State three conditions that favour the development of karst topography
(b) describe the characteristics and mode of information of sink hole
(a) Conditions that favour the development of karst topography:
- Limestone should be the dominant surface rock
-presence of joints/cracks/fissures/ bedding planes on existing rocks
- The area should receive moderate to abundant and regular rainfall
- The limestone area should be underlain by resistant rock
- soluble rocks e.g. dolomite, gypsum, limestone
- Surface relief should be low -tectonic activity will create cracks and joints
Characteristics and mode of formation of sinkhole
Characteristics
- found in limestone regions
- saucer-shaped or shaft-like depression
- steep sided
- could be shallow or deep
- can be as deep as 20 meters or more
- usually links the surface to the underground streams
- water passes through it to the underground
- can be 6 meters wide or more at the surface
- varies in size and depth
- Examples are found in the Atlas of Morocco, Ghyll in Yorkshire
Mode of formation
- formed in the karst region
- presence of a large area of limestone with many cracks and joints
- rain water mixes with carbon dioxide t • form carbonic acid
- Acid dissolves the limestone along the cracks
- The acidic run off passes through the limestone joints and cracks
- The racks continue to deepen and widen.
- The cracks are further deepened to become depressions called sink holes
- two or more sink holes can be merged to form a do line
Alternatively, the formation could also be sudden
- Underground caves and voids are common in the limestone region
- The roof of the cave may continue to recede or wear out
- The recession continues for a long time
- The cave roof collapses to form a hollow
- This hollow is called a sinkhole
- Moreover, mining activities could create a hole linking the surface to an Underground void or cave
- Other human activities could cause the Substance of the cave roof to form sinkhole
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