Genesis and shape of natural solution cavities within salt deposits

Gechter, Daniel; Huggenberger, Peter; Ackerer, Philippe; Waber, Niklaus

doi:10.1029/2007wr006753

Cited by 18 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The Plexiglas/ silicone top cover functions as a practically impermeable and poorly soluble stratum (covering layer). A schematic diagram of the experimental setup is illustrated in Gechter et al (2008). Compared to a field situation, the main laboratory constraints were (1) the supply of NaCl-undersaturated water through a pipe (quasi-1D input) and not through a more realistic linear input (permeable fault) and (2) the dissolved salt water was transported through the salt core (salt layer) instead of being transported upwards/laterally away from the top of the salt layer, such as in an overlying freshwater aquifer.…”

Section: Salt Dissolution Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Geology

Huggenberger¹,

Epting²

2011

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Section: Salt Dissolution Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Geology

Huggenberger¹,

Epting²

2011

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“…Solutal convection induced by dissolution is mostly studied in porous media especially in the context of CO 2 sequestration [11][12][13][14]. It can also appear in dissolution cavities filled with water [15,16]. A question of geophysical interest consists to wonder if an external flow is always necessary to achieve considerable erosion of rocks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the particularities of this code is that the problem to solve is described by its variational formulation. In this appendix we provide some details about the weak form of the dimensionless system (13)(14)(15) implemented in the code. The main difficulty of the determination of the weak form of the equations governing this problem comes from the non-linear convective term.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Solutal convection induced by dissolution

et al. 2019

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The dissolution of minerals into water becomes significant in geomorphology, when the erosion rate is controlled by the hydrodynamics transport of the solute. Even in absence of an external flow, dissolution itself can induce a convection flow due to the action of gravity. Here we perform a study of the physics of solutal convection induced by dissolution. We simulate numerically the hydrodynamics and the solute transport, in a 2D geometry, corresponding to the case, where a soluble body is suddenly immersed in a quiescent solvent. We identify three regimes. At short timescale, a concentrated boundary layer grows by diffusion at the interface. After a finite onset time, the thickness and the density reach critical values which starts the destabilization of the boundary layer. Finally, the destabilization is such as we observe the emission of intermittent plumes. This last regime is quasi-stationnary: the structure of the boundary layer as well as the erosion rate fluctuate around constant values. Assuming that the destabilization of the boundary layer occurs at a specific value of the solutal Rayleigh number, we derive scaling laws both for fast and slow dissolution kinetics. Our simulations confirm this scenario by validating the scaling laws both for onset, and the quasi-stationary regime. We find a constant value of the Rayleigh number during the quasi-stationary regime showing that the structure of the boundary layer is well controlled by the solutal convection. Finally, we apply the scaling laws previously established to the case of real dissolving minerals. We predicts the typical dissolution rate in presence of solutal convection. Our results suggest that solutal convection could occur in more natural situations than expected. Even for minerals with a quite low saturation concentration, the erosion rate would increase as the dissolution would be controlled by the hydrodynamics.

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“…Rock solution is formed where weakly mineralized groundwater can dissolve salt, gypsum, or carbonates. Rock salt, gypsum, or carbonates have very different solubilities, so the cavity formation can occur either very quickly (rock salt; Gechter et al (2008)) or slowly over longer periods of time (dolomite or limestone).…”

Section: Karst Evolution and Impact Of Subsurface Salt Dissolution MImentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional groundwater flow and karst evolution–theoretical approach and example from Switzerland

et al. 2021

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In regional scale aquifers in the Rhine Valley and Tabular Jura east of Basel (Switzerland), the groundwater circulation was investigated using regional-scale geological and hydraulic 3D models. The main aquifers in the area comprise the Quaternary aquifer of unconsolidated gravel deposits along the River Rhine and its tributaries, as well as the regional scale karst aquifer within the Upper Muschelkalk. Land subsidence, a process likely associated with salt solution mining, indicates further subordinate groundwater bearing segments and complex groundwater interactions along fault zones. In the aquifer systems we investigated, regional-scale groundwater circulation was simulated and visualized in relation to the geological settings. Lithostratigraphic units and fault structures were parameterized and analyzed, including the sensitivity of hydraulic properties and boundaries. Scenario calculations were used to investigate the sensitivity that the aquifer systems had to hydraulic parameter changes during Quaternary aggradation and degradation in the main valley. Those calculations were also done for base-level changes in the Rivers Rhine and Birs. For this purpose, this study considered probable historic base-levels before river regulation occurred, and before river dams and power plants were constructed. We also focused on scenarios considering increased groundwater recharge rates, e.g. due to exceptional long-lasting precipitation, or heavy rainfall events in the catchment area. Our results indicate that increased groundwater recharge rates in the catchment areas during such events (or periods) are associated with orders of magnitude increases of regional inflow into the Upper Muschelkalk karst aquifer. Furthermore, the groundwater fluctuations and groundwater saturated regions within the karst aquifer shift to places where high densities of sinkholes are documented. When the surface water base-levels adapt to probable historic levels, it leads to increased hydraulic gradients (i.e. local lowering of the groundwater level by up to 7 m). Those increased gradients are associated with increased groundwater flow within some aquifer regions that are particularly prone to karst development.

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Genesis and shape of natural solution cavities within salt deposits

Cited by 18 publications

References 23 publications

Urban Geology

Urban Geology

Solutal convection induced by dissolution

Regional groundwater flow and karst evolution–theoretical approach and example from Switzerland

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