Potential Impacts of Zone-Specific Mining on Karst

Abstract

This investigation delineates the impacts of mining on karst systems, with a focus on specific karst zones, namely the epikarst, the vadose zone, and the phreatic zone, which includes the epiphreatic zone. Mining activities, regardless of the karst area type, predominantly affect these zones. When mining occurs at the surface or within the epikarst, it results in the destruction of surface features and the disruption of the epikarst, thereby locally halting karstification processes. The extraction in the vadose zone can lead to surface alterations, characterized by collapses, the formation of depressions, and the modification of epikarst activity, ultimately impacting surface karstification and inducing atectonic changes on the surface. The exploitation of the phreatic zone is associated with the artificial lowering of the karst water table and the removal of materials from cavities and depressions. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding the zone-specific impacts of mining on karst systems, highlighting the need for tailored conservation and management strategies to mitigate these effects. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of karst dynamics and provide a foundation for future research on the sustainable management of karst environments in the context of mining activities.