• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2016

The aim of this study is the safety and an accident prevention in limestone terrain by the underground tunneling. The geology of the study area consists of a Paleozoic sedimentary sequence dominated by limestone, sandstone, shale, and carbonaceous shale. The sequence gently dips to the northeast but the joint contains steep with variable trend. A significant fracture zone is developed in the limestone and shale beds, sub-parallel to bedding, and follows in part the limestone-sandstone contact. Monitoring of groundwater levels in the area shows marked fluctuations in the water table, which repeatedly rose to a level of -4 m before sinking to -15 m. These cycles occurred in mid-May, 2007 and in early and middle June. The data indicate that these fluctuations were unrelated to rainfall that occurred during the study period. We infer that the fluctuations were associated with the development of underground karstic networks along the deep fracture zone, and overlying ground subsidence is likely related to the rapid sinking of groundwater and the associated strong downward suction force.