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DI SMITH TO MINES MINISTER KARST 18.10.02 dyetracing procedures in karst Misconceptions about caves & karst (Kastning & Others 1999) Part 1 grout curtaining (Donald A. Bruce) |
Undergr Subsidence due to reduced levels in underground aquifer. Once the aquifers become depleted & normal levels are not there to support the conduits & caves, soil can subside into cavities
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Bore drilled in limestone into large conduit partially silted up with large boulders & fine clay. Although large volumes of water were present, the bore could not be developed & had to be aborted at considerable cost to the landholder  |
Selective and falsely benchmarked science
Learn how experts associated with the Regulating Agencies and Cement Australia’s East End mine misclassify the interconnected karst limestone aquifer system as Darcian flow and use selective and inappropriate Darcian flow methodology (invalid for a karst limestone aquifer system with conduit flows) and over emphasise drought to produce reports that suppress the rights and entitlements of landholders affected by off-lease mine dewatering impacts…these reports do not recognise mine impacts upon the alluvium and Bracewell limestone aquifers (that are affected to a lesser degree than East End.) Recommendations within Cement Australia’s 2008-2009 Annual Water Monitoring Report to have Bracewell designated “a non affected control area” for purposes of comparison with “the mine affected East End aquifer” is a lame attempt at absolving the mine from responsibility for about a 5 metre recharge shortfall at Bracewell while simultaneously superimposing an inflated “drought component” upon the mine affected East End aquifer … Karst Conondrum by Assoc Prof Brian Finlayson (2002)
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Karst landform consists typically of jumbled rock outcrops with fractures & crevices that absorb overland flow. Limestone pinnacles vary between just "floaters" or alternatively, the surface expression of massive underground deposits.
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Sinkhole colonised by "Drought Proof" fig tree. The tree root follow down the conduits until they reach the water table below |
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Gravel intercepted and raised from conduit drilling in limestone |
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Karst Limestone cave There are two (2) major limestone cave outcrops, and other smaller ones in the Cement Australia Project area. Both cave complexes are above water table. |
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| Right photo. Sinkhole During February 2003 when over 500mm of rain fell over two (2) days this sinkhole absorbed and estimate 2 megalitres of water. The photograph captures the actual flow rate being absorbed by the hole. |
