analyzed. Based on the lithology and predicted caving height of the roof, the contradiction between rock burst and water inrush was analyzed. In light of these analyses, an integrated method, roof pre-splitting at a high position and shattering at a low position, was proposed. According to the results of numerical modelling, pre-crack blasting at higher rock layers enables a cantilever roof cave in time, thereby reducing the risk of rock burst, and pre-crack blasting at underlying rock layers helps increase the crushing degree of the rock, which is beneficial for decreasing the caving height of rock layers above goaf, thereby preventing the occurrence of water inrush. Finally, the proposed method was applied in an engineering case, and the effectiveness of this method for prevention and control of multi-dynamics disasters was evaluated by field observations of the caving height of rock layers and micro-seismic monitoring. As a result, the proposed method works well integrally to prevent and control rock burst and water inrush.

The conductive paths formed by fractures and cave in complex reservoirs differ from those formed by pores and throats in clastic rocks. In this paper, a new formation model based on fractured and caved reservoirs is established, and the electrical characteristics of rocks are analyzed with different pore structures using resistance law to understand their effects on rock resistivity. The ratio of fracture width to cave radius (C e value) and fracture dip are employed to depict pore structure in this model. Our research shows that the electrical characteristics of rocks in fractured and caved reservoirs are strongly affected by pore structure and porous fluid distribution. Although the rock electrical properties associated with simple pore structure agree well with Archie formulae, the relationships between F and or between I and S w , in more complicated pore structures, are nonlinear in double logarithmic coordinates. The parameters in Archie formulae are not constant and they depend on porosity and fluid saturation. Our calculations suggest that the inclined fracture may lead to resistivity anisotropy in the formation. The bigger dip the inclining fracture has, the more anisotropy the formation resistivity has. All of these studies own practical sense for the evaluation of oil saturation using resistivity logging data.

Ngerong Cave is a cave with a length of 1.8 km is located in the center of Rengel District. This cave is a unique cave because of it flowing river inhabited millions of Bader Bang Fish ( Punctius javanicus ) from small to more than 70 cm long, hundreds of big fish arengan ( Morelius/Labeo chrysophekadion ), dozens of bulus/labi- labi with a diameter of more than one meter, and millions of bats that live on the roof of the cave. The preservation of these animals (especially aquatic animals) is inseparable from the myths that circulate in the community about the sacred nature of the place and its animals. The main myths in circulation are: whoever eats or brings home fish from the river in Ngerong Cave will be infected with a disease that never healed even will cause a mysterious death. This is a continuation of the myth that the invisible creature wich live in Ngerong Cave will not be willing if their pets are harassed by humans and will pursue the man by asking for his life. Because of the myth, the preservation of river animals in Ngerong Cave can be maintained and protected from human disturbance. Research on the benefits of myths in preserving aquatic animals in Ngerong Cave has a goal to explain to the scientific world that the myth (as one study of cultural anthropology) has a very big role in maintaining environmental sustainability. In general, the methodology of this study used a mixing method in the form of qualitative methods with data analyzed from literature studies and field studies, methods adapted to the focus of the problems studied. In this study, the results obtained depict in depth cultural events in the study area.

The Lascaux cave, located in southwest France, is one of the most important prehistoric cave in the world that shows Paleolithic paintings. This study aims to characterize the structure of the weathered epikarst setting located above the cave using Time-Lapse Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) combined with local hydrogeological and climatic environmental data. Twenty ERT profiles were carried out for two years and helped us to record the seasonal and spatial variations of the electrical resistivity of the hydraulic upstream area of the Lascaux cave. The 20 interpreted resistivity models were merged into a single synthetic model using a multidimensional statistical method (Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering). The individual blocks from the synthetic model associated with a similar resistivity variability were gathered into 7 clusters. We combined the resistivity temporal variations with climatic and hydrogeological data to propose a geo-electrical model that relates to a conceptual geological model. We provide a geological interpretation for each cluster regarding epikarst features. The superficial clusters (no 1 & 2) are linked to effective rainfall and trees, probably a fractured limestone. Another two clusters (no 6 & 7) are linked to detrital formations (sand and clay respectively). The cluster 3 may correspond to a marly limestone that forms a non-permeable horizon. Finally, the electrical behavior of the last two clusters (no 4 & 5) is correlated with the variation of flow rate; they may be a privileged feed zone of the flow in the cave.

Cave CO2 is an important part of the carbon cycle in a karst system. From 2008 to 2009 the partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2) of the cave air and cave water (cave stream and dripwater) in Xueyu Cave was studied. The PCO2 for cave air and cave water over two years showed that CO2 concentrations vary seasonally in all field sites, with higher CO2 concentrations in the wet season and lower concentrations in the dry season. These seasonal CO2 variations of cave air and cave water are attributed to seasonally variable soil CO2 production that is controlled by outside temperature fluctuations. Cave ventilation controls synchronous sharp variations of PCO2 from wet season to dry season or dry season to wet season in cave water and cave air. In the wet season, there were no obvious spatial differences of mean PCO2 in cave stream and cave air from upstream to downstream cave. Conversely, there were significant spatial differences of mean PCO2 in cave stream and cave air from upstream to downstream cave in the dry season because of cave ventilation. Mean dripwater PCO2 in D1 site where near cave entrance is much higher than that of the D2 and D3 sites where located in inner cave because D1 has a shorter flowpath from cave ceiling to soda-straw tip and lesser CO2 degassing along the flowpath. Further work in Xueyu Cave needs to clarify the quantitative relationship of CO2 cycle between cave air CO2 and cave water and focus on the influence of CO2 cycle on speleothem form.

Two hominin teeth and an abundance of faunal remains were recovered from Panlong Cave in Guangdong Province, southern China in 1987. The site has remained largely unknown to the prehistoric community mainly for the lack of reliable chronological constraints. This paper reports high-precision mass spectrometric U-series dating of eight calcite samples from the extant cross-section. Based on the dates on the overlying flowstone layers, the hominin teeth should be definitely older than 292 ± 10 ka. Furthermore, as indicated by the U-series ages on the secondary calcite formations the fossiliferous deposits should be older than 441 ± 18 ka. These dates support the paleontological inference that Panlong Cave may predate the nearby Maba hominin site. The hominin specimens from the site may thus represent an early member of the Ailuropoda-Stegodon fauna and one of the oldest non-erectus Middle Pleistocene hominin fossils in southern China.

In the article, the author discusses the “path of love” and “the path of the cave,” using selected works by Hans Christian Andersen. The Danish fairy tale writer masterfully shows how heroes anchored in a sensual world go a long way to find a world that escapes rational cognition. Most of his charac­ters can easily be described as dynamic, because they change under the influ­ence of powerful experiences. Those who attach more importance to beauty closed in a form devoid of deeper content are condemned. Andersen’s fairy tales have two audiences, children and adults. The former will understand the anecdote and the latter will see the metaphor. The works of the fairy tale writer show autobiographical threads, including his attitude to the Christian religion, in which the triad of truth, good, and beauty turns out to be extremely important., W artykule autor omawia „drogę miłości” oraz „drogę jaskini”, posługu­jąc się wybranymi dziełami Hansa Christiana Andersena. Duński baśniopisarz w mistrzowski sposób ukazuje, jak bohaterowie zakotwiczeni w świe­cie zmysłowym przebywają długą drogę, by odnaleźć świat, który wymyka się racjonalnemu poznaniu. Większość jego bohaterów śmiało można określić mianem dynamicznych, ponieważ pod wpływem silnych doświadczeń się zmieniają. W sposób dosadny szydzi z tych, którzy większą wagę przywią­zują do piękna zamkniętego w formie pozbawionej głębszej treści. Baśnie Andersena mają podwójnego adresata, są nim zarówno dzieci, jak i dorośli. Ci pierwsi zrozumieją anegdotę, natomiast ostatni – zauważą głębsze przesłanie. W dziełach baśniopisarza można dostrzec wątki autobiograficzne, m.in. jego stosunek do religii chrześcijańskiej, w której niezmiernie istotna okazuje się triada prawdy, dobra i piękna.

Lava tubes and caves, when accessible for man, are very common in volcanic environments and poorly known to non-specialists. This short overview presents the distribution and forms of lava tubes, their speleothems and mineralogy and modes of formation. Studies of lava caves outside of Earth currently are a topic of great interest, as they may be potential locations for some life forms and future bases in space exploration. Basic features of lava tubes are illustrated with reference to the longest lava cave in the world, Kazumura Cave, in Hawaii.

Clastic deposits in Kalacka Cave in the Tatra Mts. Show soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) rare for a cave environments. The poorly sorted allochthonous sediments were deposited within a cave sump under a fluvial regime, likely due to glacially initiated back-flooding during the Last Glacial. The structures include small-scale faults (normal and reverse), folds (upright symmetric anticlines, low-amplitude open folds, W-vergent folds and fault-propagation folds), and water-escape structures. A laboratory experiment is used to assess the possibile liquefaction of a thin soft-sediment filling in a limestone tube, including calculation of the site effects of resonance frequency and amplification coefficient and the site vulnerability index Kg. The calculations indicate that seismic waves can be amplified up to 10 times and the expected resonance frequency is ~17.05 Hz. We argue that the observed SSDS formed in two stages. First, brittle and ductile deformation structures developed due to gravity-induced slumping. Next, liquefaction produced water-escape structures. The studied SSDS were likely seismically triggered. Favorable conditions occurred during the withdrawal of the last glacier (MIS 2) when the sediments were oversaturated and the Tatra Mts. experienced a strong earthquake (M7.0). Alternatively, high-frequency microearthquakes could have been triggered by slope failure cutting into Kalacka Cave.

Oyu Tolgoi is an underground block cave in the initial development stage, where rapid development, yet comprehensive, ground support is required to begin undercutting and start production. High variability in the rock mass, high stress and deep mining requires various ground support standards and sequences to provide initial stability during development and long-term stability for the production stage. Different strategies were developed for ground support and reinforcement that support short-term and longterm stability at the appropriate time, to optimise the development rates and reduce rework. The different approaches considered the excavation ground conditions and size, the different short- and long-term purposes of drives, and the future interactions with other excavations and the undercutting. Management of the strategies required implementation of new or modified data management systems, such as Deswik® and CaveCAD, to collate data acquired from face mapping, drive scanning, and scheduling into a system that could be easily monitored and rapidly modified when required. Strategies were planned into the monthly and weekly schedules using Deswik® for initial and remaining ground support. Remaining ground support maps with attributes of support elements assisted short- and mid-term planning for scheduling ground support remaining against the design. Face mapping, overbreak, and support damage levels were monitored as trigger points to ensure that the appropriate level of ground support was installed at the required time, changing the strategy when required through daily reviews. The management of geotechnical data and the implementation of ground support strategies have optimised the mining cycles while ensuring that the ground was supported appropriately at the required time. The strategies have increased development and support rates, improving schedule compliance.

Romanian karst is representative for the temperate zone by its landforms, by its diversity and also by the amplitude of the exo—and endokarst features. The connection between surface and underground karst features is the main difficulty in protecting karst environment. Due to this, geomorphological studies developed on karst require increased attention on both exokarstic and endokarstic features. Buhui Cave represents the biggest cave in Anina karst region and the 2nd important cave in Banat Mountains. Through Buhui Cave flows the homonymous stream, which is among the longest underground streams in Romania. Using GPR and ERT as geophysical methods in studying two known caves, Cuptoare Cave and Buhui Cave, we were able to identify rock stratification and orientation, sections of these caves’ galleries and the high level of karstification in this karst massif. Our approach is the first one of this kind in the analysis of karst terrains in Romania. Due to this, we have to observe the pros of our study, but also to try to pay attention to those possible minuses resulted from the GPR signal in clay layers or the response of the ERT method in karstic regions. Because this approach was a successful one in the study of the Buhui-Cuptoare Cave System, we intend to develop other researches in the Anina karst region in the future in order to discover unknown caves or unknown underground galleries. This region has a big potential in new cave discoveries and having the functionalities provided by the GPR and ERT methods, we have to capitalize these functionalities. To conclude, we would like to highlight that this geophysical approach is a premier in the Romanian geomorphology in karst terrains and karst cavities investigation. Similar approaches may be used in caves protection, karst management plans and strategic plans developed in karst areas. Besides, such an approach may be very useful in karst groundwater studies.

Palabora is a deep, hard rock, block cave in South Africa that has been in operation since 2002. After the open pit reached it maximum depth at 825 m, the mining method was changed from open pit to block caving. The first block cave lift (Lift I) was established 400 m below the open pit at a depth of 1,200 m and has been in production since 2002, with a capacity of 33,000 tonnes ore per day, hoisted through a production shaft to surface. The second block cave (Lift II) is currently being developed 450 m below Lift I. Over the next 3 years Lift I is expected to ramp down slowly while Lift II ramps up, to maintain 32,000 tonnes of ore per day during steady state production. During July 2018 an unfortunate conveyor fire incident took place that forced the suspension of all conveyance of material from underground to surface. Draw from the Lift I cave was suspended for approximately 10 months while the main (conveyor 5) ore conveying system was rebuilt. Lift II development continued during this period with development material trucked up to the Lift I extraction level, which was used as a stockpile area. Although Lift I is in its final stages of production there is sufficient copper remaining to justify its re-opening. There are multiple risks that needs to be taken in consideration during the process of restarting the cave. This includes but is not limited to; re-compaction, premature and/or accelerated convergence of accesses (crosscut drives), seismicity and the uncontrolled flow of material through drawpoints. Re-opening planning included assessing risks and identifying mitigation measures, which included the sequencing of draw and continuous monitoring through visual observations and convergence measurements. The objective of this paper is to give an account of the reopening process step by step , providing a record of the actual execution (implementation), including a description of the rock mass response, the challenges experienced and how these were addressed, as well as successes achieved throughout the process. These challenges also include, but are not limited to, the impact that the Lift I and Lift II cave activities have on each other.

Vegetation has already been acknowledged to have the ability to remove fine solid pollutants by retention and absorption, and is widely used in the biorestoration engineering of natural shallow water flow. Vegetation usually takes a long time to obtain the expected removal rate. Therefore, vegetation is not applicable for some urgent or pressing situations. In addition, in traditional biorestoration engineering, solid pollutants usually deposit in the soil of flow bed, which infiltrates into the far-field and accumulates in crops to threaten human health. Herein, we propose a new biotechnique of foliage capture by designing a cave on the top of a vegetation canopy, which is aimed to enhance the removal efficiency (i.e., achieve quick removal) and avoid the soil deposition of pollutants. The effectiveness and efficiency of this new design were validated by a set of indoor water flume experiments, with one flat canopy top configuration serving as the model of a traditional bioretention system and three cave configurations of differing aspect ratios. The results showed that compared with that of the flat canopy top, the total amount of foliage-captured solid particles for the three caved canopies increased by 3.8, 7.3, and 12.2 times. Further, we found that the foliage-capture efficiency depended on the aspect ratio of the canopy cave. The results revealed that the effectiveness of foliage capture and the enhanced efficiency were mainly from three hydrodynamic mechanisms: (i) as flow penetrated the cave boundary from the above-canopy region to the within-canopy region, it entrained solid pollutants to collide with the foliage and increased their fate of capture, (ii) the large eddy vortices of turbulence broke due to the increasing canopy resistance, which resulted in enhanced mixing dynamics for fine, suspended, solid pollutants to collide into foliage, and (iii) the flow shear along the cave boundary decreased, which provided a reduced lift force for solid pollutants to suspend or resuspend. Comparisons between the flat canopy and caved canopies of three aspect ratios showed that the design of the canopy cave is highly significant for capture efficiency.

The road retaining wall in a section along the Japan National Road 134, has been worn after long years of use since its service began in 1965, and there were several issues: aging of the retaining wall, chronic traffic jams and a partly narrowed pavement. Furthermore, in 2009, the block wall collapsed as its foundations were scoured by waves created by the typhoon, which caused the road to cave in. Taking this opportunity to restore the damaged wall and the sunken surface, the project was launched to rehabilitate the 1.4 km long coastal road retaining wall, reinforcing the disaster prevention, smoothing traffic flow and improving traffic safety. This paper introduces the outline, basic plan, applicable Japanese standards, construction and completion of the rehabilitation that the tubular pile wall was constructed by the rotary cutting press-in with the GIKEN Reaction Base system as a new retaining wall, all of which enables us to confirm the usability of the steel tubular pile wall and the press-in technology.

Crenobacter cavernae CAVE-375 and Oxalobacteriaceae sp. strain CAVE-383, two Gram-negative bacteria, were isolated during the first microbiology survey performed in a karst cave in Portugal., Crenobacter cavernae CAVE-375 and Oxalobacteriaceae sp. strain CAVE-383, two Gram-negative bacteria, were isolated during the first microbiology survey performed in a karst cave in Portugal. We report here the release of their high-quality draft genome sequences, which will be useful for geographic-ecological purposes and the description of novel taxa.

The observation and analysis of caves and cave art enables to structure caves into different zones of use and simulations allow to estimate past living conditions. Nowadays, different remote sensing methods are used to document and analyse caves in 3D and high resolution. In this contribution, the virtual 3D model of the Ardales Cave in southern Spain derived by terrestrial laser scanning was employed for light distribution simulations. This cave shows hundreds of prehistoric images. At three different locations of tallow lamps, authentic light distribution simulations were conducted. The lighting simulation follows recent standards of global illumination by path tracing implemented by using the open-source software Blender. The results fit to previous findings and show the accuracy of this new approach. The results are combined with other metrics in order to quantify different areas in this cave. The study reveals that additional lamps seem to be necessary in order to allow decoration of the cave walls. In general, the open-source approach allows further implementations of other light sources and corresponding adjustments.

In this paper, a real-time monitoring system is presented to be used for environmental parameters measurement in tourist caves that can be employed for getting a sustainable tourism. The system allows the registration of a lot of metadata (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, CO2, atmospheric pressure, rain, presence and visitor count) and it shows them via the Internet in real time anywhere. The system reports the data registered and stored as metadata in a database online. In the ”El Soplao” Cave in the North of Spain, this system, permits a high level of control and security of the influence of visitors on a day to day and the temporal evolution to medium and long term. These measurements allow developing a sustainable and profitable system where heritage management and tourism exploitation acquire a subordinate commitment to the welfare of the natural asset (Cave-Mine “El Soplao”); the alteration of the fragile microclimate inside the cave can damage or destroy the specific geologic formations that make the touristic cave. After the visits, the company managing the cave takes in charge monitoring the environmental parameters of the cave to regulate future visits. The temperature in the cave has ranges between 11 and 13.5 °C, a seasonal quasi-periodic maximum variation of ± 0.5 °C and depending on the temperature outside the cave and number of visitors; it is difficult to associate one with another because both happen in the same month. The relative humidity is around 70–95%, it has no correlation with the number of visitors accessing the cavity. The CO2 concentration in air is around 400–1000 ppm; it has a clear correlation with the number of visitors and cave area (the deepest present's higher level CO2). In conclusion, a cave is visited as long as its microclimate is maintained, thus the real-time system developed has been conceptualized for monitoring over time the relationship between the cave environment and a sustainable tourism. Monitoring can help to preserve the specific geologic formation and therefore to keep the touristic interest of the cave.

Evidence for human occupation of Western Australia’s northern Swan Coastal Plain derives mainly from Holocene coastal midden sites. Here, we present preliminary results from archaeological investigations at Yellabidde Cave, located 9 km inland from the present coast. Excavations in the limestone cave’s sandy floor deposit revealed cultural and palaeontological materials dating from c. 25,500 cal. BP to the 19th C. These provide the first evidence for Pleistocene occupation in the region, indicating that Yellabidde Cave was intermittently occupied throughout the late Pleistocene and Holocene, and reflecting dynamic human-environment relationships in present near-coastal to littoral environments.

Ancient Native American use of caves in the Eastern Woodlands occurred throughout the entire span of regional prehistory; however, the ways that these natural features were used varied considerably over time. To date only 25 cave sites containing deposits dated to the Archaic period (ca. 10,000–3000 B.P.) are recorded in the state of Tennessee, representing just 0.4% of the total known Archaic sites. In 2014 the authors conducted a salvage operation, bucket auger survey, and limited testing at the site of Black Cat Cave (40RD299) in Rutherford County, Tennessee to assess looting damage and assist in the installation of a security gate across the cave entrance. These investigations identified Black Cat Cave as the site of significant mortuary activity during the Middle Archaic (ca. 6460–6360 B.P.), and resulted in the recovery of rare Archaic faunal data from a cave setting. Analysis of faunal materials from the site allows us to add important new information to our understanding of ancient Native American landscape use in the Eastern Woodlands during the mid-Holocene.

Science that studied all of the aspect related to cave and their circles (speleology) in Indonesia does not still quite expand. Expantion more advanced need all sorts of research, publication and its interest to an academic party who get in touch with cave and their circles. One of them the basic of data collection about the existence and the spread of cave. The usual manner that is used to know the existence and the spread of cave, is by means of the analysis topography map which is continued by terrestrial research. Weakness for this manner is it need huge time, cost and energy. The making use of aerial photo can be done in supporting the basic of date collection, is the· interpretation to bug or detect appearances the phenomena in earth’s surface. One of them is appearances the edge of cave. The result of the research indicates that interpretation of aerial photo can be use to identify the spread of the edge of cave. It is olksified according to; the edge that obtained of center depression by the accuracy of 100%; the edge of cave that obtained of slope depression (the accuracy of 33.3%); the edge of cave that is obtained of river current (the accuracy of 100%); and the edge of cave that obtained of fragment (the accuracy of 50%).