Analysis of sinkholes in a karst area adjacent to three mines in south China

Abstract Eighty-six sinkholes occurred in a karst area of 2 km from 1990 to 2016, resulting cracked houses and abandoned farmland. The affected is adjacent three underground mines with mining depth up 600 m below ground. Sinkhole characteristics, hydrogeochemical isotopic data, groundwater-gas pressure measurements were evaluated understand the dynamic system. An aquiclude layer was identified between Triassic Nanlinghu Formation Donggangling Formation, leading recognition two groundwater subsystems—Dongmaanshan subsystem subsystem. Dongmaanshan where Xinhua Copper Mine water supply wellfield are located, influence distance can reach 1.2 km. A larger cone depression induced by dewatering pyrite mine gold caused differential settlement. Because sinkhole occurrence sensitive extraction subsystem, it recommended that engineering activities should be avoided this future land use planning unless effective measures taken prevent level decline high-frequency monitoring implemented.