This book discusses the geology, hydrogeology, and water quality/geochemistry of karst systems in geologically young terrain, using the state of Florida as an example. Also discussed are sinkhole-development models; sinkhole risk; eogenetic karst features developed in rocks as young as 125,000 years and as old as 65 million years; and karst landscapes of Florida, including regional geology and geomorphology with important examples of karst features, such as springs, sinkholes, caves, and other karst landforms. The eogenetic karst of Florida is largely covered and this book extensively discusses the interactions of karst processes with sand- and clay-rich cover materials.

Below the live oaks, palm trees, cypress swamps, and springs, water is slowly wearing away the limestone bedrock of Florida. The erosion is often unseen, and over time it can result in shocking cave-ins like the destructive spectacle of the 1981 Winter Park sinkhole. Florida Sinkholes--the first comprehensive book on the subject--is an easy-to-follow guide to understanding how sinkholes form and what to do about Florida's sometimes pockmarked landscape. City planners, construction managers, developers, and homeowners alike will find this book invaluable because of the heavy impact and increasing frequency of sinkhole formation in the state. Amateur geologists will be fascinated by the subtle forces of nature that can make solid rock disappear. Tackling the problem of sinkholes in useful detail, this book packs an abundance of sound scientific fact into frank, readable language. Learn about the captivating workings of karst, a term for the swiss cheese-like formations of soluble rock that underlie the peninsula. Discover current state-of-the-art approaches to mapping sinkholes and subsurface voids. Review such practical concerns as structural damage, repairs, insurance problems, and management of karst lands. Examine case studies of several notable sinkholes and sinkhole events. Even before you've finished reading, you may find yourself itching to get out and visit these intriguing marvels of Florida geology for yourself.

Engineers from around the world recount in this volume their successes and failures in attempting to deal with unique and quixotic landscapes.

This book focuses on Romania’s more than 12,000 caves, which developed in limestone (including thermal water caves), salt, gypsum, and occasionally in sandstone. It examines these caves and related topics in a format suitable for cavers, while also addressing a broad range of aspects useful for students and researchers. Since the Institute of Speleology was first established by Emil Racovita in 1920, a great deal of research has been conducted on all cave and karst types. As such, the book examines a variety of scientific fields, including karst geology, hydrogeology, biospeleology, paleoclimatology, mineralogy and archaeology.